Walking. Up the winding stairs. Not thinking straight. Feeling disconnected. Numb. Perhaps my head isn't meant to have that many consciousnesses in it. A laugh escapes my throat. Not feeling well. Hysterical. Cold. Pull my hood closer. A cold draft of air. The opening is close. Wait. If there is wind, the door must be open. I lift Aida up in my left hand and Utrennyaya on my right. The grip feels right. I edge around the corner. The door is... closed? Then where is the air coming from? Go forward. Feel around. The air just seems to come from the door. Odd. Shrug. Open the door. Into the store. Look around. The curtains are closed. Jack. He is lying back on a chair and talking to the air. Weird. He sees me and jerks. He stares at me. Do I look different?
"Hello Jack." The words are like heavy lead, falling from my mouth. My body doesn't respond as fast as it did.
"Hi. I take it that you know about Alice?" He asks awkwardly.
"Yes. Where is she?"
"She... Is currently out. You won't be able to find her. It's best to wait." He takes a butterfly knife out from his pocket and smoothly flips it open. I want to laugh. The weapon looks horribly inadequate as compared to Aida and my trusty morningstar.
"Don't try to stop me Jack, you'll just get yourself hurt."
And Jack laughs. He laughs, a laugh so full of irony and hurt and bitterness directed at nobody and everybody that I am compelled to weep.
"Hurt? You don't know what hurt is. You don't know what hurt is and you never will, you noble-born."
Wait, why's the kid pissed about you being a noble?
People hold grudges for various reasons?
I think he's simply stating the obvious. You will never know his pain on account of your bloodline status.
Oh.
Funny.
I stare at his outstretched arm, knife pointing towards me. It is covered in scars, something I have never noticed before. The scars are in some sort of intricate pattern and I remember the time Alice told me that Jack is extremely proficient in rune magics-
Hit the deck!
Libys' warning is too late as the scars winding around his hand glow bright cyan and unleashes a crackling discharge which hits me with incredible force. I am not hurt. I do not feel any hurt. But... I cannot move.
Aw hell, immobilisation. Feeling pretty helpless yet?
Jack sighs, all traces of anger melting away. "I'm sorry Raewyn. You've always treated me better." He grabs my arms and proceeds to drag me over to a chair. "Just wait, okay? Just wait till Alice gets back."
He sets me on the chair gently and goes back to his seat. I can barely make out his words.
"Sorry you had to see that. Yeah, I know, but at least I wasn't rough with her. Please, I do mean what I said to her. Can we please not argue? You're the only one who listens to me. Yeah, ironic, isn't it?"
I do not understand his words, nor do I know who he is talking to. All I know is that Aida has managed to break through several key points of his magic and is attempting to cut through the rest. Libys remains quiet.
"What... What are you talking to?" I manage to croak out, my vocal components straining against the magic.
Jack looks over. He doesn't look too surprised that I've broken through the bonds. He probably suspects Libys. He gives a sad, tired smile.
"I hear things, you know? I hear..." He trails off into silence.
Funny. I also hear things. I hear voices in my head. Annoying voices. I don't move, even though the magic is completely broken through. He is still staring at me as though I have changed outwardly. The door opens and Jack comes through. Wait a minute... Jack?
Jack walks forward. I am confused. Is not he sitting right ther- Oh. Alice. I can sense Libys rolling his eyes at me mentally.
Jack-Alice closes the door and sees me sitting there, legs crossed. Her features melt and change. She morphs into the Alice I've known for ages. She looks at me oddly. The little, innocent, angelic girl. That sadistic bitch who tried to kill me just now.
"Alice. What. The. Hell. First you try to kill me, then you throw me this sword and screw up my head. What is wrong with you?" I almost shout.
She is calm, inordinately so. I suppose seeing someone half-crazed wielding a sword and a morningstar shouting at you doesn't have much effect. I feel a laugh bubbling up again and I force it down. I am definitely not well.
In that lilting voice that is just wrong when paired with such a cruel mind, she says, "It was in your best interests in giving you the sword. However, I didn't expect any problems with the bonding. I take it that there are three sentiences within your body. You, Libys and the sword."
"Yeah, don't you think that might just be a little too much?"
"Perhaps." She concedes smoothly and continues staring again. What is wrong with me?
"That's it? That's your response? Perhaps?" I stab Aida into the ground and use my free hand to cast a spell. Hasty, uncalled for and utterly rude. Libys would be proud. Oh, and he is. Alice just watches as a moment later a fireball flies towards her. Of course it doesn't affect her. She would obviously have spellshields more than able to deal with such weak spells. It just splashes against empty air several inches away from her.
"I gave you all the answers you want. What more do I have to say?"
And she is right. I'm irrational. I just want to hurt her.
"Why do you stare at me like that?"
Her answer is simple, one word. "Look." I look down to where she points, my collarbone. I scream.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Finally Ain't Filler
"You know that Cocytus isn't actually a river, right?"
"Yeah, I know, my namesake is a frozen lake. But it still counts."
"Whatever you say, Iceman."
"Up yours, Amnesia."
"Hey! Don't you know its rude to have a side conversation while playing cards?"
"Or are you just trying to cheat now, Kestrel?"
"No, I am not! In case you've forgotten, Lethe, I just learned how to play this yesterday!"
"See now, that's why I call her Amnesia."
"Oh shut up, Iceman."
"Less talk, more play, yeah? Your turn, Kestrel." Phlegyas said.
Kestrel dealt her card and asked, "Anyone feel like waking Acheros up just for the heck of it?"
I wouldn't mind.
"Acherus, what are you doing out there anyway? Apart from flying, I mean."
Flying is the whole point. It's fun, it's exhilarating and great, feeling the wind going through your feathers and all. It's just pure fun.
"Oh. Don't you think Acheros is rather lazy? Finally gets the body and he sleeps."
Hey guys...
Acheros woke up with a sudden jolt, bumping into Kestrel's chair and causing her to spill all her cards on the table.
"Ah ha! I knew you were cheating!" Lethe pointed at the cards fallen on the table, all duplicates from different decks.
"And I would have gotten away with it if the pig didn't suddenly wake up and kick my chair." Kestrel muttered, turning around. "Whats with you anyway?"
Acheros rubbed his head where he hit the back of her chair and sat up.
"Didn't any of you hear that?"
"Hear what? I can hardly hear anything through the noise the class is making."
"Sounded something like "Hey guys", or something like that. It freaked me out, that's why I woke up."
"Could it be Styx?"
Very... observant... A weak voice whispered in their minds.
"Aw crap, Styx, what's wrong?"
Not.. feeling too good... Need a lil help over here....
"Where are you?"
Outside.. combat room... I think I... kinda... impaled my arm...
"Hells, how do you manage to do that!" They sprinted out of class and Acherus took control of the body again.
"Acherus, I hope you haven't been wasting your energy on random bouts of magic!"
"I've got enough juice to heal her I think, but I won't know until I see how severe it is!"
It's not.. that bad...
"Damn, you can hardly speak, even mentally! Not bad, sure!"
Turning into the corridor, they almost ran straight into Karasondrias.
"My, my, where are you students going to in such a hurry?"
"Sorry, teacher! Someone's hurt!"
"Hurt? Bring me to her."
Well lucky me... Nothing to... worry about.. now...
A bloody scene greeted them. Styx was slumped against the floor, her blood a large pool around her. Her left arm was impaled by a spear and was the source of all the bleeding, though other multiple minor cuts contributed.
"Hey..." Styx slurred, obviously close to unconsciousness.
Kara wasted no time and quickly assessed the situation while Acherus went forward and started channeling his healing energy into her various wounds.
"Cain! Do you have enough energy to seal the wound if I removed the spear?"
"I can seal the wound, but the inner tissues are wrecked."
"It does not matter, the priority is to stop the bleeding! She is already-"
"Suffering from severe blood loss, yes, I know ma'am. She is in shock." Acherus said, a shade too testily.
Cocytus called up all of the pooling blood into a globe.
"Still warm and alive, the blood, it should still be okay if I funnel it back into her."
"Not too much, slowly and small amounts at a time, Iceman! Her heart isn't pumping well!"
Kara stared at Cocytus.
"You have much explaining to do after we save her, Mister Greywing. For now, I will keep her body warm and maintain her heart." She summoned up small patches of fire around Styx. "Ignore the fires. They don't burn." She took ahold of the spear. "When I pull it out, you will funnel the blood in. When you-" She gestured towards Acherus. "-decide it's enough blood for survival, say so and seal the wound. Alright, enough talking, on my mark. One, two, three!"
She yanked hard on the spear and pulled it right out of the wound. The globe of blood extended small tendrils and fed straight into her wound, at the same time preventing further loss of blood.
The process caused intense pain to her and her little body jerked and twitched with the agony as she screamed raggedly.
"Iceman, stop! Now!" He quickly channeled as much as he dared to knit the blood vessels and skin back together, Kara flowing strange draconian energies into Acherus to aid him. After a minute of intense concentration, the skin grew over the wound, leaving a circular scar behind.
Acherus almost followed Styx in fainting with exhaustion. "I didn't manage to completely heal the tendons. She can't use her arm. At all. Until someone else with more energy can heal her."
"I could pass the energy to you. I have much, but I have never used healing magics and would be unable to heal her." Kara said, startling them. They didn't expect a teacher to be that generous, for lack of a better word.
A lengthy time, a blatant disregard of natural healing spans and many explanations later, they were seated in comfortable chairs around a table with Kara among them. Except for Styx, who was lying on a bed. Actually, they were in her class, all that was just an illusion. Albeit an extremely convincing illusion.
"I cannot conceive of a reason as to the origin of your abilities. They seem made from the stuff of fiction." Kara shook her head slowly. "Students. How amusing that the young always find something to amaze the old with."
They didn't tell her about what Lethe could do or what Styx could do, simply saying how they knew she was hurt that she messaged them by phone.
"Alright. Miss Oathmaker, please do see the matron nurse if your arm still pains you or if it doesn't feel as it should. And do drink more water, you need to replenish your body fluids. I hardly think that Mister Greywing's ability was able to give you enough fluids back."
"Yes ma'am. And uh, ma'am?"
"Yes?"
"Could you do us all a favor and not tell anyone else about this?"
"Fine. Do take care of yourselves. Well, you all can return to your class."
And Lethe whispered to Styx as they left, "What were you doing in the combat room anyway?"
"Yeah, I know, my namesake is a frozen lake. But it still counts."
"Whatever you say, Iceman."
"Up yours, Amnesia."
"Hey! Don't you know its rude to have a side conversation while playing cards?"
"Or are you just trying to cheat now, Kestrel?"
"No, I am not! In case you've forgotten, Lethe, I just learned how to play this yesterday!"
"See now, that's why I call her Amnesia."
"Oh shut up, Iceman."
"Less talk, more play, yeah? Your turn, Kestrel." Phlegyas said.
Kestrel dealt her card and asked, "Anyone feel like waking Acheros up just for the heck of it?"
I wouldn't mind.
"Acherus, what are you doing out there anyway? Apart from flying, I mean."
Flying is the whole point. It's fun, it's exhilarating and great, feeling the wind going through your feathers and all. It's just pure fun.
"Oh. Don't you think Acheros is rather lazy? Finally gets the body and he sleeps."
Hey guys...
Acheros woke up with a sudden jolt, bumping into Kestrel's chair and causing her to spill all her cards on the table.
"Ah ha! I knew you were cheating!" Lethe pointed at the cards fallen on the table, all duplicates from different decks.
"And I would have gotten away with it if the pig didn't suddenly wake up and kick my chair." Kestrel muttered, turning around. "Whats with you anyway?"
Acheros rubbed his head where he hit the back of her chair and sat up.
"Didn't any of you hear that?"
"Hear what? I can hardly hear anything through the noise the class is making."
"Sounded something like "Hey guys", or something like that. It freaked me out, that's why I woke up."
"Could it be Styx?"
Very... observant... A weak voice whispered in their minds.
"Aw crap, Styx, what's wrong?"
Not.. feeling too good... Need a lil help over here....
"Where are you?"
Outside.. combat room... I think I... kinda... impaled my arm...
"Hells, how do you manage to do that!" They sprinted out of class and Acherus took control of the body again.
"Acherus, I hope you haven't been wasting your energy on random bouts of magic!"
"I've got enough juice to heal her I think, but I won't know until I see how severe it is!"
It's not.. that bad...
"Damn, you can hardly speak, even mentally! Not bad, sure!"
Turning into the corridor, they almost ran straight into Karasondrias.
"My, my, where are you students going to in such a hurry?"
"Sorry, teacher! Someone's hurt!"
"Hurt? Bring me to her."
Well lucky me... Nothing to... worry about.. now...
A bloody scene greeted them. Styx was slumped against the floor, her blood a large pool around her. Her left arm was impaled by a spear and was the source of all the bleeding, though other multiple minor cuts contributed.
"Hey..." Styx slurred, obviously close to unconsciousness.
Kara wasted no time and quickly assessed the situation while Acherus went forward and started channeling his healing energy into her various wounds.
"Cain! Do you have enough energy to seal the wound if I removed the spear?"
"I can seal the wound, but the inner tissues are wrecked."
"It does not matter, the priority is to stop the bleeding! She is already-"
"Suffering from severe blood loss, yes, I know ma'am. She is in shock." Acherus said, a shade too testily.
Cocytus called up all of the pooling blood into a globe.
"Still warm and alive, the blood, it should still be okay if I funnel it back into her."
"Not too much, slowly and small amounts at a time, Iceman! Her heart isn't pumping well!"
Kara stared at Cocytus.
"You have much explaining to do after we save her, Mister Greywing. For now, I will keep her body warm and maintain her heart." She summoned up small patches of fire around Styx. "Ignore the fires. They don't burn." She took ahold of the spear. "When I pull it out, you will funnel the blood in. When you-" She gestured towards Acherus. "-decide it's enough blood for survival, say so and seal the wound. Alright, enough talking, on my mark. One, two, three!"
She yanked hard on the spear and pulled it right out of the wound. The globe of blood extended small tendrils and fed straight into her wound, at the same time preventing further loss of blood.
The process caused intense pain to her and her little body jerked and twitched with the agony as she screamed raggedly.
"Iceman, stop! Now!" He quickly channeled as much as he dared to knit the blood vessels and skin back together, Kara flowing strange draconian energies into Acherus to aid him. After a minute of intense concentration, the skin grew over the wound, leaving a circular scar behind.
Acherus almost followed Styx in fainting with exhaustion. "I didn't manage to completely heal the tendons. She can't use her arm. At all. Until someone else with more energy can heal her."
"I could pass the energy to you. I have much, but I have never used healing magics and would be unable to heal her." Kara said, startling them. They didn't expect a teacher to be that generous, for lack of a better word.
A lengthy time, a blatant disregard of natural healing spans and many explanations later, they were seated in comfortable chairs around a table with Kara among them. Except for Styx, who was lying on a bed. Actually, they were in her class, all that was just an illusion. Albeit an extremely convincing illusion.
"I cannot conceive of a reason as to the origin of your abilities. They seem made from the stuff of fiction." Kara shook her head slowly. "Students. How amusing that the young always find something to amaze the old with."
They didn't tell her about what Lethe could do or what Styx could do, simply saying how they knew she was hurt that she messaged them by phone.
"Alright. Miss Oathmaker, please do see the matron nurse if your arm still pains you or if it doesn't feel as it should. And do drink more water, you need to replenish your body fluids. I hardly think that Mister Greywing's ability was able to give you enough fluids back."
"Yes ma'am. And uh, ma'am?"
"Yes?"
"Could you do us all a favor and not tell anyone else about this?"
"Fine. Do take care of yourselves. Well, you all can return to your class."
And Lethe whispered to Styx as they left, "What were you doing in the combat room anyway?"
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Another One? No Way.
Pain. Head. Raise my head. Blurry. Where am I? Cold. Very cold. Shivering. Numb. I feel myself as if through a thick slough of mud. Disconnected. I hear a voice. I can't make out what it's saying, though it is very loud. Painfully loud. Hangover. Seems like a hangover. Except, it is different. Much different. Get up. Try to get up. Fall back. Headache. Pulsing, painful headache. I hear the voice again. I try to hear. Pain. Flashing, sudden pain. Any progress I have made in getting up is gone. On the floor. Hard. Smooth. Where am I? Panic. What is happening? The voice gets clearer. I can almost make out the words. It's calling. It's a name.
Raewyn!
Raewyn? Who is Raewyn? The voice seems to be panicking. Who is it? Who am I, for that matter? Pain hits me again.
You're Raewyn! Don't tell me you got amnesia!
Raewyn. It does sound familiar. Is that me?
You were fighting Alice just now remember?
Fighting. Alice. I feel it now. I start to remember. Yes. I am Raewyn. I remember now. Try to pick myself off the ground. Manage to get to a sitting position. Pain, once more. Libys?
Yes?
What happened?
The sword. Libys' tone changes. I do not recognise it at first, but then, I realise, he is sullen. The tone is of a petulant child. It seems the most riduculous thing for a demon to sound like and I start to giggle.
Oh, damn, you're hysterical. You need a doctor. Wait no. I know why this is happening. Blessed sword.
Sword, the sword, what happened to it? I manage to project amidst my fits of laughter.
Calm down, Raewyn. Calm down. The sword, it seems has a mind of its own. Sentient in its own right. It...
Oh come on, just spit it out.
Well, stop convulsing. The sword is bonded to you. To us.
You don't seem too happy about it.
Why should I? Remember what Alice said. Each sword has its own special property. Oh, stop that inane giggling already.
I can't. So what's this one's characteristic? I can't see Libys, but mentally, I know that he is doing the metaphysical equivalent of a facepalm.
Either Alice is really a bitch or Fate is an ironic asshole. The sword, Aida, I believe it's name is, is a demonsbane. She really really hates me. In fact, the moment you fell unconscious we were practically trying to kill each other.
Well, I'm not hearing her now. What did you do?
Imagine this scene. She and I are fighting. Not properly, just more of a fistfight. I overpower her and then I tape her mouth and bind her hands. That's basically what happened, although its on a mental level.
Uh... Okay.. When are the binds going to break?
Actually, it breaks right about now-
A third mental voice was heard and Raewyn got over her laughter.
Foul demon! Do not ever lay your cursed hands on me ever again!
Oh, I'll touch you whenever I want, you self-righteous piece of metallic junk!
I will kill you and take your evil head and stick it up your-
Both of you, shut up!
Raewyn held up the sword and examined it, murmuring, "Good job Alice, now I've got to deal with two of these whiny kids in my head."
She could feel the sword literally vibrating with the hate it felt towards being held up by a demon.
"Oh, relax, you crazy sword."
I'm not crazy. Just that my makers made me as a demonsbane.
"I didn't mean literally. Sheesh. So your name is Aida."
Yes.
"And you hate all demons."
Yes.
"And you're bonded to me."
Yes.
"Do you hate me? For having a demon as my skin?"
No. Circumstances. Aida gave a mental shrug. You are my owner.
"Umm... Right... So I assume that you don't mind that I use you as a weapon?"
I am a weapon. It is my purpose.
"You don't mind being held by these pair of hands, part of which is demonic?"
You are my owner. Aida reiterated. Use me as you will.
Yeah well, Raewyn, just stick her up-
"Libys. Shut up."
Alright, alright, I'll jus-
"Shut. Up."
Although I do dislike this demon particularly over others in general. He seems to be a major irritant.
"That he is. You have no idea. So, hi. My name is Raewyn Aesiflay."
Pleased to meet you.
"That jackass demon is Libys."
Not so pleased to meet him.
Raewyn sighed and got up. Learning how to dual-wield would take some time. Especially learning how to use a sword in one hand and a chain-morningstar in the other. She looked around. She was still in the dungeon.
"Well now. Let's get the hell out of here-" I could arrange that. Especially the sword. "-and back into her shop. I wonder if Jack knows about Alice." This was proving to be a long and tiring day.
Raewyn!
Raewyn? Who is Raewyn? The voice seems to be panicking. Who is it? Who am I, for that matter? Pain hits me again.
You're Raewyn! Don't tell me you got amnesia!
Raewyn. It does sound familiar. Is that me?
You were fighting Alice just now remember?
Fighting. Alice. I feel it now. I start to remember. Yes. I am Raewyn. I remember now. Try to pick myself off the ground. Manage to get to a sitting position. Pain, once more. Libys?
Yes?
What happened?
The sword. Libys' tone changes. I do not recognise it at first, but then, I realise, he is sullen. The tone is of a petulant child. It seems the most riduculous thing for a demon to sound like and I start to giggle.
Oh, damn, you're hysterical. You need a doctor. Wait no. I know why this is happening. Blessed sword.
Sword, the sword, what happened to it? I manage to project amidst my fits of laughter.
Calm down, Raewyn. Calm down. The sword, it seems has a mind of its own. Sentient in its own right. It...
Oh come on, just spit it out.
Well, stop convulsing. The sword is bonded to you. To us.
You don't seem too happy about it.
Why should I? Remember what Alice said. Each sword has its own special property. Oh, stop that inane giggling already.
I can't. So what's this one's characteristic? I can't see Libys, but mentally, I know that he is doing the metaphysical equivalent of a facepalm.
Either Alice is really a bitch or Fate is an ironic asshole. The sword, Aida, I believe it's name is, is a demonsbane. She really really hates me. In fact, the moment you fell unconscious we were practically trying to kill each other.
Well, I'm not hearing her now. What did you do?
Imagine this scene. She and I are fighting. Not properly, just more of a fistfight. I overpower her and then I tape her mouth and bind her hands. That's basically what happened, although its on a mental level.
Uh... Okay.. When are the binds going to break?
Actually, it breaks right about now-
A third mental voice was heard and Raewyn got over her laughter.
Foul demon! Do not ever lay your cursed hands on me ever again!
Oh, I'll touch you whenever I want, you self-righteous piece of metallic junk!
I will kill you and take your evil head and stick it up your-
Both of you, shut up!
Raewyn held up the sword and examined it, murmuring, "Good job Alice, now I've got to deal with two of these whiny kids in my head."
She could feel the sword literally vibrating with the hate it felt towards being held up by a demon.
"Oh, relax, you crazy sword."
I'm not crazy. Just that my makers made me as a demonsbane.
"I didn't mean literally. Sheesh. So your name is Aida."
Yes.
"And you hate all demons."
Yes.
"And you're bonded to me."
Yes.
"Do you hate me? For having a demon as my skin?"
No. Circumstances. Aida gave a mental shrug. You are my owner.
"Umm... Right... So I assume that you don't mind that I use you as a weapon?"
I am a weapon. It is my purpose.
"You don't mind being held by these pair of hands, part of which is demonic?"
You are my owner. Aida reiterated. Use me as you will.
Yeah well, Raewyn, just stick her up-
"Libys. Shut up."
Alright, alright, I'll jus-
"Shut. Up."
Although I do dislike this demon particularly over others in general. He seems to be a major irritant.
"That he is. You have no idea. So, hi. My name is Raewyn Aesiflay."
Pleased to meet you.
"That jackass demon is Libys."
Not so pleased to meet him.
Raewyn sighed and got up. Learning how to dual-wield would take some time. Especially learning how to use a sword in one hand and a chain-morningstar in the other. She looked around. She was still in the dungeon.
"Well now. Let's get the hell out of here-" I could arrange that. Especially the sword. "-and back into her shop. I wonder if Jack knows about Alice." This was proving to be a long and tiring day.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tachys For Speed
Raewyn barely managed to raise her own sword just in time as Alice's own clashed into hers. They were face to face, swords locked in-between. Her soulless eyes looked deep into Raewyn's, searching deep for that which she herself lacked. Abruptly, Alice pulled back and dashed backwards. She shook her head.
"Too slow, much too slow. You'd never survive an attack from one of my kind." Alice blinked behind Raewyn and slashed at her neck, ready to decapitate.
Duck! Libys' mental voice rang out. The bloody bitch isn't aiming to hurt, she's trying to kill!
Raewyn numbly obeyed and made a sweeping cut under her legs. Alice wasn't even there anymore. Raewyn looked all around the chilly room.
"Come out Alice! I don't want to fight you! Why are you even trying to kill me?"
Alice blinked into existence several metres in front of Raewyn.
"I'm not. What makes you think I am? I would never kill you, Raewyn."
She blinked out of sight once more.
"Well, I don't know! Maybe its this whole sword fight thing, or maybe its the fact that you almost cut my head off! Oh, dear me no, it must have been your sudden lack of hair, yeah?" Raewyn shouted into the damp and clammy air.
"Maybe." Alice's voice was a whisper, right above her. "But I already said I'm not going to kill you." She dropped down and right behind Raewyn, sword held high and ready to deal a death-blow. Raewyn dodged to the side as the sword hit the stone floor and thrust her own at Alice's chest.
"If that isn't trying to kill me, I don't know what is!" Alice easily parried it and pushed Raewyn to the floor. Raewyn scrambled to get up but Alice's bare foot pushed against her back and forced her down.
"It's called training, sweetheart, not killing." Alice stabbed the sword down into the concrete just beside Raewyn's head, hard enough to crack it, pierce through and embed itself blade first. Alice shook her head. "No, you definitely wouldn't live."
"I didn't want to hurt you."
"Remember, we are Doppelgangers. Any of my kind you face will probably take a shape of your friend or someone close to you and taunt you. You have to be stronger than that."
"And why in the Archon's name do I need to face Doppelgangers?"
"Because of that sword I just gave you."
"I don't even want it! I've got Utrennyaya and she works a beauty on anyone i face!"
"Hmph. You still have to take it with you."
"Why? You're not even listening to me!" Raewyn was more indignant by this stage than scared.
"It's a real work of art. My people's artificers really knew what they were doing when they made it. You have to take it with you because of what it is."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not any ordinary sword. It's a bonded sword. And I'm not sure what special quality that one has, it only makes it known to its owner. And it's bonded to you."
"What? No, it sure as hell hasn't bonded to me!" By this point, Raewyn had got up and was examining her sword.
"It has. Speak to it, much the same way as you would to Libys."
She's right you know, I can feel the presence of the sword. Your mind sure is getting rather crowded. Libys' voice echoed in her thoughts.
"Prove it, Alice."
"Look at the blade. There's a symbol carved in it. All of our swords have a different symbol. Only the owner can read the rune. It is the name of the sword."
Raewyn held it up and examined the flat of the blade. There was indeed a symbol in it, but she could not underst- She gasped as a bolt of pain lanced her head. Aida. A voice trailed on the wind. The last thing Raewyn heard before she fell unconscious was Libys screaming incoherently at someone.
Tachys Exam Results 9048. The words stared out at the group from the paper they all gripped. Excitement, fear, anxiety, indifference, the entire gamut of emotions would be run. Just three more days left before they were forced to make a choice. However, they were virtually the only ones who hadn't fully decided what combinations to choose and thus were the only ones agonising over it while the rest of the school was having fun. Cocytus and Kestrel were playing chess with Lethe spectating. Phlegyas and Acheron were discussing what he should take and Styx, once again, was no where to be found.
"But you don't actually like Higher Languages, right?"
"Well, not exactly, I don't hate it but I also have no deep-set hatred for it."
"Well, your grades are more than enough to get in. And you mentioned Higher Engineering?"
"Umm, it seems kind of fun."
"But your Engineering results is kinda bad."
"Ok, fine, then what do you think I should take?"
"Are you interested in Magic?"
"It's ok, I guess."
"You're fine with everything."
"Yes."
"Then I give up. Flip a coin or something." So saying, Phlegyas went over and joined the other three in their chess game.
Yeah, brother, that went totally well. You're sure decisive. Acheros' mocking voice said.
Like you aren't. Go hunt some roadkill or something.
"Hey, isn't anyone worried for Styx?" Phlegyas asked.
"I don't know, she's been in the practice room all the time these days and coming out so tired and all. We keep calling her through our link and she doesn't even deign to respond." Cocytus stated.
"Yeah. Archon knows, we've tried. But I think it's just a phase. She'll get over it and come to us." was Kestrel's feminine conclusion.
Three days left, and Styx was still locking herself in the combat room, no choice being made.
"Too slow, much too slow. You'd never survive an attack from one of my kind." Alice blinked behind Raewyn and slashed at her neck, ready to decapitate.
Duck! Libys' mental voice rang out. The bloody bitch isn't aiming to hurt, she's trying to kill!
Raewyn numbly obeyed and made a sweeping cut under her legs. Alice wasn't even there anymore. Raewyn looked all around the chilly room.
"Come out Alice! I don't want to fight you! Why are you even trying to kill me?"
Alice blinked into existence several metres in front of Raewyn.
"I'm not. What makes you think I am? I would never kill you, Raewyn."
She blinked out of sight once more.
"Well, I don't know! Maybe its this whole sword fight thing, or maybe its the fact that you almost cut my head off! Oh, dear me no, it must have been your sudden lack of hair, yeah?" Raewyn shouted into the damp and clammy air.
"Maybe." Alice's voice was a whisper, right above her. "But I already said I'm not going to kill you." She dropped down and right behind Raewyn, sword held high and ready to deal a death-blow. Raewyn dodged to the side as the sword hit the stone floor and thrust her own at Alice's chest.
"If that isn't trying to kill me, I don't know what is!" Alice easily parried it and pushed Raewyn to the floor. Raewyn scrambled to get up but Alice's bare foot pushed against her back and forced her down.
"It's called training, sweetheart, not killing." Alice stabbed the sword down into the concrete just beside Raewyn's head, hard enough to crack it, pierce through and embed itself blade first. Alice shook her head. "No, you definitely wouldn't live."
"I didn't want to hurt you."
"Remember, we are Doppelgangers. Any of my kind you face will probably take a shape of your friend or someone close to you and taunt you. You have to be stronger than that."
"And why in the Archon's name do I need to face Doppelgangers?"
"Because of that sword I just gave you."
"I don't even want it! I've got Utrennyaya and she works a beauty on anyone i face!"
"Hmph. You still have to take it with you."
"Why? You're not even listening to me!" Raewyn was more indignant by this stage than scared.
"It's a real work of art. My people's artificers really knew what they were doing when they made it. You have to take it with you because of what it is."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not any ordinary sword. It's a bonded sword. And I'm not sure what special quality that one has, it only makes it known to its owner. And it's bonded to you."
"What? No, it sure as hell hasn't bonded to me!" By this point, Raewyn had got up and was examining her sword.
"It has. Speak to it, much the same way as you would to Libys."
She's right you know, I can feel the presence of the sword. Your mind sure is getting rather crowded. Libys' voice echoed in her thoughts.
"Prove it, Alice."
"Look at the blade. There's a symbol carved in it. All of our swords have a different symbol. Only the owner can read the rune. It is the name of the sword."
Raewyn held it up and examined the flat of the blade. There was indeed a symbol in it, but she could not underst- She gasped as a bolt of pain lanced her head. Aida. A voice trailed on the wind. The last thing Raewyn heard before she fell unconscious was Libys screaming incoherently at someone.
Tachys Exam Results 9048. The words stared out at the group from the paper they all gripped. Excitement, fear, anxiety, indifference, the entire gamut of emotions would be run. Just three more days left before they were forced to make a choice. However, they were virtually the only ones who hadn't fully decided what combinations to choose and thus were the only ones agonising over it while the rest of the school was having fun. Cocytus and Kestrel were playing chess with Lethe spectating. Phlegyas and Acheron were discussing what he should take and Styx, once again, was no where to be found.
"But you don't actually like Higher Languages, right?"
"Well, not exactly, I don't hate it but I also have no deep-set hatred for it."
"Well, your grades are more than enough to get in. And you mentioned Higher Engineering?"
"Umm, it seems kind of fun."
"But your Engineering results is kinda bad."
"Ok, fine, then what do you think I should take?"
"Are you interested in Magic?"
"It's ok, I guess."
"You're fine with everything."
"Yes."
"Then I give up. Flip a coin or something." So saying, Phlegyas went over and joined the other three in their chess game.
Yeah, brother, that went totally well. You're sure decisive. Acheros' mocking voice said.
Like you aren't. Go hunt some roadkill or something.
"Hey, isn't anyone worried for Styx?" Phlegyas asked.
"I don't know, she's been in the practice room all the time these days and coming out so tired and all. We keep calling her through our link and she doesn't even deign to respond." Cocytus stated.
"Yeah. Archon knows, we've tried. But I think it's just a phase. She'll get over it and come to us." was Kestrel's feminine conclusion.
Three days left, and Styx was still locking herself in the combat room, no choice being made.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Letters #4
Darling Calm,
I just want to point out
That we are just continuations of
the process of life and death.
Who are you, to decide on my span?
Death is a gift, one which I am not yet worthy of.
I love you so much,
My heart and soul aches for you.
But it won't inhibit me, when you come to kill me.
-November
I just want to point out
That we are just continuations of
the process of life and death.
Who are you, to decide on my span?
Death is a gift, one which I am not yet worthy of.
I love you so much,
My heart and soul aches for you.
But it won't inhibit me, when you come to kill me.
-November
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Fregoli Delusion? Guess Not.
No time for play recently. Study, study and more study. No time to practise, no time to talk, no time to explore. But it would be over in just a few more days. They were already half done with their papers and looked forward eagerly to the time of pure leisure. These thoughts were distracting Styx, in the middle of their Languages exam. She appreciated the effort Acheron must have put in to learn Common, Cain being his first language. She wondered what Cania looked like. She shook off such thoughts and continued with her paper.
Solciro, having finished his papers awhile back, sat back against a tree. He leaned against it, feeling its wood and every rough detail. Like the rest of the Terra family, he was very much into nature. It felt good, just leaning back and just being there. He put a hand onto the ground and sifted through the soil. He lifted some to his nose. It was soft and loamy with a smell so very vibrant and full of life. Good soil. The sun was warm, uncomfortably warm for most others but just right for him. The grass below him, the tree behind him, the sun above him and all his future ahead of him. Glorious and wonderful, the day was. His sister would have disagreed about the sun, he thought. Lunare much preferred the moon, the cold and the dark. Thinking about his sister, his mood slightly darkened. She was spending so much time now with that... Cain. He could feel them even now, through that link that all twins had, that she was having a great time with that faceless thing. Relax, he told himself, relax. Racism, I mustn't be racist. Still, it was hard to accept someone so profoundly different. Those spindly fingers, those... alien, liquid eyes. So inhuman. And he had heard the tales of their endless depths of depravity, torturing for joy, murdering for pleasure. But at least this one hadn't shown anything of the sort so far, he told himself. Yet. Call no man happy till he is dead. Don't judge until it's all done. He just hoped his dear little sister would be fine.
Lunare was having the time of her life, learning how to pick locks from Acherus. They were breaking into Cocytus' locker as part of her practice and just to annoy him. In the chilly corridor, she was perfectly at home. She was aiming for Specialist Magic, particularly of the Frost domain. Her brother would be going for the Fire domain. She had had little experience with members of other races save humans and elven parents weren't exactly known for their lack of discipline with their offspring. Being out of their control was a new and rather intoxicating experience for Lunare. Freedom, after all, was the most addictive drug. For Acherus, it was rather odd for him as he was more used to working only with Acheros and he was explaining everything every step of the way to her. Abit of a hassle, but he could only begin to imagine the possibilities with a partner or at least, a partner with a humanoid body. Acheros was simply amused by the whole thing and was simply perching close by, keeping an eye out.
Styx was training. She didn't tell anyone or show anyone. But the most anyone knew was that she was coming out of the hand-to-hand combat practice room daily with sweat covered all about. And it didn't just seem to be unarmed practice against one of the combat dummies, she was metally fatigued as well, not just physically. One time, she was almost fainting as she stumbled off to the cafeteria, causing alarm in all her friends. Now that they had finished their exams, there were no more classes and everyone could do whatever they wanted during lesson times. But it was odd. Now that they had time, they didn't know what to do, save Styx, and nobody knew what she was doing.
Lethe sat on the grass. The heat was starting to get a little unbearable and she chanced it. She took off her hoodie and hoped that no one would touch her. Feeling the wind in her hair, she knew it was worth it and smiled. It had been quite awhile since she had felt the wind on her skin. A crow nearby squawked. Lethe was reminded of Lacier and the circumstances of his death. But she had finally managed to let him go, finally gotten over it. She would still grieve for him, but she wouldn't be so helpless when faced with a death again. Turning her head, she saw Solciro under the shade of a tree and decided to join him. After all, the sun was beating down and she was close to sweating, and she didn't like sweating.
Walking over, she sat down beside him and leaned against the hard bark.
"Hello."
Solciro opened an eye. He woke up.
"Oh hello there. How did you do for the Tach?"
"I don't know. Actually, I don't even know which subjects to take. Only Dream-weaving."
"Dream-weaving? That's cool. I'm taking Specialist Magic in the Fire domain and Higher Magics. I want to be a fire mage but with other fields of knowledge."
"Dual eh? Interesting."
"But I'm having several doubts. I could be a fire mage as I originally planned, but I feel like druid would be suit me more."
"Why not both then? Take Spec Fire and Druidism?"
"Well, who ever heard of a druid who casts fire spells?"
"Go ahead and break the mold. I hate it when people stereotype. And anyway, fire is as much a part of nature as anything else. Trees enjoy small fires. The large artificial fires are the one that hurt the forests."
"True... What you say makes a whole lot of sense. I guess I will. Thanks."
"What for? I merely stated the facts."
"For boosting my self-confidence I guess. For assuring me that what I'm doing isn't wrong."
"Sure. No prob there. Any thoughts on what I should take for second subject?"
"Uh, well, what're you interested in?"
"I was thinking Shapeshifting but I'd probably gonna be the only non-werewolf there. I don't want to be the odd one out." Again, she thought to herself. I am not going to be the oddball again. Not again.
"Yeah. I've heard stories about the Shapeshifting class. The non-weres get bullied like nobody's business. And it is nobody's business. Best not to take it. What else?"
"Combat ain't my sorta thing, really. Maybe Higher Magics?"
"Any domain you particularly like?"
"Umm... Nope."
"Then you could go all-rounder for Higher Magics. If you're interested in any one of them, you could go Spec Magic."
"Hmm, now that you mention it, I've always rather liked the Enchantment school."
"Oh you're picking by spell schools rather than elemental domains aye? The thing is, you have to select your discipline too. If I'm not wrong, Enchantment is split into Charms and Compulsions."
"What's the difference?"
Solciro was in his element, having studied the entire magic system before. "Charms are more passive and less overt. It lets you influence the subject's attitude to you or anyone else. On the other hand, Compulsions forces the subject to a certain action or avoiding it. Also, Compulsions are more offensive-based and the teachers teach those spells which hurt by affecting their minds and emotions. The downside here is that Compulsions are a one-shot thing and once the compulsion has been fulfilled, the spell wears off. Sort of like a geas of the old stories. Also, compulsions are quite obvious and once detected, may be dispelled by someone else of a similar strength or stronger. On the other hand, Charms can't actually force someone to do something they don't wish to do. Charms can only make a person do something if they don't have any negative incentive against it. So you could say that Charms is the prod while Compulsions is the push."
"Umm..." Lethe blinked. "Wow. Kinda confusing. You studied up on all that?"
"Yeah, I wanted to know if I was missing on anything I would like."
"You're back. Was my information accurate?" Jack asked, rather lifeless she felt.
"Yes, of course. Your information always is."
"Yes I know. But it's always nice to know for sure."
Alice stepped forward.
"I see you've brought my implements back. I trust that they worked?"
"Indeed. I can always trust the quality of your items. In fact," Raewyn paused. "The demon gave more information and knowledge than we needed."
You're going to ask her, aren't you?
"Oh? Such as?"
Raewyn sighed. "Don't take this wrong Alice, I'm just curious. I know you're not human. But I always assumed you were an elf or some such using magic to disguise yourself. But the demon has told me that you're not... not anything that we know. What are you?"
Alice nodded. "I knew you'd ask eventually. Follow me."
Sounds ominous to me.
She led Raewyn down a winding staircase, carrying a torch to light the way. Down they went, into a damp, dark and cold room, suspiciously similar to a dungeon. Alice went to the centre of the room and sat down. She motioned for Raewyn to do the same.
"It is safe to talk here."
"I thought it was in your shop."
"It never is. It's just that they don't care about what you're doing."
"Alice. Who's they?"
"I am a Doppelganger."
Raewyn's blood froze.
Oh bless us. We're blessed. Demons had a warped sense of swear words and Libys was no different.
"No, Raewyn, relax. sit down. Look into my eyes. I am one of the last of them. I haven't had any contact with the survivors, if any, of my kind in years. I was lucky enough to escape the Doppel-hunts. I had no knowledge, so I masqueraded as a child and enrolled myself in that school we both went to. Raewyn. Believe me. You're the only one I can tell this to. Please don't betray that trust." She got up and walked over to a wall and took something.
Raewyn stayed to her seat on the floor and just stared at her numbly. Alice walked back, the item revealed to be a long and immaculate sword with a simple hilt with no guard and a handle of obsidian. The blade itself shone in the weak lighting provided by her torch.
"You're going to kill me." The words fell from her mouth without her intent to say such.
Kill us, don't forget me.
Alice lifted up the blade, a chilling sight considering her appearance as such a child. She pointed the blade at Raewyn and lifted it to her eyes. Raewyn's gaze was firmly fixated on the blade which, if Alice so wished, could cut into her head and kill her in a moment with just a twitch. Abruptly, Alice pulled back the sword and reversed it, offering it to Raewyn. Raewyn grabbed the handle and stood up.
"I wouldn't kill you. You are... my friend. Take the blade. Use it, as often as you will. By this day and age, nobody will recognise it." Alice turned and dropped to the floor cross-legged. "It's an old weapon. But it will serve you well. Chances are, if another Doppelganger sees you, he or she will attempt to kidnap you and interrogate you about how you got it. It's a minor downside to the strength of the sword though. Not that many of us out on the streets anymore. Shouldn't be noticed." Alice stood again. "You're curious, aren't you? About what I really look like."
Alice's petite form suddenly grew taller until she was just over Raewyn's head. Her skin turned grey and her features faded. She looked similar to a Cain, except that she had no horns or vents by her throat. Just a blank mask with eyes that bored into Raewyn's soul. Her scalp was as hairless and bald. Her clothes dropped off to reveal an androgynous body with no genitalia. Smooth, unmarked and lean, Alice was a sight to behold. Somehow, with no orifices, she contrived to speak. "Draw."
And with that, she lunged forward at Raewyn.
Solciro, having finished his papers awhile back, sat back against a tree. He leaned against it, feeling its wood and every rough detail. Like the rest of the Terra family, he was very much into nature. It felt good, just leaning back and just being there. He put a hand onto the ground and sifted through the soil. He lifted some to his nose. It was soft and loamy with a smell so very vibrant and full of life. Good soil. The sun was warm, uncomfortably warm for most others but just right for him. The grass below him, the tree behind him, the sun above him and all his future ahead of him. Glorious and wonderful, the day was. His sister would have disagreed about the sun, he thought. Lunare much preferred the moon, the cold and the dark. Thinking about his sister, his mood slightly darkened. She was spending so much time now with that... Cain. He could feel them even now, through that link that all twins had, that she was having a great time with that faceless thing. Relax, he told himself, relax. Racism, I mustn't be racist. Still, it was hard to accept someone so profoundly different. Those spindly fingers, those... alien, liquid eyes. So inhuman. And he had heard the tales of their endless depths of depravity, torturing for joy, murdering for pleasure. But at least this one hadn't shown anything of the sort so far, he told himself. Yet. Call no man happy till he is dead. Don't judge until it's all done. He just hoped his dear little sister would be fine.
Lunare was having the time of her life, learning how to pick locks from Acherus. They were breaking into Cocytus' locker as part of her practice and just to annoy him. In the chilly corridor, she was perfectly at home. She was aiming for Specialist Magic, particularly of the Frost domain. Her brother would be going for the Fire domain. She had had little experience with members of other races save humans and elven parents weren't exactly known for their lack of discipline with their offspring. Being out of their control was a new and rather intoxicating experience for Lunare. Freedom, after all, was the most addictive drug. For Acherus, it was rather odd for him as he was more used to working only with Acheros and he was explaining everything every step of the way to her. Abit of a hassle, but he could only begin to imagine the possibilities with a partner or at least, a partner with a humanoid body. Acheros was simply amused by the whole thing and was simply perching close by, keeping an eye out.
Styx was training. She didn't tell anyone or show anyone. But the most anyone knew was that she was coming out of the hand-to-hand combat practice room daily with sweat covered all about. And it didn't just seem to be unarmed practice against one of the combat dummies, she was metally fatigued as well, not just physically. One time, she was almost fainting as she stumbled off to the cafeteria, causing alarm in all her friends. Now that they had finished their exams, there were no more classes and everyone could do whatever they wanted during lesson times. But it was odd. Now that they had time, they didn't know what to do, save Styx, and nobody knew what she was doing.
Lethe sat on the grass. The heat was starting to get a little unbearable and she chanced it. She took off her hoodie and hoped that no one would touch her. Feeling the wind in her hair, she knew it was worth it and smiled. It had been quite awhile since she had felt the wind on her skin. A crow nearby squawked. Lethe was reminded of Lacier and the circumstances of his death. But she had finally managed to let him go, finally gotten over it. She would still grieve for him, but she wouldn't be so helpless when faced with a death again. Turning her head, she saw Solciro under the shade of a tree and decided to join him. After all, the sun was beating down and she was close to sweating, and she didn't like sweating.
Walking over, she sat down beside him and leaned against the hard bark.
"Hello."
Solciro opened an eye. He woke up.
"Oh hello there. How did you do for the Tach?"
"I don't know. Actually, I don't even know which subjects to take. Only Dream-weaving."
"Dream-weaving? That's cool. I'm taking Specialist Magic in the Fire domain and Higher Magics. I want to be a fire mage but with other fields of knowledge."
"Dual eh? Interesting."
"But I'm having several doubts. I could be a fire mage as I originally planned, but I feel like druid would be suit me more."
"Why not both then? Take Spec Fire and Druidism?"
"Well, who ever heard of a druid who casts fire spells?"
"Go ahead and break the mold. I hate it when people stereotype. And anyway, fire is as much a part of nature as anything else. Trees enjoy small fires. The large artificial fires are the one that hurt the forests."
"True... What you say makes a whole lot of sense. I guess I will. Thanks."
"What for? I merely stated the facts."
"For boosting my self-confidence I guess. For assuring me that what I'm doing isn't wrong."
"Sure. No prob there. Any thoughts on what I should take for second subject?"
"Uh, well, what're you interested in?"
"I was thinking Shapeshifting but I'd probably gonna be the only non-werewolf there. I don't want to be the odd one out." Again, she thought to herself. I am not going to be the oddball again. Not again.
"Yeah. I've heard stories about the Shapeshifting class. The non-weres get bullied like nobody's business. And it is nobody's business. Best not to take it. What else?"
"Combat ain't my sorta thing, really. Maybe Higher Magics?"
"Any domain you particularly like?"
"Umm... Nope."
"Then you could go all-rounder for Higher Magics. If you're interested in any one of them, you could go Spec Magic."
"Hmm, now that you mention it, I've always rather liked the Enchantment school."
"Oh you're picking by spell schools rather than elemental domains aye? The thing is, you have to select your discipline too. If I'm not wrong, Enchantment is split into Charms and Compulsions."
"What's the difference?"
Solciro was in his element, having studied the entire magic system before. "Charms are more passive and less overt. It lets you influence the subject's attitude to you or anyone else. On the other hand, Compulsions forces the subject to a certain action or avoiding it. Also, Compulsions are more offensive-based and the teachers teach those spells which hurt by affecting their minds and emotions. The downside here is that Compulsions are a one-shot thing and once the compulsion has been fulfilled, the spell wears off. Sort of like a geas of the old stories. Also, compulsions are quite obvious and once detected, may be dispelled by someone else of a similar strength or stronger. On the other hand, Charms can't actually force someone to do something they don't wish to do. Charms can only make a person do something if they don't have any negative incentive against it. So you could say that Charms is the prod while Compulsions is the push."
"Umm..." Lethe blinked. "Wow. Kinda confusing. You studied up on all that?"
"Yeah, I wanted to know if I was missing on anything I would like."
"You're back. Was my information accurate?" Jack asked, rather lifeless she felt.
"Yes, of course. Your information always is."
"Yes I know. But it's always nice to know for sure."
Alice stepped forward.
"I see you've brought my implements back. I trust that they worked?"
"Indeed. I can always trust the quality of your items. In fact," Raewyn paused. "The demon gave more information and knowledge than we needed."
You're going to ask her, aren't you?
"Oh? Such as?"
Raewyn sighed. "Don't take this wrong Alice, I'm just curious. I know you're not human. But I always assumed you were an elf or some such using magic to disguise yourself. But the demon has told me that you're not... not anything that we know. What are you?"
Alice nodded. "I knew you'd ask eventually. Follow me."
Sounds ominous to me.
She led Raewyn down a winding staircase, carrying a torch to light the way. Down they went, into a damp, dark and cold room, suspiciously similar to a dungeon. Alice went to the centre of the room and sat down. She motioned for Raewyn to do the same.
"It is safe to talk here."
"I thought it was in your shop."
"It never is. It's just that they don't care about what you're doing."
"Alice. Who's they?"
"I am a Doppelganger."
Raewyn's blood froze.
Oh bless us. We're blessed. Demons had a warped sense of swear words and Libys was no different.
"No, Raewyn, relax. sit down. Look into my eyes. I am one of the last of them. I haven't had any contact with the survivors, if any, of my kind in years. I was lucky enough to escape the Doppel-hunts. I had no knowledge, so I masqueraded as a child and enrolled myself in that school we both went to. Raewyn. Believe me. You're the only one I can tell this to. Please don't betray that trust." She got up and walked over to a wall and took something.
Raewyn stayed to her seat on the floor and just stared at her numbly. Alice walked back, the item revealed to be a long and immaculate sword with a simple hilt with no guard and a handle of obsidian. The blade itself shone in the weak lighting provided by her torch.
"You're going to kill me." The words fell from her mouth without her intent to say such.
Kill us, don't forget me.
Alice lifted up the blade, a chilling sight considering her appearance as such a child. She pointed the blade at Raewyn and lifted it to her eyes. Raewyn's gaze was firmly fixated on the blade which, if Alice so wished, could cut into her head and kill her in a moment with just a twitch. Abruptly, Alice pulled back the sword and reversed it, offering it to Raewyn. Raewyn grabbed the handle and stood up.
"I wouldn't kill you. You are... my friend. Take the blade. Use it, as often as you will. By this day and age, nobody will recognise it." Alice turned and dropped to the floor cross-legged. "It's an old weapon. But it will serve you well. Chances are, if another Doppelganger sees you, he or she will attempt to kidnap you and interrogate you about how you got it. It's a minor downside to the strength of the sword though. Not that many of us out on the streets anymore. Shouldn't be noticed." Alice stood again. "You're curious, aren't you? About what I really look like."
Alice's petite form suddenly grew taller until she was just over Raewyn's head. Her skin turned grey and her features faded. She looked similar to a Cain, except that she had no horns or vents by her throat. Just a blank mask with eyes that bored into Raewyn's soul. Her scalp was as hairless and bald. Her clothes dropped off to reveal an androgynous body with no genitalia. Smooth, unmarked and lean, Alice was a sight to behold. Somehow, with no orifices, she contrived to speak. "Draw."
And with that, she lunged forward at Raewyn.
Monday, November 15, 2010
All Too Familiar That Seems
Snarling, it lunged at its attacker. It turned out to be a decoy. With spikes of cold iron embedded in it. The demon had effectively impaled itself on the dummy.
"Excellent. These things do actually work then." A feminine voice from behind, approaching.
The cold iron sizzled and burned the demon wherever it touched. The cold iron had been strategically placed at the neck, the chest, the lower torso and the legs.
With its neck impaled, the demon could just barely speak and could not even turn its head. It could only flail its arms about, not having the leverage to push itself off the trap. The person walked forward into the demon's field of vision.
The demon growled. "You are a demon hunter?"
The figure gave a high laugh. "If by that you mean that I am a demon and I am a hunter, then you would be partially correct. I'm not fully demon. Only my skin. And as to what I hunt, I am a bounty hunter. Let's see." She took out a list. "I was charged with torturing several bits of information out of you. Shouldn't be too hard, what with all these toys Alice has provided me with."
The demon stopped its struggling and froze. "Alice? Alice Arias?"
Raewyn looked at it curiously. "The same. She is famous amongst demons then? Interesting."
The demon shouted, half in terror and half in anticipation of the pain. "You would work with that monster? That.. That.. That beast? That abomination! She is not of our ken!"
Raewyn just looked at it. "How amusing. A demon calling someone else a monster, a beast."
"You do not understand, mortal! Alice is not demon, not human, not elf, not Cain, not any of the other species of this world! She is something more..." The demon trailed off into silence. "Hurt me then. I shall experience first-hand what that unnatural being has wrought."
"You're kinda ruining my mood for the torture."
Libys. I give you permission to take over my body and torture out whatever we need.
Sure thing Raewyn. Finally.
I never knew a demon could scream like that.
I pride myself on systematic torture.
Right. So, we've gotten everything. But I am curious. I always knew Alice wasn't human. I assumed that she was some other race using magic to disguise herself.
Well, she is some other race. I'm just not sure what. But whatever she uses, it isn't magic. She is something other.
And you knew all this since when?
Since you met her.
And you let us become acquaintances and now really good friends without telling me?
Would it have changed anything?
Well, it would have alienated me, sure.
Would it have changed anything important?
Fine. You win. But don't withhold information from me next time.
Or you'll do what?
I'll stab myself with cold iron.
.... Smart.
Now where did I put that scroll...
In your third Bag of Holding. What is it with women and having so many bags anyway?
Raewyn teleported back into the Portal Gardens of Pero Diaz.
Days passed. Cocytus had been discharged from the bay. The oddity of the class, temporarily. Some took photos. Sudden popularity. He didn't tell anyone else about what he could do, though he practised whenever out of sight. Lethe was still annoyed. And depressed. Her eye ache had intensified to a splitting pain and seemed to never go away or if it did, it would return a short while later in a greater degree. And her eyes grew imperceptibly redder in the whites. Acherus was still spending time with Lunare and rumours were spreading all around. Styx augmented her clairvoyance with her telepathy, managing to achieve a degree of clarity similar to that of the truly skilled. Phlegyas tried to clear away the distractions and concentrate on his work. Kestrel just tried to ensure that Cocytus didn't hurt himself, much to the amusement of everyone but him.
Exams were coming. A general lack of concentration spread around while everyone tried to rush their revisions. This was the big one. They would be splitting into different classes based on their choices of tertiary subjects. Only Cocytus, Kestrel and Phlegyas knew what they were going to choose.
Cocytus and Kestrel would opt for Draconian Studies and Higher Magic, while Phlegyas was thinking of Specialist Combat and Astronomy. They were rather surprised by his odd choice.
"I believe that celestial alignments affect us." was all he would say, shrugging his broad shoulders.
Shapeshifting appealed to Lethe, but you could only shapeshift to one shape, never change to any other again. Also, she would be surrounded by werewolves and probably be ostracised. Dream-weaving would be one of her choices though.
Acheron was aiming for Higher Languages, his anatomy giving him an edge but they couldn't really think of anything else to pick. Possibly Higher Engineering.
Styx didn't know at all what to pick. She didn't particularly care. She would probably pick them based on her grades and not on her interests.
"Excellent. These things do actually work then." A feminine voice from behind, approaching.
The cold iron sizzled and burned the demon wherever it touched. The cold iron had been strategically placed at the neck, the chest, the lower torso and the legs.
With its neck impaled, the demon could just barely speak and could not even turn its head. It could only flail its arms about, not having the leverage to push itself off the trap. The person walked forward into the demon's field of vision.
The demon growled. "You are a demon hunter?"
The figure gave a high laugh. "If by that you mean that I am a demon and I am a hunter, then you would be partially correct. I'm not fully demon. Only my skin. And as to what I hunt, I am a bounty hunter. Let's see." She took out a list. "I was charged with torturing several bits of information out of you. Shouldn't be too hard, what with all these toys Alice has provided me with."
The demon stopped its struggling and froze. "Alice? Alice Arias?"
Raewyn looked at it curiously. "The same. She is famous amongst demons then? Interesting."
The demon shouted, half in terror and half in anticipation of the pain. "You would work with that monster? That.. That.. That beast? That abomination! She is not of our ken!"
Raewyn just looked at it. "How amusing. A demon calling someone else a monster, a beast."
"You do not understand, mortal! Alice is not demon, not human, not elf, not Cain, not any of the other species of this world! She is something more..." The demon trailed off into silence. "Hurt me then. I shall experience first-hand what that unnatural being has wrought."
"You're kinda ruining my mood for the torture."
Libys. I give you permission to take over my body and torture out whatever we need.
Sure thing Raewyn. Finally.
I never knew a demon could scream like that.
I pride myself on systematic torture.
Right. So, we've gotten everything. But I am curious. I always knew Alice wasn't human. I assumed that she was some other race using magic to disguise herself.
Well, she is some other race. I'm just not sure what. But whatever she uses, it isn't magic. She is something other.
And you knew all this since when?
Since you met her.
And you let us become acquaintances and now really good friends without telling me?
Would it have changed anything?
Well, it would have alienated me, sure.
Would it have changed anything important?
Fine. You win. But don't withhold information from me next time.
Or you'll do what?
I'll stab myself with cold iron.
.... Smart.
Now where did I put that scroll...
In your third Bag of Holding. What is it with women and having so many bags anyway?
Raewyn teleported back into the Portal Gardens of Pero Diaz.
Days passed. Cocytus had been discharged from the bay. The oddity of the class, temporarily. Some took photos. Sudden popularity. He didn't tell anyone else about what he could do, though he practised whenever out of sight. Lethe was still annoyed. And depressed. Her eye ache had intensified to a splitting pain and seemed to never go away or if it did, it would return a short while later in a greater degree. And her eyes grew imperceptibly redder in the whites. Acherus was still spending time with Lunare and rumours were spreading all around. Styx augmented her clairvoyance with her telepathy, managing to achieve a degree of clarity similar to that of the truly skilled. Phlegyas tried to clear away the distractions and concentrate on his work. Kestrel just tried to ensure that Cocytus didn't hurt himself, much to the amusement of everyone but him.
Exams were coming. A general lack of concentration spread around while everyone tried to rush their revisions. This was the big one. They would be splitting into different classes based on their choices of tertiary subjects. Only Cocytus, Kestrel and Phlegyas knew what they were going to choose.
Cocytus and Kestrel would opt for Draconian Studies and Higher Magic, while Phlegyas was thinking of Specialist Combat and Astronomy. They were rather surprised by his odd choice.
"I believe that celestial alignments affect us." was all he would say, shrugging his broad shoulders.
Shapeshifting appealed to Lethe, but you could only shapeshift to one shape, never change to any other again. Also, she would be surrounded by werewolves and probably be ostracised. Dream-weaving would be one of her choices though.
Acheron was aiming for Higher Languages, his anatomy giving him an edge but they couldn't really think of anything else to pick. Possibly Higher Engineering.
Styx didn't know at all what to pick. She didn't particularly care. She would probably pick them based on her grades and not on her interests.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The Letters #3
Dearest November,
Thank you for your understanding.
You know that I have always thought of your kind as
Abominations.
You live past life,
With a blatant disregard for death.
I wake each morning now with you in my thoughts
And a vow on my lips,
That I will see your kind extinct.
-Calm
Thank you for your understanding.
You know that I have always thought of your kind as
Abominations.
You live past life,
With a blatant disregard for death.
I wake each morning now with you in my thoughts
And a vow on my lips,
That I will see your kind extinct.
-Calm
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Somebody's Got Clear-Hearing
At night, after dinner, they were finally allowed to visit Cocytus in the medical bay, Uo tagging along. As was expected, Kestrel's reaction was the greatest and fussed tremendously over him, annoying him and amusing the others to no end.
"By the Archon's droopy left eyelid, Kestrel, I'm fine! It's not hurting anymore and you know how potent the med bay's poultices and spells are! It's practically healed already!"
"If that's so, then why are you still confined in here? Especially in isolation." Kestrel asked obstinately.
Cocytus gave an exasperated growl. "Because I'm a 'medical anomaly'. They can't see anything wrong with me, save for these bloody veins, no pun intended."
"Chill, Kestrel. I'm sure he knows himself well enough. Although, that's the first time in ages that he hasn't addressed you by Lady, so he may not actually be perfectly fine..." Uo trailed off with a grin.
"Hey, whose side are you on anyway?"
"Yours? I don't really think you're fine at any rate. Look." Uo pointed at the dangling veins, which had, in Cocytus' annoyance, started to drip blood, although he didn't know that. Kestrel gasped while the others gaped.
"Damn. Give me a moment." Cocytus visibly composed himself and concentrated and the blood slowly formed into minute droplets and flow back into his veins. And everyone continued staring.
"What. The. Eff." Lethe broke the silence with a curse. "That's what you can do? You lucky bastard!" She exclaimed indignantly.
"I don't even know how to respond. It's so... I don't know. All I can say is, congratulations on starting a new branch of magic, Master Greywing." Kestrel said, partially dazed and not thinking clearly. "Erythromancy? Hemomancy? Take your pick of names."
"How do you feel?" Phlegyas asked simply.
Styx just stood impassively. Acherus was staring intently at his veins, Acheros on his shoulder.
"How do I feel? I don't know. Tired perhaps. Drained. Sapped. I don't think I can concentrate properly. Hungry too. An appetite is a sign of recovery, no?"
"Yeah. Should we go? You ought to eat and then get some rest." Acheron advised.
"Go. I don't want to hold you all back. Kestrel, don't worry. And Acherus... Thanks. For doing your best to heal me."
He shrugged. "No biggie. You're welcome anyway."
"By the way, Styx? You haven't said anything yet. Is anything wrong?"
"No, I'm fine. Worry about yourself. Keep honing that skill of yours. It's cool."
Uo started and turned to glare at Styx.
"You knew this already." It was a statement, no doubt involved. "I'm sure Cocytus didn't tell you. You've been peeking into his head, haven't you?" Uo said accusingly.
"No I did not!" Uo raised an eyebrow. "Well, not fully. I'm... Well," Styx murmured hesitantly. "I'm only a partial clairvoyant, you see." They nodded, it being common knowledge that the Oathmakers were diversely psychic. "Being a partial clairvoyant in my family means that I'm a total disgrace. It's like, it's like, it's like I'm an illegitimate child." Her voice quivered with anger and rage. "They treat me as if I was just another house pet. I'm as good as nothing to them. Less than nothing, even."
Lethe placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. "You're not with them now. You're in this school with us. In our little self-contained world, they don't exist. You don't have to care about what they think."
Styx glared vehemently at Uo. "What's with you anyway? Why don't you control your empathy? It's as bad as telepathy, I should think."
"You think I don't want to? You have no idea what this even feels like!"
"Oh, I should think I have a pretty good idea of it. I think you just tell everyone you can't control it and use that as an excuse to abuse it!"
"You bi-"
"This is a place for the sick! If you students think you can come in here and fight and disturb my patients, then you all are in dire need of discipline!" The matron had chosen a perfect time to make her rounds. "Now begone and disturb the poor boy no longer!"
Glaring razor-sharp daggers at each other, they filed out of the bay after bidding good night to Cocytus.
In her time,
Raewyn pulled her hood closer and knocked on the worn, unmarked wooden door. She felt a presence look her over and the door opened quickly.
"Oh hi Raewyn, hi Libys. Come on in." A weary voice for a tired boy.
"Thanks Jack." She stepped into the musty store. The light filtered through the windows was yellow, not vibrant yellow but a dead, muted yellow and cast the room in a dusk-like gloom, similar to Falselight. The air held a slight scent, a sickly-sweet scent of desiccation and dry rot. Horrid, yet oddly addicting. And with each exhalation, only exhalations, a strong smell of ash would pervade her nostrils.
A petite-looking girl, seemingly no more than 10 and possibly even younger, stepped out from behind a counter. A delicate heart-shaped face, almond-shaped eyes, Cupid's bow mouth, the picture of complete innocence and extremely out of place in this dark shop.
In a voice which seemed to carry naivety with every word, she spoke with a delightful lilt. "Hello Raewyn. And Libys. Come to service Utrennyaya again?"
"Yes, thanks a million Alice. While you fix it up, I'll be needing to talk to Jack." Raewyn passed her morningstar to the little girl, her small frame surprisingly capable of carrying the heavy weapon.
"Sure thing." Alice turned and walked off to another room.
Jack looked up from his slow sweeping. "How may I help you then?"
"I have a name."
"And you need to know who it is, how to get to the person and what you will face."
"In other words, the usual."
"Of course. What else could it be." Jack sighed slowly. The kid himself was no more than 15 and already sick of the world. "Name?"
Later, Raewyn would have a complete plan and waited for Alice to return.
Slow, quiet footsteps announced her arrival. She bore the mechanised weapon and handed it back to Raewyn.
"What did you hit with it? That was some heavy damage."
Raewyn shrugged. "Can't say and all that. Mum's the word."
"Yeah, I know you hate your dad."
"Hah. Very droll. Here." Raewyn handed her a small, yet substantial wad of money.
"No Raewyn."
"Just take it."
"I didn't take it the last time. In fact I have not accepted your payments for as long as I can remember. And I don't plan to start now. This is my payment to you."
"I didn't do much."
"Sure. All you did was give me money to start this little establishment up. The amount was somewhere over ten million if I remember correctly. And I remember correctly."
"It was an investment."
"A good investment and this is your returns. You don't have to pump anymore money into it. Keep the money. You're rich, I know, but now I'm much more well off than I was."
Raewyn sighed. Alice would never accept the money.
"Fine. But I'll be needing some equipment. What do you have that can hurt a demon?"
A grin formed on Alice's face. She looked at Raewyn with quicksilver eyes, grafted on ever since she had ritually blinded herself.
"What do I have? Oh, many, many things." She giggled, slightly maniaclly. It was macabre, to see such a reaction on so innocent a face. "Pain," she paused dramatically. "is my speciality."
"I thought you could see Pain. That was why you gouged out your own eyes, wasn't it?"
"To see Pain is to know Pain. To know Pain is to have Pain. To have Pain is to be able to inflict Pain." Alice rolled her artificial eyes. "Come and see." She led Raewyn into a room.
Jack sighed once more and resumed his sweeping. Suddenly, he looked up, evidently having heard something. Sighing again, he murmured, "Not another ghost customer." He stood straighter and talked to the air, not being able to see where the voice came from.
"Hello sir, and what would you like...."
"By the Archon's droopy left eyelid, Kestrel, I'm fine! It's not hurting anymore and you know how potent the med bay's poultices and spells are! It's practically healed already!"
"If that's so, then why are you still confined in here? Especially in isolation." Kestrel asked obstinately.
Cocytus gave an exasperated growl. "Because I'm a 'medical anomaly'. They can't see anything wrong with me, save for these bloody veins, no pun intended."
"Chill, Kestrel. I'm sure he knows himself well enough. Although, that's the first time in ages that he hasn't addressed you by Lady, so he may not actually be perfectly fine..." Uo trailed off with a grin.
"Hey, whose side are you on anyway?"
"Yours? I don't really think you're fine at any rate. Look." Uo pointed at the dangling veins, which had, in Cocytus' annoyance, started to drip blood, although he didn't know that. Kestrel gasped while the others gaped.
"Damn. Give me a moment." Cocytus visibly composed himself and concentrated and the blood slowly formed into minute droplets and flow back into his veins. And everyone continued staring.
"What. The. Eff." Lethe broke the silence with a curse. "That's what you can do? You lucky bastard!" She exclaimed indignantly.
"I don't even know how to respond. It's so... I don't know. All I can say is, congratulations on starting a new branch of magic, Master Greywing." Kestrel said, partially dazed and not thinking clearly. "Erythromancy? Hemomancy? Take your pick of names."
"How do you feel?" Phlegyas asked simply.
Styx just stood impassively. Acherus was staring intently at his veins, Acheros on his shoulder.
"How do I feel? I don't know. Tired perhaps. Drained. Sapped. I don't think I can concentrate properly. Hungry too. An appetite is a sign of recovery, no?"
"Yeah. Should we go? You ought to eat and then get some rest." Acheron advised.
"Go. I don't want to hold you all back. Kestrel, don't worry. And Acherus... Thanks. For doing your best to heal me."
He shrugged. "No biggie. You're welcome anyway."
"By the way, Styx? You haven't said anything yet. Is anything wrong?"
"No, I'm fine. Worry about yourself. Keep honing that skill of yours. It's cool."
Uo started and turned to glare at Styx.
"You knew this already." It was a statement, no doubt involved. "I'm sure Cocytus didn't tell you. You've been peeking into his head, haven't you?" Uo said accusingly.
"No I did not!" Uo raised an eyebrow. "Well, not fully. I'm... Well," Styx murmured hesitantly. "I'm only a partial clairvoyant, you see." They nodded, it being common knowledge that the Oathmakers were diversely psychic. "Being a partial clairvoyant in my family means that I'm a total disgrace. It's like, it's like, it's like I'm an illegitimate child." Her voice quivered with anger and rage. "They treat me as if I was just another house pet. I'm as good as nothing to them. Less than nothing, even."
Lethe placed a gloved hand on her shoulder. "You're not with them now. You're in this school with us. In our little self-contained world, they don't exist. You don't have to care about what they think."
Styx glared vehemently at Uo. "What's with you anyway? Why don't you control your empathy? It's as bad as telepathy, I should think."
"You think I don't want to? You have no idea what this even feels like!"
"Oh, I should think I have a pretty good idea of it. I think you just tell everyone you can't control it and use that as an excuse to abuse it!"
"You bi-"
"This is a place for the sick! If you students think you can come in here and fight and disturb my patients, then you all are in dire need of discipline!" The matron had chosen a perfect time to make her rounds. "Now begone and disturb the poor boy no longer!"
Glaring razor-sharp daggers at each other, they filed out of the bay after bidding good night to Cocytus.
In her time,
Raewyn pulled her hood closer and knocked on the worn, unmarked wooden door. She felt a presence look her over and the door opened quickly.
"Oh hi Raewyn, hi Libys. Come on in." A weary voice for a tired boy.
"Thanks Jack." She stepped into the musty store. The light filtered through the windows was yellow, not vibrant yellow but a dead, muted yellow and cast the room in a dusk-like gloom, similar to Falselight. The air held a slight scent, a sickly-sweet scent of desiccation and dry rot. Horrid, yet oddly addicting. And with each exhalation, only exhalations, a strong smell of ash would pervade her nostrils.
A petite-looking girl, seemingly no more than 10 and possibly even younger, stepped out from behind a counter. A delicate heart-shaped face, almond-shaped eyes, Cupid's bow mouth, the picture of complete innocence and extremely out of place in this dark shop.
In a voice which seemed to carry naivety with every word, she spoke with a delightful lilt. "Hello Raewyn. And Libys. Come to service Utrennyaya again?"
"Yes, thanks a million Alice. While you fix it up, I'll be needing to talk to Jack." Raewyn passed her morningstar to the little girl, her small frame surprisingly capable of carrying the heavy weapon.
"Sure thing." Alice turned and walked off to another room.
Jack looked up from his slow sweeping. "How may I help you then?"
"I have a name."
"And you need to know who it is, how to get to the person and what you will face."
"In other words, the usual."
"Of course. What else could it be." Jack sighed slowly. The kid himself was no more than 15 and already sick of the world. "Name?"
Later, Raewyn would have a complete plan and waited for Alice to return.
Slow, quiet footsteps announced her arrival. She bore the mechanised weapon and handed it back to Raewyn.
"What did you hit with it? That was some heavy damage."
Raewyn shrugged. "Can't say and all that. Mum's the word."
"Yeah, I know you hate your dad."
"Hah. Very droll. Here." Raewyn handed her a small, yet substantial wad of money.
"No Raewyn."
"Just take it."
"I didn't take it the last time. In fact I have not accepted your payments for as long as I can remember. And I don't plan to start now. This is my payment to you."
"I didn't do much."
"Sure. All you did was give me money to start this little establishment up. The amount was somewhere over ten million if I remember correctly. And I remember correctly."
"It was an investment."
"A good investment and this is your returns. You don't have to pump anymore money into it. Keep the money. You're rich, I know, but now I'm much more well off than I was."
Raewyn sighed. Alice would never accept the money.
"Fine. But I'll be needing some equipment. What do you have that can hurt a demon?"
A grin formed on Alice's face. She looked at Raewyn with quicksilver eyes, grafted on ever since she had ritually blinded herself.
"What do I have? Oh, many, many things." She giggled, slightly maniaclly. It was macabre, to see such a reaction on so innocent a face. "Pain," she paused dramatically. "is my speciality."
"I thought you could see Pain. That was why you gouged out your own eyes, wasn't it?"
"To see Pain is to know Pain. To know Pain is to have Pain. To have Pain is to be able to inflict Pain." Alice rolled her artificial eyes. "Come and see." She led Raewyn into a room.
Jack sighed once more and resumed his sweeping. Suddenly, he looked up, evidently having heard something. Sighing again, he murmured, "Not another ghost customer." He stood straighter and talked to the air, not being able to see where the voice came from.
"Hello sir, and what would you like...."
The Letters #2
You are surely forgiven, beloved Calm.
That you take responsibility does my heart much good-
Oh wait, that's right, its no longer beating.
How could you not know that I had the gene?
I had thought that was why you had challenged me,
To a ritual fight to the death.
But don't be too anxious.
When you come after me this time,
I'll be ready.
-November
That you take responsibility does my heart much good-
Oh wait, that's right, its no longer beating.
How could you not know that I had the gene?
I had thought that was why you had challenged me,
To a ritual fight to the death.
But don't be too anxious.
When you come after me this time,
I'll be ready.
-November
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Whose Time Is It Anyway
In their time,
Cocytus went through a lengthy process of self-discovery. His control wasn't perfect, not by a long shot and many a times his levitating globe of blood would lose all cohesion and just splash all over the place. Luckily, the matron of the ward was tending to other patients who were afflicted by a rather greater need of medicine, painkillers and healing spells.
He was isolated, what with him being a special case. So far, he had been examined by various people, all of whom had failed to identify the cause of his condition. In fact, after regaining his bodily fluids, there seemed to be absolutely nothing wrong with him, save for the after-effects of severe blood loss and, of course, his veins.
He knew better than to continue his self-experimentations when there were others around. Concentrating, he willed the blood to separate from his clothes and beddings and flow back into his veins. Slowly, but surely, the blood stains shrank and disappeared, leaving no trace of the mess he had made.
He had been classified as a "medical anomaly", but for all the inspections, he was more of a "medical curiosity" or a "medical zoo exhibit". His veins, dangling limply, had its blood flow stopped, for no obvious reason, just before it could flow out and his hands, stripped of its blood vessels as it were, still bled if you cut it and pulsed with the life-giving fluid. It was as if he had simply grown new veins which protruded out of his skin.
He had ignored the mental questions of the rest of the group and had only told them that he was okay. Sitting in bed, he singularly failed to concentrate on the school work that was being sent to him after each period. He wondered what his limitations to this control was. Could he control blood that wasn't his?
In her time,
The mistress was right. Morinth had already prepared the room. Sometimes, Raewyn suspected that he had been a rogue in life, dexterity not what the undead were famous for. The one thing that she was sure of was that he had been dead and ... reanimated for a long time, given the mobility of the deathly manservant. Probably deadly too. But, this was simply too quick. Raewyn had just seen him walk past her down the corridor and the room was already cleaned and tidied. Not even live people could manage such speed, the room being as dilapidated as it was the last time she had seen it. Three days ago, to be exact. Regardless of how it had been accomplished, it was comfortable accomodations and she promptly fell asleep on the soft bed, still wearing her skin-tight black suit.
The next day proved to be as exhausting as her mentor had promised, made even more so as Karasondrias had forced two lessons into one as punishment for her transgression. On the upside, since she had moved in with Kara, she no longer needed to pay for her rent and all her daily necessities were all provided for. She had requested that her lessons be extended to encompass the whole day, but Kara was insistent that she keep her job, the job of accountings which Raewyn thoroughly detested but was instrumental in occupying her time and assuaging her guilt by adding just a few more drops into her vast family fortune.
She did not want to seem like a wastrel, not to herself, not to outsiders, not to her beloved, deceased mother and most definitely not to her dead-by-her-hands father. Sometimes, Raewyn wondered if perhaps killing him was actually the right thing to do. After his death, the distraught girl had cried for days and her heartbroken mother had followed after the father six years later, somehow developing a cancer which just kept returning regardless of how many times the doctors operated. In the end, she had gone serenely, made peace with death and Raewyn had came into her own. At the tender age of 14, she easily acquired the first place among the youngest of the rich nobles. Her family fortune was practically inexhaustible and with the imnumerable amount of debts and favors owed to the Aesiflay line, Raewyn would never need to want for anything ever again. Not that she spent as though money was water, like those other spoilt kids in her school. She lived simply, never spending more than she had to, but also not going out of her way to be extremely frugal.
She had eschewed her family mansion and had left it to the servants to stay in. She had rented a little apartment, but that was then and now is now. Although, Kara's mansion did remind her quite abit of her own...
Shaking her head to clear such thoughts, Raewyn proceeded to continue the tedious task of number-crunching and paper-pushing.
Cocytus went through a lengthy process of self-discovery. His control wasn't perfect, not by a long shot and many a times his levitating globe of blood would lose all cohesion and just splash all over the place. Luckily, the matron of the ward was tending to other patients who were afflicted by a rather greater need of medicine, painkillers and healing spells.
He was isolated, what with him being a special case. So far, he had been examined by various people, all of whom had failed to identify the cause of his condition. In fact, after regaining his bodily fluids, there seemed to be absolutely nothing wrong with him, save for the after-effects of severe blood loss and, of course, his veins.
He knew better than to continue his self-experimentations when there were others around. Concentrating, he willed the blood to separate from his clothes and beddings and flow back into his veins. Slowly, but surely, the blood stains shrank and disappeared, leaving no trace of the mess he had made.
He had been classified as a "medical anomaly", but for all the inspections, he was more of a "medical curiosity" or a "medical zoo exhibit". His veins, dangling limply, had its blood flow stopped, for no obvious reason, just before it could flow out and his hands, stripped of its blood vessels as it were, still bled if you cut it and pulsed with the life-giving fluid. It was as if he had simply grown new veins which protruded out of his skin.
He had ignored the mental questions of the rest of the group and had only told them that he was okay. Sitting in bed, he singularly failed to concentrate on the school work that was being sent to him after each period. He wondered what his limitations to this control was. Could he control blood that wasn't his?
In her time,
The mistress was right. Morinth had already prepared the room. Sometimes, Raewyn suspected that he had been a rogue in life, dexterity not what the undead were famous for. The one thing that she was sure of was that he had been dead and ... reanimated for a long time, given the mobility of the deathly manservant. Probably deadly too. But, this was simply too quick. Raewyn had just seen him walk past her down the corridor and the room was already cleaned and tidied. Not even live people could manage such speed, the room being as dilapidated as it was the last time she had seen it. Three days ago, to be exact. Regardless of how it had been accomplished, it was comfortable accomodations and she promptly fell asleep on the soft bed, still wearing her skin-tight black suit.
The next day proved to be as exhausting as her mentor had promised, made even more so as Karasondrias had forced two lessons into one as punishment for her transgression. On the upside, since she had moved in with Kara, she no longer needed to pay for her rent and all her daily necessities were all provided for. She had requested that her lessons be extended to encompass the whole day, but Kara was insistent that she keep her job, the job of accountings which Raewyn thoroughly detested but was instrumental in occupying her time and assuaging her guilt by adding just a few more drops into her vast family fortune.
She did not want to seem like a wastrel, not to herself, not to outsiders, not to her beloved, deceased mother and most definitely not to her dead-by-her-hands father. Sometimes, Raewyn wondered if perhaps killing him was actually the right thing to do. After his death, the distraught girl had cried for days and her heartbroken mother had followed after the father six years later, somehow developing a cancer which just kept returning regardless of how many times the doctors operated. In the end, she had gone serenely, made peace with death and Raewyn had came into her own. At the tender age of 14, she easily acquired the first place among the youngest of the rich nobles. Her family fortune was practically inexhaustible and with the imnumerable amount of debts and favors owed to the Aesiflay line, Raewyn would never need to want for anything ever again. Not that she spent as though money was water, like those other spoilt kids in her school. She lived simply, never spending more than she had to, but also not going out of her way to be extremely frugal.
She had eschewed her family mansion and had left it to the servants to stay in. She had rented a little apartment, but that was then and now is now. Although, Kara's mansion did remind her quite abit of her own...
Shaking her head to clear such thoughts, Raewyn proceeded to continue the tedious task of number-crunching and paper-pushing.
The Letters #1
I'm sorry November.
It was the wrong thing to do.
But I should have known that you would return,
Should have known that you would have the gene.
I'm really sorry for it,
But I regret nothing.
And now that you've come back,
I'm going to have to kill you again.
Permanently.
-Calm
It was the wrong thing to do.
But I should have known that you would return,
Should have known that you would have the gene.
I'm really sorry for it,
But I regret nothing.
And now that you've come back,
I'm going to have to kill you again.
Permanently.
-Calm
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