Somehow he expected that she wouldn't take the bishani. Perhaps she still felt too guilty about her behavior to accept it, or maybe she just didn't want to give him something else to hold over her head. Either way, he didn't care. All that mattered was that she returned in time for dinner, and he knew she wouldn't risk his wrath again by showing up late.
Eltana entered the house and closed the door behind him, his eyes falling on the servant boy. “I've had a long morning, so run my bath and be quick about it. When Narain shows up, let him know that I have an assignment for him.”
The boy nodded and left without a word. As much as the brat's incompetence annoyed him, at least he knew enough not to mouth off to his betters. Poor boys like him often dreamed of rising above their station, but Eltana had nipped that in the bud before it became a problem. But that wouldn't work on Seona. She was a special case: theoretically, she could leave whenever she wanted and return to living on the streets. Verbal abuse was useful for castigating servants, but if he wanted to reach Seona, she needed to know that he could clip her wings at a moment's notice.
Only when he limited her hope of escape would he have complete power over her. It was time his little winged piegon learned what it meant to be in a cage.
His bath was ready not much later. Eltana went upstairs to the master bathroom, disrobed and sank into the hot water. He closed his eyes and stretched, moaning softly. As much as he enjoyed going out on the town for a few drinks with friends, places like the Bitch's Bite were filthy, and the last thing he needed was to catch something. He always spent at least an hour bathing afterward, and his servants had a fresh change of clothes ready for him when he finished. Of course, he'd probably have to take another before bed. Tonight's business would be a bloody affair.
Narain went up to the bathroom for his orders as soon as he arrived. When his master told him what he had planned, he frowned and leaned against the door, crossing his arms. “Don't you think that's a little extreme? She only lost her temper. I doesn't sound like it'll be a big issue. If you have to punish her, a few smacks would probably send the message.”
“Perhaps you're right,” Eltana condeded as he sank deeper into the water. “But punishment isn't my only goal. She needs to learn that actions have consequences, and I need to toughen her up if I'm going to use her for anything important. If she's sticking around for a while, she needs to be as reliable and loyal as you.”
Narain sighed. “Fine. I'll bring 'em in through the back entrance. Everything will be ready in the basement by the time you guys finish eating. Be sure to save a plate for me.”
Eltana smirked. “I'll see what I can do.”
After finishing his bath, Eltana changed into a simple violet robe and went down to the dining room. His cook had heard he was in a bad mood, so he'd prepared his favorite lobster tail and crab legs. Eltana smiled and took his seat at the head of the table, and waited patiently for Seona to return. He'd paid for most of his servants to eat out in the city, so it would be just the two of them tonight.
Eltana smiled at her when she entered the dining room. “Please, have a seat. I hope you enjoyed your time off. We have much work to do after dinner, but we'll worry about that later.”
Underhanded Innocence
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Seona made her way to the table, noticing the lack of servants. The boy that had taken her violin had since skittered off to eat out. As a result, the house was eerily silent besides the loud beating of her heart and the steady beat of Eltana's. It was odd, she mused to herself, being able to hear so well. She sat, her dress rustling audibly in the silence, waiting for Eltana to eat before she touches her plate.
It was tasty, not what she was used to, but good. Something in the back of her mind told her to enjoy it while she could, so she savored the bites. "This is delicious." She said at last, looking to Eltana, trying on a smile for size. It came surprisingly easy. Her calm caressed her, blocked everything else out. Perhaps that wasn't a good thing... but for now... for now it would work to keep her sane.
The rest of the meal was mostly silent. Seona had no desire to break the silence as it was welcome, and calming. Certainly unnerving as Eltana seemed calm himself, but she could sense a storm. This was the calm before it. She couldn't smell the rain, or the lightning, but her owl's eyes were wide and its feathers puffed out, bracing itself. Fox-Eltana was smiling. Oh Changers...
Finished before Eltana somehow, she waited patiently for him, eyes closed and leaning back into her chair. She felt so submissive... somehow she didn't care.
It was tasty, not what she was used to, but good. Something in the back of her mind told her to enjoy it while she could, so she savored the bites. "This is delicious." She said at last, looking to Eltana, trying on a smile for size. It came surprisingly easy. Her calm caressed her, blocked everything else out. Perhaps that wasn't a good thing... but for now... for now it would work to keep her sane.
The rest of the meal was mostly silent. Seona had no desire to break the silence as it was welcome, and calming. Certainly unnerving as Eltana seemed calm himself, but she could sense a storm. This was the calm before it. She couldn't smell the rain, or the lightning, but her owl's eyes were wide and its feathers puffed out, bracing itself. Fox-Eltana was smiling. Oh Changers...
Finished before Eltana somehow, she waited patiently for him, eyes closed and leaning back into her chair. She felt so submissive... somehow she didn't care.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Eltana remained silent as he ate. He noticed that Seona finished before him, but made no effort to finish any faster. It had been a long day, so he was going to take his time and enjoy his supper. Perhaps one day he would teach her to pace herself at the table. Stray animals like her were used to wolfing down whatever scraps they could get their paws on, but such behavior wasn't acceptable in high society.
But that was a lesson for another time. A far more important one was just around the corner.
Smiling, he rose from his seat. “I hope you enjoyed your supper. Please, follow me to the basement so we can begin our next lesson. You may go to bed once we finish.”
He led her to a door in the house's east wing and opened it, revealing a stairwell leading down into a dimly lit basement. “This won't take long if you cooperate,” he said, glancing over at her. “Come along. We don't want to keep Narain waiting.”
Walking down the stairs, Eltana led her through the cellar. It was a spacious room filled with old furniture and shelves of wine bottles. At the other end was a door with light shining through the cracks. He walked her over to the door and knocked on it. “Is everything ready?” he asked.
“We've been ready for over twenty minutes,” Narain answered from the other side, sounding annoyed. The knob began to turn. “Let's go so we can get this over with.”
The door opened, and Eltana motioned for Seona to step inside. The room was much brighter than the rest of the basement, the easier for Seona to see the horror within. A young boy was sprawled out in the center of the room, his limbs bound and a bag over his head. His body was still, but his pitiful sobs showed that he was still conscious. Narain glanced down at him after opening the door, then shook his head and went to wait in the corner.
“This is both a punishment and a lesson,” Eltana explained, closing the door behind them. He stood in front of it to prevent her from leaving, though he doubted she'd try. “After you embarrassed me this morning, I considered having your hands removed to teach you a lesson. But since that would be counterproductive” - he motioned to the boy - “I decided to use this child in your place.”
His smile widened. “Like you, this little orphan boy makes good use of his hands every day. But instead of playing an instrument, he earns bishani for himself and his little sister by shining shoes outside the university. I want you to take a knife from Narain and remove his hands. If you're to serve me, you must be willing to follow my orders without question or complaint. Take as long as you like, but you don't leave this room until the deed is done.”
But that was a lesson for another time. A far more important one was just around the corner.
Smiling, he rose from his seat. “I hope you enjoyed your supper. Please, follow me to the basement so we can begin our next lesson. You may go to bed once we finish.”
He led her to a door in the house's east wing and opened it, revealing a stairwell leading down into a dimly lit basement. “This won't take long if you cooperate,” he said, glancing over at her. “Come along. We don't want to keep Narain waiting.”
Walking down the stairs, Eltana led her through the cellar. It was a spacious room filled with old furniture and shelves of wine bottles. At the other end was a door with light shining through the cracks. He walked her over to the door and knocked on it. “Is everything ready?” he asked.
“We've been ready for over twenty minutes,” Narain answered from the other side, sounding annoyed. The knob began to turn. “Let's go so we can get this over with.”
The door opened, and Eltana motioned for Seona to step inside. The room was much brighter than the rest of the basement, the easier for Seona to see the horror within. A young boy was sprawled out in the center of the room, his limbs bound and a bag over his head. His body was still, but his pitiful sobs showed that he was still conscious. Narain glanced down at him after opening the door, then shook his head and went to wait in the corner.
“This is both a punishment and a lesson,” Eltana explained, closing the door behind them. He stood in front of it to prevent her from leaving, though he doubted she'd try. “After you embarrassed me this morning, I considered having your hands removed to teach you a lesson. But since that would be counterproductive” - he motioned to the boy - “I decided to use this child in your place.”
His smile widened. “Like you, this little orphan boy makes good use of his hands every day. But instead of playing an instrument, he earns bishani for himself and his little sister by shining shoes outside the university. I want you to take a knife from Narain and remove his hands. If you're to serve me, you must be willing to follow my orders without question or complaint. Take as long as you like, but you don't leave this room until the deed is done.”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
She had regretted walking into the room immediately. He'd closed off the only exit, and his bodyguard looked as though he could catch her as an owl. Not that shifting would help. She wanted to look back at Eltana, beg him to take her hands instead - that was her first instinct. She stared at the boy, his pitiful sobbing breaking her heart even as fear trickled at the back of her mind.
What if she failed? She could always give up her own hands but- her violin. The only other sanctuary she had besides her mind. She shivered. Her owl was calm though, oddly, staring calmly at the laughing Eltana-fox. Her eyes moved across the room to Narain, who existed but didn't. Things were falling apart around her, nothing made sense as her mind went into a state of shock as she made her decision. She looked to the knife in his hands, then back to the boy. Her conscious screamed in the back of her mind not to do it but- She looked blankly back at Eltana, her eyes glassed. "As my master commands." Her voice - it was off. It was there, but it wasn't there, barely audible to the ringing in her ears. She turned, all but deaf to the increasing volume of the boy's sobs and whimpers.
The walk across the room was long, it seemed. Her thoughts were racing, her heart pounding, and she could've sworn she saw some sort of emotion cross ghost-Narain's face. Didn't matter. What mattered? Eltana's satisfaction. Why? She would help him. Sad fox-eyes stared at her in her mind as her owl stared calmly at the fox. Another step, another mile, more of her slipping screaming into the back of her mind; a hollow ringing. Another step and she all but closed her wailing conscious off to the world. It was as Eltana wished, she would complete his order. She moved to Narain and took the blade, lifting it to stare at it before testing its edge on her own thumb. It cut her. She watched the crimson liquid a moment before turning on her heel, and moving towards the now loudly sobbing boy.
"Don't cry boy, don't cry." Her voice, she couldn't hear it, but it was smooth as silk, detached. "This will only make you stronger." The blade raised itself, her hand attached to it. She wasn't aware of the tears streaming down her face. "You will grow to hate me, hate my voice, and his voice too. Rage will make you stronger, boy." She saw her reflection in the blade and froze, staring at it, staring at the tear-stained face and the terrified blue eyes. "Unlike me, I am so weak, so scared. I am sorry, boy. Be sure to grow stronger than me." Her lisp was bad, but not once did she say her own name. He was begging her not to, begging her to stop, to reconsider, but she was deaf to it from the roaring scream in her ears.
Her mind was racing, her heart thundering, and Eltana's demand ranging through her. The blade rose higher and came down with a sudden ferocity she didn't know she had. Quick and clean. The blood squirted into her face, across her dress and on the floor even as the boy howled. She heard the flesh thump against the floor and shook. She turned, unseeing, to move to the other side. The moon glowing over her owl was blood red, fox-Eltana was laughing and her owl was crying. "Please, miss, stop! What did I do? What did I do?!" "Nothing." She said it so simply. "I made the mistake, and will not make it again. I must serve my master, because I must help him." The boy sobbed. "Why?" She stopped beside him, her eyes far away.
"That, boy, is something I have yet to find out. Good luck, boy." Up went the blade, then down, thunking into the wood as he screamed, blood gushing. Her tears streamed down her face as she lifted the blade to examine it, moving away to allow Narain to tend to the boy if Eltana so chose. She looked up, slowly, blood spatter on her face. And then it sank in. She shivered and dropped the blade. Her conscious screamed loudly, howling in horror even as her owl screeched. She looked him in the eye, pale. "May I leave, Master? I wish to wash up." Her voice was surprisingly steady, even if she couldn't speak above a barely audible whisper.
What if she failed? She could always give up her own hands but- her violin. The only other sanctuary she had besides her mind. She shivered. Her owl was calm though, oddly, staring calmly at the laughing Eltana-fox. Her eyes moved across the room to Narain, who existed but didn't. Things were falling apart around her, nothing made sense as her mind went into a state of shock as she made her decision. She looked to the knife in his hands, then back to the boy. Her conscious screamed in the back of her mind not to do it but- She looked blankly back at Eltana, her eyes glassed. "As my master commands." Her voice - it was off. It was there, but it wasn't there, barely audible to the ringing in her ears. She turned, all but deaf to the increasing volume of the boy's sobs and whimpers.
The walk across the room was long, it seemed. Her thoughts were racing, her heart pounding, and she could've sworn she saw some sort of emotion cross ghost-Narain's face. Didn't matter. What mattered? Eltana's satisfaction. Why? She would help him. Sad fox-eyes stared at her in her mind as her owl stared calmly at the fox. Another step, another mile, more of her slipping screaming into the back of her mind; a hollow ringing. Another step and she all but closed her wailing conscious off to the world. It was as Eltana wished, she would complete his order. She moved to Narain and took the blade, lifting it to stare at it before testing its edge on her own thumb. It cut her. She watched the crimson liquid a moment before turning on her heel, and moving towards the now loudly sobbing boy.
"Don't cry boy, don't cry." Her voice, she couldn't hear it, but it was smooth as silk, detached. "This will only make you stronger." The blade raised itself, her hand attached to it. She wasn't aware of the tears streaming down her face. "You will grow to hate me, hate my voice, and his voice too. Rage will make you stronger, boy." She saw her reflection in the blade and froze, staring at it, staring at the tear-stained face and the terrified blue eyes. "Unlike me, I am so weak, so scared. I am sorry, boy. Be sure to grow stronger than me." Her lisp was bad, but not once did she say her own name. He was begging her not to, begging her to stop, to reconsider, but she was deaf to it from the roaring scream in her ears.
Her mind was racing, her heart thundering, and Eltana's demand ranging through her. The blade rose higher and came down with a sudden ferocity she didn't know she had. Quick and clean. The blood squirted into her face, across her dress and on the floor even as the boy howled. She heard the flesh thump against the floor and shook. She turned, unseeing, to move to the other side. The moon glowing over her owl was blood red, fox-Eltana was laughing and her owl was crying. "Please, miss, stop! What did I do? What did I do?!" "Nothing." She said it so simply. "I made the mistake, and will not make it again. I must serve my master, because I must help him." The boy sobbed. "Why?" She stopped beside him, her eyes far away.
"That, boy, is something I have yet to find out. Good luck, boy." Up went the blade, then down, thunking into the wood as he screamed, blood gushing. Her tears streamed down her face as she lifted the blade to examine it, moving away to allow Narain to tend to the boy if Eltana so chose. She looked up, slowly, blood spatter on her face. And then it sank in. She shivered and dropped the blade. Her conscious screamed loudly, howling in horror even as her owl screeched. She looked him in the eye, pale. "May I leave, Master? I wish to wash up." Her voice was surprisingly steady, even if she couldn't speak above a barely audible whisper.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
A sweet, naïve girl forced to multilate a helpless child – such a scene would have enthralled a more sadistic man, but Eltana merely observed with his usual indifference. This was an assignment, and the sooner Seona finished, the sooner he could go to sleep.
Long ago, he would have delighted in the carnage; it reminded him of when he sewed poison into his first victim under Vanyusha’s tutelage. But now he struggled to even pay attention. Perhaps Seona’s reluctance sucked the passion out of the scene, or maybe all the death he’d witnessed under Vanyusha had dulled him. Seona’s lack of passion was disappointing, but he didn’t care as long as she carried out his orders without resistance.
When she took the blade without protest, something told him resistance would no longer be an issue.
Oh, but he could do without the chatter. There was no need to console the brat – he was a target, nothing more. Though Eltana had to admit her words had some truth to them. Rage was powerful. He wouldn’t be where he was today without the rage he felt in his childhood. His rage pushed him forward, and it turned to ecstasy as he crushed those who stood in his way. But as he watched Seona tear into the boy, Eltana knew that his passion was gone. The art that had given him his first taste of power had become nothing more than a means to an end.
Sad but inevitable. Eltana knew all life’s passions became dull after a while, but as long as he lived comfortably it didn’t matter. Unlike this boy, he didn’t have to worry about how he was going to survive on the streets tomorrow. Speaking of the brat, it was about time for Narain to send him back to whatever gutter he came from.
Eltana glanced at Narain once Seona stepped aside. “Clean up the boy and drop him off somewhere, I don’t care where,” he said, then looked to Seona. “You’re dismissed. Just don’t drip any blood on my carpet when you go upstairs, understood?”
Long ago, he would have delighted in the carnage; it reminded him of when he sewed poison into his first victim under Vanyusha’s tutelage. But now he struggled to even pay attention. Perhaps Seona’s reluctance sucked the passion out of the scene, or maybe all the death he’d witnessed under Vanyusha had dulled him. Seona’s lack of passion was disappointing, but he didn’t care as long as she carried out his orders without resistance.
When she took the blade without protest, something told him resistance would no longer be an issue.
Oh, but he could do without the chatter. There was no need to console the brat – he was a target, nothing more. Though Eltana had to admit her words had some truth to them. Rage was powerful. He wouldn’t be where he was today without the rage he felt in his childhood. His rage pushed him forward, and it turned to ecstasy as he crushed those who stood in his way. But as he watched Seona tear into the boy, Eltana knew that his passion was gone. The art that had given him his first taste of power had become nothing more than a means to an end.
Sad but inevitable. Eltana knew all life’s passions became dull after a while, but as long as he lived comfortably it didn’t matter. Unlike this boy, he didn’t have to worry about how he was going to survive on the streets tomorrow. Speaking of the brat, it was about time for Narain to send him back to whatever gutter he came from.
Eltana glanced at Narain once Seona stepped aside. “Clean up the boy and drop him off somewhere, I don’t care where,” he said, then looked to Seona. “You’re dismissed. Just don’t drip any blood on my carpet when you go upstairs, understood?”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
The nod was quick, jerky and almost hypnotic. She managed her way past him before shifting quickly and taking flight down the hall - her owl feathers would drip nothing. She flew silently up and into the bathroom, shifting again with a sob. The door was closed rather loudly as her hands shook and her body acted more abruptly than she'd anticipated. Shock and horror at what she had done flooded her mind and she whimpered, attempting to turn on the water so she could rid herself of the blood that was now staining her hands.
A whimpered sob escaped her again as she managed, just barely, to turn the water on and began to fill the tub. She stripped quickly and lost no time in scrubbing herself until she was red. She could still see the blood though. She dried herself off, scooped the blood-ruined dress off the floor and hurried to her room, taking care to not drip water or blood on the floor. The garment draped over the carefully hung behind a door, Seona threw herself on the bed and sobbed harshly, her face buried in the pillows to quiet herself, not wanting to enrage her master.
All this over standing up for herself... she would do it again, she knew, but she would take care not to embarrass her master again.
A whimpered sob escaped her again as she managed, just barely, to turn the water on and began to fill the tub. She stripped quickly and lost no time in scrubbing herself until she was red. She could still see the blood though. She dried herself off, scooped the blood-ruined dress off the floor and hurried to her room, taking care to not drip water or blood on the floor. The garment draped over the carefully hung behind a door, Seona threw herself on the bed and sobbed harshly, her face buried in the pillows to quiet herself, not wanting to enrage her master.
All this over standing up for herself... she would do it again, she knew, but she would take care not to embarrass her master again.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Eltana remained in the empty room after the others left, his eyes lingering on the bloody stains where the deed had been done. It was a harsh lesson, but an effective one – if the girl was to be a truly effective servant, she needed to be able to follow even the most gruesome orders. Though there was more hesitation than he’d have liked, she handled the brat well.
He would take it easy on her for the next few days. She would have to do worse in the future, but he’d risk breaking her if he rushed her training. After all, even he didn’t become accustomed to maiming and bloodshed overnight.
Turning, he left the basement and headed upstairs. There was still work to do, but it could wait until tomorrow – sleep sounded so much more appealing. On the way to his room, he stopped at Seona’s and knocked on the door. “You performed well, so you have my permission to sleep in tomorrow. I want you to report to me at noon for further training. I’ll be throwing a party this weekend, and I want to make sure you’re presentable.”
Not waiting for a response, he continued to his room and slid into bed. Eltana sighed and closed his eyes, quickly falling asleep.
He would take it easy on her for the next few days. She would have to do worse in the future, but he’d risk breaking her if he rushed her training. After all, even he didn’t become accustomed to maiming and bloodshed overnight.
Turning, he left the basement and headed upstairs. There was still work to do, but it could wait until tomorrow – sleep sounded so much more appealing. On the way to his room, he stopped at Seona’s and knocked on the door. “You performed well, so you have my permission to sleep in tomorrow. I want you to report to me at noon for further training. I’ll be throwing a party this weekend, and I want to make sure you’re presentable.”
Not waiting for a response, he continued to his room and slid into bed. Eltana sighed and closed his eyes, quickly falling asleep.
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Sleep refused to consume her that night, denied her refuge from her own actions and mind, not even her safe place would rise to shelter her from her own mind. The boy's pleading rang through her ears as her sobs racked her body, the crimson blood coating the inside of her eyes, refusing to allow her to escape it. She wanted to howl to the moon in agony as a wolf would, she wanted to cut off her own hands - but what good would that do her now? The need to run rose slowly, rising with her panic and her agony. She needed to run - she needed to run now! She was up, naked and jumping from her window within seconds, only to shift as she plummeted to the ground, owl wings catching the air and carrying her into the winds as she screeched.
The winds were turbulent, a storm was on the horizon, perfect to match her mood. A gust buffeted her and knocked her sideways, forcing the girl to barrel roll to avoid a tree. The boy's screams ripped through her ears, blood stained her hands, she screeched again and rocketed haphazardly through the city. If owls could cry, she would be sobbing. A quick twist had her missing a building and sent her flashing down an alley way. They boy's cries followed her, and soon the feelings of defeat, starvation and death swamped her as she flew through the slums of Marn. Whores called their wares, urchins stole what they could and old men starved, drunk on the streets with tear stained faces.
She was one of these people before he picked her up off the ground. But so was the boy. She landed, panting, on a rooftop, rain falling slowly, though quickly gaining momentum. He hurt her, abused her, and treated her like shit - but this was why. She watched as a boy was grabbed by the man he was attempting to pick-pocket. This boy, likely, would suffer a fate as bad as the one she had maimed herself, if not worse. She knew that, she understood that... but why? Why her!? All she had done was stand up for herself - the first time she had ever done such a thing, that she could recall. She clicked her beak, watching as the man dragged the boy away. She could help him - distract the man... She cocked her head. They boy was just trying to live and yet he would be punished. Life was not fair.
She dropped from the rooftop and flashed towards the man, screeching, claws extended. The would not make up for what she did - it would not help the boy whose life she had destroyed, but it would even the playing field if not only by the width of a feather. Maybe she could do this... she thought as she flew away, narrowly dodging the man's snarling attempts at grabbing her as the boy fled. Maybe she could help others. The boy's screaming dimmed in her ears as she contemplated this. She would have to learn to fight, certainly, if she wanted to truly help the others... and no doubt Eltana would find her gaining combative abilities most useful... She flew aimlessly, deep in thought.
If she learned to fight, she would have to hurt others... others who were just trying to do what they had to to achieve happiness. She didn't want to hurt others... Death doesn't hurt. Her wing beats faltered as surprise crackled through her body. Death? Could she kill? Yes, yes she could kill... she killed plenty when she was hungry and needed food as an owl. If she could kill... if she could kill Eltana's enemies... perhaps she would earn respect. A darker thought followed that, making her freeze. She shook her head, trying to shake away what she knew was coming. And if he can't respect her, he too will die. She looked down and saw a fox. Without thinking she folded her wings and plummeted, screeching in rage, her open talons slamming into the creatures skull. The force of impact, combined with the speed at which she'd fallen and the angle which she'd grabbed the creature by, slammed its head into the cobblestone. Blood seeped from the crack in its skull and the new cuts Seona began to create as she ripped into the animal, screeching in blind rage.To this day she never remembered the attack, never remembered taking off as the rain washed her feathers free of the blood, or of landing within her room as a human.
When she woke, it was to the sound of rain. She sat up, confused and scared. When had she come home? A glance at her clock told her that was the least of her problems - she had but an hour to be prepared for Eltana. Grateful he'd allowed her to sleep in, Seona rushed to ready herself. A dress of blue was her choice (the first thing she saw in the closet). Pulling it on and quickly brushing her hair, she managed to pull the tresses back into a ponytail before walking quickly towards the hall where she knew Eltana was waiting, her idea burning into her mind. It is time to learn to kill as a human.
When she stepped in and saw him, her eyes met his, burning quietly with a different emotion than usual. "Good morning, Master Eltana." She murmured, refusing to look away. "How did you sleep?"
The winds were turbulent, a storm was on the horizon, perfect to match her mood. A gust buffeted her and knocked her sideways, forcing the girl to barrel roll to avoid a tree. The boy's screams ripped through her ears, blood stained her hands, she screeched again and rocketed haphazardly through the city. If owls could cry, she would be sobbing. A quick twist had her missing a building and sent her flashing down an alley way. They boy's cries followed her, and soon the feelings of defeat, starvation and death swamped her as she flew through the slums of Marn. Whores called their wares, urchins stole what they could and old men starved, drunk on the streets with tear stained faces.
She was one of these people before he picked her up off the ground. But so was the boy. She landed, panting, on a rooftop, rain falling slowly, though quickly gaining momentum. He hurt her, abused her, and treated her like shit - but this was why. She watched as a boy was grabbed by the man he was attempting to pick-pocket. This boy, likely, would suffer a fate as bad as the one she had maimed herself, if not worse. She knew that, she understood that... but why? Why her!? All she had done was stand up for herself - the first time she had ever done such a thing, that she could recall. She clicked her beak, watching as the man dragged the boy away. She could help him - distract the man... She cocked her head. They boy was just trying to live and yet he would be punished. Life was not fair.
She dropped from the rooftop and flashed towards the man, screeching, claws extended. The would not make up for what she did - it would not help the boy whose life she had destroyed, but it would even the playing field if not only by the width of a feather. Maybe she could do this... she thought as she flew away, narrowly dodging the man's snarling attempts at grabbing her as the boy fled. Maybe she could help others. The boy's screaming dimmed in her ears as she contemplated this. She would have to learn to fight, certainly, if she wanted to truly help the others... and no doubt Eltana would find her gaining combative abilities most useful... She flew aimlessly, deep in thought.
If she learned to fight, she would have to hurt others... others who were just trying to do what they had to to achieve happiness. She didn't want to hurt others... Death doesn't hurt. Her wing beats faltered as surprise crackled through her body. Death? Could she kill? Yes, yes she could kill... she killed plenty when she was hungry and needed food as an owl. If she could kill... if she could kill Eltana's enemies... perhaps she would earn respect. A darker thought followed that, making her freeze. She shook her head, trying to shake away what she knew was coming. And if he can't respect her, he too will die. She looked down and saw a fox. Without thinking she folded her wings and plummeted, screeching in rage, her open talons slamming into the creatures skull. The force of impact, combined with the speed at which she'd fallen and the angle which she'd grabbed the creature by, slammed its head into the cobblestone. Blood seeped from the crack in its skull and the new cuts Seona began to create as she ripped into the animal, screeching in blind rage.To this day she never remembered the attack, never remembered taking off as the rain washed her feathers free of the blood, or of landing within her room as a human.
When she woke, it was to the sound of rain. She sat up, confused and scared. When had she come home? A glance at her clock told her that was the least of her problems - she had but an hour to be prepared for Eltana. Grateful he'd allowed her to sleep in, Seona rushed to ready herself. A dress of blue was her choice (the first thing she saw in the closet). Pulling it on and quickly brushing her hair, she managed to pull the tresses back into a ponytail before walking quickly towards the hall where she knew Eltana was waiting, her idea burning into her mind. It is time to learn to kill as a human.
When she stepped in and saw him, her eyes met his, burning quietly with a different emotion than usual. "Good morning, Master Eltana." She murmured, refusing to look away. "How did you sleep?"
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
“Oh please, continue telling me to calm down. Perhaps if you repeat it enough this whole mess with disappear and I’ll be nothing but smiles and rainbows.”
Eltana sank into his chair and groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Of all the days for his world to come crashing down around him, it had to be when he was preparing to meet with his most important connections. He knew Narain was only trying to help, but he couldn’t just pretend that everything was fine. This night had been in the making for far too long to go awry now. If he made a bad impression, then all his work to establish himself in Marn’s underground would be for nothing.
“Look, I know you’re frustrated,” Narain said, sighing. “I’ll be happy to do whatever these guys want done, okay? You forget that I’ve been doing shit like this since I was a kid.”
Lowering his hands, Eltana glared at Narain. “I know damn well you can do what they want! This isn’t about the job, it’s about the message. I can’t find anyone who can even compare to – “
Hearing the door opening, he swirled around in his chair and was halfway out of it when he saw it was only Seona. That’s right – he had asked for her to stop by at noon. He gave the servants specific orders not to bother him while he worked through this crisis with Narain, but she’d have no way of knowing that. Sighing, he calmed himself and resumed his seat. “Not well. You came at a rather bad time, I’m afraid. Narain and I are in the middle of dealing with a crisis.”
He hadn’t slept since Narain came to him with the note late last night. Vanyusha, his deadliest lieutenant, the nightmarish wraith ruined countless lives, wanted some “time off to find himself.” Eltana thought it was a joke until he noticed it was clearly Vanyusha’s handwriting. He’d made it clear that it was only a leave of absence and that he would be back, but the experiment-obsessed twit couldn’t have picked a worse time for his little soul-searching episode. Eltana had intended to use Vanyusha to impress his new connections in Marn, but no wraith meant no big first impression.
Narain gave Seona a curt nod, then turned back to Eltana. “Maybe you can just put off the meeting until Vanyusha comes back.”
“No, this needs to happen tonight. I’m not bailing out on them after they rearranged their schedules for me,” Eltana snapped. “I swear I’ll have that bastard stuffed and put over my fireplace if he comes back.” Muttering something under his breath, he sighed and rubbed his temples. “Seona, I’m not sure I’m in the best frame of mind to train you right now. I may send you off with Agatha for a while instead.”
Eltana sank into his chair and groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Of all the days for his world to come crashing down around him, it had to be when he was preparing to meet with his most important connections. He knew Narain was only trying to help, but he couldn’t just pretend that everything was fine. This night had been in the making for far too long to go awry now. If he made a bad impression, then all his work to establish himself in Marn’s underground would be for nothing.
“Look, I know you’re frustrated,” Narain said, sighing. “I’ll be happy to do whatever these guys want done, okay? You forget that I’ve been doing shit like this since I was a kid.”
Lowering his hands, Eltana glared at Narain. “I know damn well you can do what they want! This isn’t about the job, it’s about the message. I can’t find anyone who can even compare to – “
Hearing the door opening, he swirled around in his chair and was halfway out of it when he saw it was only Seona. That’s right – he had asked for her to stop by at noon. He gave the servants specific orders not to bother him while he worked through this crisis with Narain, but she’d have no way of knowing that. Sighing, he calmed himself and resumed his seat. “Not well. You came at a rather bad time, I’m afraid. Narain and I are in the middle of dealing with a crisis.”
He hadn’t slept since Narain came to him with the note late last night. Vanyusha, his deadliest lieutenant, the nightmarish wraith ruined countless lives, wanted some “time off to find himself.” Eltana thought it was a joke until he noticed it was clearly Vanyusha’s handwriting. He’d made it clear that it was only a leave of absence and that he would be back, but the experiment-obsessed twit couldn’t have picked a worse time for his little soul-searching episode. Eltana had intended to use Vanyusha to impress his new connections in Marn, but no wraith meant no big first impression.
Narain gave Seona a curt nod, then turned back to Eltana. “Maybe you can just put off the meeting until Vanyusha comes back.”
“No, this needs to happen tonight. I’m not bailing out on them after they rearranged their schedules for me,” Eltana snapped. “I swear I’ll have that bastard stuffed and put over my fireplace if he comes back.” Muttering something under his breath, he sighed and rubbed his temples. “Seona, I’m not sure I’m in the best frame of mind to train you right now. I may send you off with Agatha for a while instead.”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
A crisis? What could possibly effect her master so much? The man looked agitated to say the least and even Narain looked tense. Anger swept clearly through her mind, searing through her like fire, all stemming from the man in front of her. Suddenly the idea of being trained to act like a lady seemed preposterous, and the idea to learn to kill seemed better, after all a lady was clearly not what Eltana needed at the moment... but she couldn't do everything he needed, Not yet. That didn't stop her from wanting to try to anyways.
"Maybe Seona can help?" She murmured, not bothering with trying to concentrate on fixing her grammar. She didn't feel like giving herself a migraine this early in the day. "She can fly messages to someone? Persuade them to come back? Maybe do the bad servants job?" She wasn't sure what she was offering there - could be too much worse as what she just did after all... she felt so dirty and impure after last nights episode; and besides, she wanted to learn to kill humans, as a human.
"Seona can maybe impress people? She knows pretty moon magic - and can read emotions - Seona can feel emotions not hers." Now she was rambling - throwing her abilities out there in an effort to make herself useful. Or at least seem so... She stopped, eyes downcast, as it suddenly dawned on her just how useless she was to him.
"I will do anything you require me to. Even kill." She said it quietly, with an interesting level of determination. He took her off the streets - it was time she made herself useful to him. "I want to learn how to kill, I want to become useful to Master Eltana. To you." She looked up, daring to look to him, willing to meet his cold gaze with her own heated one. She would be what he needed.
"Maybe Seona can help?" She murmured, not bothering with trying to concentrate on fixing her grammar. She didn't feel like giving herself a migraine this early in the day. "She can fly messages to someone? Persuade them to come back? Maybe do the bad servants job?" She wasn't sure what she was offering there - could be too much worse as what she just did after all... she felt so dirty and impure after last nights episode; and besides, she wanted to learn to kill humans, as a human.
"Seona can maybe impress people? She knows pretty moon magic - and can read emotions - Seona can feel emotions not hers." Now she was rambling - throwing her abilities out there in an effort to make herself useful. Or at least seem so... She stopped, eyes downcast, as it suddenly dawned on her just how useless she was to him.
"I will do anything you require me to. Even kill." She said it quietly, with an interesting level of determination. He took her off the streets - it was time she made herself useful to him. "I want to learn how to kill, I want to become useful to Master Eltana. To you." She looked up, daring to look to him, willing to meet his cold gaze with her own heated one. She would be what he needed.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
When Seona volunteered her services, he couldn't say he was surprised – for all the girls faults she had a commendable desire to please. But he wasn't sure that she would be useful for this particular assignment. Like with Narain, he didn't doubt that she could carry it out, but he was more concerned with the message than the deed itself. Vanyusha could easily terrify most people, but Seona? The idea was laughable. But still, he knew there was something else lurking beneath her harmless appearance. She had shown brief flashes of hostility since he took her in, and she maimed that innocent boy without objection.
Eltana glanced over at Narain, who immediately guessed what he was thinking and stared at him in disbelief. “You can't be serious? Look, I like the kid but I don't think she has the skill to pull off such an important job! And if she does mess it up, can you imagine what everyone would think?”
“We don't exactly have many other options,” Eltana countered. “You're far too quick and clean to leave a strong impression. Unless Vanyusha happens to change his mind and come back, it's either this or calling the whole thing off.”
Perhaps it would be better to withdraw until Vanyusha returned, but Eltana had no idea when that would be. Besides, this would be an excellent opportunity to see just what Seona could do. But if she failed... well, he could always explain that this mission would be a trial for a new recruit. Vanyusha could always impress his new allies when he returned. As long as Seona didn't completely botch the mission, he could risk sending her out. Besides, there was always a chance she would pleasantly surprise him. She had potential, but how much remained to be seen.
“Though I appreciate your dedication, Seona, this mission wouldn't require you to kill; however, it does call for a bit of... showmanship,” Eltana said, frowning. “I'll allow you to take my servant's place for this job, but I stress that failure is unacceptable. I'd need you to teach someone the meaning of fear, to leave an impression that will shake him for years to come. Do you think you can do that? If not, that's perfectly fine – I'll call it off and we'll continue with your training.”
Eltana glanced over at Narain, who immediately guessed what he was thinking and stared at him in disbelief. “You can't be serious? Look, I like the kid but I don't think she has the skill to pull off such an important job! And if she does mess it up, can you imagine what everyone would think?”
“We don't exactly have many other options,” Eltana countered. “You're far too quick and clean to leave a strong impression. Unless Vanyusha happens to change his mind and come back, it's either this or calling the whole thing off.”
Perhaps it would be better to withdraw until Vanyusha returned, but Eltana had no idea when that would be. Besides, this would be an excellent opportunity to see just what Seona could do. But if she failed... well, he could always explain that this mission would be a trial for a new recruit. Vanyusha could always impress his new allies when he returned. As long as Seona didn't completely botch the mission, he could risk sending her out. Besides, there was always a chance she would pleasantly surprise him. She had potential, but how much remained to be seen.
“Though I appreciate your dedication, Seona, this mission wouldn't require you to kill; however, it does call for a bit of... showmanship,” Eltana said, frowning. “I'll allow you to take my servant's place for this job, but I stress that failure is unacceptable. I'd need you to teach someone the meaning of fear, to leave an impression that will shake him for years to come. Do you think you can do that? If not, that's perfectly fine – I'll call it off and we'll continue with your training.”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Something dark twisted in Seona's gut, a dark claw that tangled with what had been a pure and innocent light, as she looked into her masters eyes and nodded. She was his, she owed him her life, and if that meant giving someone a most horrifying show, she would do as he wished.
“No killing, just making him afraid.” She nodded again. “Seona can do this, though she is not sure how. Barn owls are not scary… neither is Seona.” She admitted with a blush. Maybe she wasn’t ideal for this… and she knew this, she knew she wasn’t particularly threatening looking, which was as far as her mind could think as far as the intimidation that Eltana spoke of.
She shuffled a moment, eyeing her hands. People she knew were afraid of things with claws – wolves, bears, and their shapeshifting counterparts. So maybe talons would work too? She flexed her hands experimentally, watching as her nails grew into talons and scales grew from her skin – her middle and index fingers melding together. The small transformation complete, she looked up at Eltana and wiggled her ‘claws’.
“Scratchy?” She blurted the question without thinking, trying to brainstorm how she could terrify this enemy of her Master’s.
“No killing, just making him afraid.” She nodded again. “Seona can do this, though she is not sure how. Barn owls are not scary… neither is Seona.” She admitted with a blush. Maybe she wasn’t ideal for this… and she knew this, she knew she wasn’t particularly threatening looking, which was as far as her mind could think as far as the intimidation that Eltana spoke of.
She shuffled a moment, eyeing her hands. People she knew were afraid of things with claws – wolves, bears, and their shapeshifting counterparts. So maybe talons would work too? She flexed her hands experimentally, watching as her nails grew into talons and scales grew from her skin – her middle and index fingers melding together. The small transformation complete, she looked up at Eltana and wiggled her ‘claws’.
“Scratchy?” She blurted the question without thinking, trying to brainstorm how she could terrify this enemy of her Master’s.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Eltana cast a concerned glance at Narain, who simply shook his head. Perhaps he was putting too much faith in Seona. Despite her performance the night before, she still lacked the cold blood required for such a trade. She seemed to grasp what he expected of her, but whether she'd actually be able to carry it out on her own... He could always send Narain after her to ensure the job was carried out. His methods were too clean, but having him nearby would be a good safety measure. A mediocre job was better than a failed one, after all.
"Several of my associates will be visiting later this evening. Originally I had intended to impress them with my servant's frightening appearance, but obviously that is no longer an option. In fact, you won't be introduced to them at all until your assignment is complete. Understood?
"You are to leave shortly before they arrive. Narain will give you the target's location, then he will head there separately to make sure everything goes over well. But don't worry - he won't interfere with your work unless it's absolutely necessary. You won't even know he's there. Tonight's your chance to soar, my little owl. You have free reign to handle the job as you see fit. If you impress me, there will be plenty of exciting opportunities for you in the future. If not... well, let's not dwell on that."
Rising from his chair, he sat down on the edge of his desk to be closer to Seona. "Clemente Fermin Linisi Segostro, the head of a prominent bank in Corezo, is your target. I don't know the details, but apparently he's been causing trouble for Marn's underground for quite some time. A few weeks ago one of my associates learned that Segostro would be visiting Marn for a business deal. It seems Segostro doesn't want anyone to know he's here - instead of staying with the nobility or reserving a suite in a hotel, he's hiding away in the ruins of Fort Marn. You are to make it clear that he's not to meddle in Marn's affairs. Any questions?"
"Several of my associates will be visiting later this evening. Originally I had intended to impress them with my servant's frightening appearance, but obviously that is no longer an option. In fact, you won't be introduced to them at all until your assignment is complete. Understood?
"You are to leave shortly before they arrive. Narain will give you the target's location, then he will head there separately to make sure everything goes over well. But don't worry - he won't interfere with your work unless it's absolutely necessary. You won't even know he's there. Tonight's your chance to soar, my little owl. You have free reign to handle the job as you see fit. If you impress me, there will be plenty of exciting opportunities for you in the future. If not... well, let's not dwell on that."
Rising from his chair, he sat down on the edge of his desk to be closer to Seona. "Clemente Fermin Linisi Segostro, the head of a prominent bank in Corezo, is your target. I don't know the details, but apparently he's been causing trouble for Marn's underground for quite some time. A few weeks ago one of my associates learned that Segostro would be visiting Marn for a business deal. It seems Segostro doesn't want anyone to know he's here - instead of staying with the nobility or reserving a suite in a hotel, he's hiding away in the ruins of Fort Marn. You are to make it clear that he's not to meddle in Marn's affairs. Any questions?"
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Seona thought for a moment - of course she had questions, she she felt it wouldn't be wise to ask any so she simply shook her head. She stood and walked away, already thinking of what she would do. She needed to scare him, something an owl was fairly good at. She knew their eerie screams and clacks, but she felt that Eltana meant more than that. So she moved away to her rooms, hoping she'd find what she needed in her room. She'd need to be eerie - unexpected - something that would startle the man who was upsetting her master. She eyed the wardrobe she knew to be full of elegant dresses before opening it and digging through it, shaking her head. Everything was too elegant - meant to seduce or accent curves. Something pushed into the back caught her eye though, and she carefully pulled it out. It was black, cut simply - looked more as though it were meant for a funeral than an occasion. Stripping, she eyed it, thinking. Black was the sign of death - and she didn't want to be recognized. She pulled on the dress, humming in thought. The v-neck was a tad too low for her needs, but she could fix that with something... her hips, while thin, could likely sport a belt or a sash or- her eyes lit up in delight as a thought passed her mind. She whirled to the mirror, eying herself. She'd need to hide her face. A trip to the forest might help... And so she whirled, shifting, and flew out the window screeching.
It didn't take her long to find the carcass - or what was left of it, rather. She landed by the skeletal remains, human, and eyed it interestedly. The skull of the deer, thankfully, was large and had been stripped of everything. Bending, she retrieved it and dusted it off, dirtying the gloves she'd found along the way - torn and moth eaten but black. Holding her breath she slipped it over her head and instantly decided she didn't like the smell. She turned and moved towards a pond she could hear gurgling, the bones of the small rodents she'd found clacking against her hips as she moved. She looked down and jumped back, startled by the reflection, only to slowly edge back to stare at the unnerving sight before her. She wasn't terrifying - just eerie, the skull sat almost comically on her head - but shifting her eyes to that of an owl's could change the innocent look. She tried that before bending and ripping her dress a bit to make a make-shift mask which she tied over her mouth and nose. Not liking the bandit-like look she removed it, scowling. Quickly she wrapped the bit of material around her wrist before bending and ripping the hem of her dress - she would handle Eltana's wrath later if need be - and wrapped it like a scarf around her mouth. The effect was a tad better - she looked more like a witch than a young owl-girl just trying to prove herself. Which would have to do until she figured something else out. Sliding the make-shift helmet off, she shifted again, wings pumping as she sought to carry the skull into the fading light.
She'd been watching her 'prey' for a time now - a bald man with too much belly who reeked of nerves. How he was trouble for her Master was beyond her - he could have the man taken out easily. She swiveled her head as a coyote let loose a howl, a fox yapping in return. She heard him jump and curse, something she liked. She let loose her own scream, clacking as he spun around - this could be fun. She flew silently overhead and shifted the ropes she'd placed there when he hadn't been there, making them more accessible. There was a creaky chair directly below her, its back against the pillar that supported the crumbling roof - moonlight peeking through the holes and cracks. She screamed again, watching in satisfaction as he jumped, shuddering as another howl followed her shriek. She flew back into position, waiting patiently. There was no bed, no bedroll - the chair was the only stick of furniture in the place, leaving her to believe he was going to sleep on it. And so she waited for him to sit on it, shifting back and forth on her claws to make herself comfortable - screeching occasionally to entertain herself.
As the night wore on, she grew impatient. The man only kept pacing and muttering, and it was driving her mad. When would he sit? She narrowed her eyes before taking off. She'd make the fat man sit. She circled him, waiting for him to move close to the chair, before barn-storming him once he got close. Screeching, she plummeted, causing him to scream and raise his arms in defense. Her claws met his arms, and with the force of her speed, she was able to knock him back into the chair. Spiraling away, she came around again as he dropped his arms to see where she'd went, her talons meeting his skull as he swung around to see her. The crack was sickening as bone met stone, disorienting him long enough for her to drop the rope on him. She plummeted, human, to yank the ropes brutally tight, tying them with a knot she knew but couldn't remember - a sailor's knot. Flying away, owl again, she grabbed the skull and fell into the shadows even as the man began to register his position.
He thought he'd been safe in the ruins, but he'd been wrong, she told herself as she shakily put the skull atop her head. He was a thorn in her masters side - he would be eliminated. The knife she'd found was bound to her leg by a strip of cloth - also ripped from her now ragged looking dress. The rip now came up to her mid thigh, showing her dirt-covered feet, the trail of her dress now shredded. She looked as though she'd wandered the woods, not that she knew it. She turned and moved towards the man as he began to scream for her to show herself.
"I'm not scared of you - you fucking criminal! I'll have you and all of the others like you removed! I'll-" He stuttered to a stop as she came out, head cocked. "I doubt that." She said quietly, her heart beating hard. She was scared - no, terrified. If she screwed this up - Eltana would throw her out. She couldn't fail him. She instead of sympathizing with a fellow terrified human, she looked to this fat coward as though he were a cornered mouse. "We are many in number. And you, you fat man, are but one." Her voice carried through the seemingly empty ruins, despite how quietly she spoke. She slid towards the man, looking more confident than she felt, and slid into his lap.
"You are just one scared, fat, man who barks orders at others. I know your kind." He glared, though she could see the fear - could smell it. The mouse was baring his fangs. "You fucking slut - I have more power in my pinky than you lowly thugs have in your whole arsenal." She laughed suddenly, chillingly.
"You think that frightens us? I think not. Do you wish to know our secret?" She leaned in close to him, smiling as he gagged. "We have nothing to lose. We do not feel fear - we live off of it. And you are afraid, Clemente Fermin Linisi Segostro. I can smell it." She purred the last bit out, pleased with herself for remembering his name. She drew back to his ashen face. The mouse knew it was dead, the owl was descending. He tried another curse, another threat, all of which she laughed off. She spun off his lap.
"I don't think you understand, Segostro, so allow me to make myself clear." Her head was pounding - the concentration to speak properly was taking a toll. She needed to end this now. "You are not welcome here, your actions against us have crossed a line, and if you don't stop... well... actions may have to be taken." She turned slowly, fingering the dagger. He spat at her feet, though nothing came out. He was dry-mouthed and ashen, now was the time. "Like hell you fucking-" She was on him again, dagger cutting into his neck within a heartbeat. She tsked and dragged the blade slowly up his face, never cutting.
"Wrong answer, fat man." She purred, making a small cut by his ear. "I would cut these off, but you need to hear my voice." The dagger moved to his mouth, which she forced open with her talons, excitement washing through her as he whimpered. The mouse was in her claws, begging for its life. "I'd take your words." She spoke slowly, forcing the dagger into his mouth to drag it lightly against his tongue. "But you need to spread the message." She removed it, listening to his heart thunder erratically, the scent of his terror threatening to overwhelm her senses. She grabbed his face more firmly, talons digging into his skin, small drips of blood escaping. "You do need to be warned though..." She purred before looking slowly down him, looking for a good place to cut. Somewhere sensitive, somewhere he'd look every day... her eyes fell to his crotch. She slid off him and sliced his pants open in a swift movement, albeit uncertain. She didn't want to hurt him - not like this. But he needed to be scared off. Needed to be warned. He needed to never come back. He started to beg as she edged closer to him, her eyes glowing in the moonlight.
"No- no please! Please I'll just leave - this never happened!" "I don't believe you." She said it simply, coldly. Another careful cut had his loincloth out of the way, and his pathetic organs were revealed. "Wouldn't want you spreading your weakness, now would we?" She said easily, dragging her blade against his revealed thigh even as he began to cry, begging her. A quick slice along the tender skin - just below the scrotum had him screaming. The sound curdled her stomach and made her nauseous. A quick kill would have been better - easier - but that had not been her assignment. Another cut just above it had him howling and sobbing for mercy, begging her. The tip of her blade met his scrotum - digging painfully.
"I still don't believe you." "Please- please, I beg you! You'll never even hear of me again - I swear! PLEASE!" She shook her head and jerked the blade, watching as blood ran slowly down the shining blade as the man howled. "I swear on my parents graves! On my children's - my wife's! PLEASE!" Her purpose was only to scare. She didn't have to mutilate him, but still...
"Then keep this as a reminder. The next time you see us, you shall be meeting death itself." She said simply before moving away and grabbing his hand. A swift movement had the blade buried in the man's left hand and partially into the chair, holding the thrashing man in place. "I hear even so much of a whisper of your threat to the underground again, and you will drown in your own blood." She promised, her voice cold, her heart shuddering as her stomach rolled. She yanked the blade free and cut the ropes in two movements. The skull was thrown at him, distracting him as she shifted and rocketed away, screeching into the night.
Two stops to vomit later, she managed to land in her room and shifted, the sun rising behind her. Eltana would have likely already be asleep - so she would report to him later... but for now - for now she allowed the dress to fall to the ground with the bones. She unwrapped the material from her thigh and wrist - the bloody dagger kept in one of the rags and tossed on a night stand. She moved to the bathroom and drew herself a bath, washing every inch of her crawling skin. Clean, and mostly dry, she fell into her bed and was asleep even before her head hit the pillow.
It didn't take her long to find the carcass - or what was left of it, rather. She landed by the skeletal remains, human, and eyed it interestedly. The skull of the deer, thankfully, was large and had been stripped of everything. Bending, she retrieved it and dusted it off, dirtying the gloves she'd found along the way - torn and moth eaten but black. Holding her breath she slipped it over her head and instantly decided she didn't like the smell. She turned and moved towards a pond she could hear gurgling, the bones of the small rodents she'd found clacking against her hips as she moved. She looked down and jumped back, startled by the reflection, only to slowly edge back to stare at the unnerving sight before her. She wasn't terrifying - just eerie, the skull sat almost comically on her head - but shifting her eyes to that of an owl's could change the innocent look. She tried that before bending and ripping her dress a bit to make a make-shift mask which she tied over her mouth and nose. Not liking the bandit-like look she removed it, scowling. Quickly she wrapped the bit of material around her wrist before bending and ripping the hem of her dress - she would handle Eltana's wrath later if need be - and wrapped it like a scarf around her mouth. The effect was a tad better - she looked more like a witch than a young owl-girl just trying to prove herself. Which would have to do until she figured something else out. Sliding the make-shift helmet off, she shifted again, wings pumping as she sought to carry the skull into the fading light.
She'd been watching her 'prey' for a time now - a bald man with too much belly who reeked of nerves. How he was trouble for her Master was beyond her - he could have the man taken out easily. She swiveled her head as a coyote let loose a howl, a fox yapping in return. She heard him jump and curse, something she liked. She let loose her own scream, clacking as he spun around - this could be fun. She flew silently overhead and shifted the ropes she'd placed there when he hadn't been there, making them more accessible. There was a creaky chair directly below her, its back against the pillar that supported the crumbling roof - moonlight peeking through the holes and cracks. She screamed again, watching in satisfaction as he jumped, shuddering as another howl followed her shriek. She flew back into position, waiting patiently. There was no bed, no bedroll - the chair was the only stick of furniture in the place, leaving her to believe he was going to sleep on it. And so she waited for him to sit on it, shifting back and forth on her claws to make herself comfortable - screeching occasionally to entertain herself.
As the night wore on, she grew impatient. The man only kept pacing and muttering, and it was driving her mad. When would he sit? She narrowed her eyes before taking off. She'd make the fat man sit. She circled him, waiting for him to move close to the chair, before barn-storming him once he got close. Screeching, she plummeted, causing him to scream and raise his arms in defense. Her claws met his arms, and with the force of her speed, she was able to knock him back into the chair. Spiraling away, she came around again as he dropped his arms to see where she'd went, her talons meeting his skull as he swung around to see her. The crack was sickening as bone met stone, disorienting him long enough for her to drop the rope on him. She plummeted, human, to yank the ropes brutally tight, tying them with a knot she knew but couldn't remember - a sailor's knot. Flying away, owl again, she grabbed the skull and fell into the shadows even as the man began to register his position.
He thought he'd been safe in the ruins, but he'd been wrong, she told herself as she shakily put the skull atop her head. He was a thorn in her masters side - he would be eliminated. The knife she'd found was bound to her leg by a strip of cloth - also ripped from her now ragged looking dress. The rip now came up to her mid thigh, showing her dirt-covered feet, the trail of her dress now shredded. She looked as though she'd wandered the woods, not that she knew it. She turned and moved towards the man as he began to scream for her to show herself.
"I'm not scared of you - you fucking criminal! I'll have you and all of the others like you removed! I'll-" He stuttered to a stop as she came out, head cocked. "I doubt that." She said quietly, her heart beating hard. She was scared - no, terrified. If she screwed this up - Eltana would throw her out. She couldn't fail him. She instead of sympathizing with a fellow terrified human, she looked to this fat coward as though he were a cornered mouse. "We are many in number. And you, you fat man, are but one." Her voice carried through the seemingly empty ruins, despite how quietly she spoke. She slid towards the man, looking more confident than she felt, and slid into his lap.
"You are just one scared, fat, man who barks orders at others. I know your kind." He glared, though she could see the fear - could smell it. The mouse was baring his fangs. "You fucking slut - I have more power in my pinky than you lowly thugs have in your whole arsenal." She laughed suddenly, chillingly.
"You think that frightens us? I think not. Do you wish to know our secret?" She leaned in close to him, smiling as he gagged. "We have nothing to lose. We do not feel fear - we live off of it. And you are afraid, Clemente Fermin Linisi Segostro. I can smell it." She purred the last bit out, pleased with herself for remembering his name. She drew back to his ashen face. The mouse knew it was dead, the owl was descending. He tried another curse, another threat, all of which she laughed off. She spun off his lap.
"I don't think you understand, Segostro, so allow me to make myself clear." Her head was pounding - the concentration to speak properly was taking a toll. She needed to end this now. "You are not welcome here, your actions against us have crossed a line, and if you don't stop... well... actions may have to be taken." She turned slowly, fingering the dagger. He spat at her feet, though nothing came out. He was dry-mouthed and ashen, now was the time. "Like hell you fucking-" She was on him again, dagger cutting into his neck within a heartbeat. She tsked and dragged the blade slowly up his face, never cutting.
"Wrong answer, fat man." She purred, making a small cut by his ear. "I would cut these off, but you need to hear my voice." The dagger moved to his mouth, which she forced open with her talons, excitement washing through her as he whimpered. The mouse was in her claws, begging for its life. "I'd take your words." She spoke slowly, forcing the dagger into his mouth to drag it lightly against his tongue. "But you need to spread the message." She removed it, listening to his heart thunder erratically, the scent of his terror threatening to overwhelm her senses. She grabbed his face more firmly, talons digging into his skin, small drips of blood escaping. "You do need to be warned though..." She purred before looking slowly down him, looking for a good place to cut. Somewhere sensitive, somewhere he'd look every day... her eyes fell to his crotch. She slid off him and sliced his pants open in a swift movement, albeit uncertain. She didn't want to hurt him - not like this. But he needed to be scared off. Needed to be warned. He needed to never come back. He started to beg as she edged closer to him, her eyes glowing in the moonlight.
"No- no please! Please I'll just leave - this never happened!" "I don't believe you." She said it simply, coldly. Another careful cut had his loincloth out of the way, and his pathetic organs were revealed. "Wouldn't want you spreading your weakness, now would we?" She said easily, dragging her blade against his revealed thigh even as he began to cry, begging her. A quick slice along the tender skin - just below the scrotum had him screaming. The sound curdled her stomach and made her nauseous. A quick kill would have been better - easier - but that had not been her assignment. Another cut just above it had him howling and sobbing for mercy, begging her. The tip of her blade met his scrotum - digging painfully.
"I still don't believe you." "Please- please, I beg you! You'll never even hear of me again - I swear! PLEASE!" She shook her head and jerked the blade, watching as blood ran slowly down the shining blade as the man howled. "I swear on my parents graves! On my children's - my wife's! PLEASE!" Her purpose was only to scare. She didn't have to mutilate him, but still...
"Then keep this as a reminder. The next time you see us, you shall be meeting death itself." She said simply before moving away and grabbing his hand. A swift movement had the blade buried in the man's left hand and partially into the chair, holding the thrashing man in place. "I hear even so much of a whisper of your threat to the underground again, and you will drown in your own blood." She promised, her voice cold, her heart shuddering as her stomach rolled. She yanked the blade free and cut the ropes in two movements. The skull was thrown at him, distracting him as she shifted and rocketed away, screeching into the night.
Two stops to vomit later, she managed to land in her room and shifted, the sun rising behind her. Eltana would have likely already be asleep - so she would report to him later... but for now - for now she allowed the dress to fall to the ground with the bones. She unwrapped the material from her thigh and wrist - the bloody dagger kept in one of the rags and tossed on a night stand. She moved to the bathroom and drew herself a bath, washing every inch of her crawling skin. Clean, and mostly dry, she fell into her bed and was asleep even before her head hit the pillow.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Eltana remained at his desk for a while after Seona left, wondering if he just sent the girl to her death. Having Narain nearby would be useful, but Segostro's men were both dangerous and plentiful. One misstep could easily be fatal. He certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over her death, but replacing such a loyal pawn would be difficult. Even Narain had his boundaries, but something told him Seona would commit any atrocity imaginable to please him. Such a valuable asset wasn't worth squandering.
"There is nothing more to be done now," he said quietly, rising from his chair. "I'll just have to occupy myself while I await their return."
His evening proceeded as usual. He ate dinner by himself, and much to the cook's shock he did not send a single dish back to be remade. Once he finished, he went upstairs and ran a hot bath for himself. He sank into the water and closed his eyes, trying his best to keep his mind off the mission. It had to be going well - if anything went wrong, Narain surely would have returned with the news by now. As dangerous as Segostro was, Narain knew better than to get himself killed. His skills as an assassin were second only to Vanyusha's. Sinking deeper into the water, he glanced out through the window and stared at the night sky. How he wished he could fall asleep and greet them in the morning. But he knew he wouldn't be sleeping tonight, no matter how hard he tried.
This was his mission above all else, and he would see it out to its conclusion.
After draining the bathtub he dried off and slipped into a comfortable robe, then he returned to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed, closing his eyes. He lay motionless for what seemed like ages, and just as he was about to fall asleep he heard a noise in the hallway. So Narain and Seona had returned! Wonderful timing. Yawning, he rose and headed out the door, and was surprised to see the sun rising through the window. It was already morning? The two must have went right to sleep. He'd give them some time to rest up, but it wouldn't hurt to check in on them. As he passed the staircase on the way to Seona's room, he went still and stared at the bloody clawmarks just above the railing. His eyes narrowed. An intruder... but how hadn't he heard anything? He needed to go find -
"Lord Remathia, I hope you managed to get some sleep," came a raspy, high-pitched voice from downstairs. "Please join us in the parlor. I have much to discuss with you and your little friends. Oh, and do watch your step - I made a bit of a mess last night."
Dammit.
Sighing, Eltana made his way downstairs. The remains of several servants littered the floor, torn to shreds by something obviously not human. As unsettled as he was, he doubted he was in any sincere danger. This intruder had the whole night to kill him, so it was unlikely someone wanted him dead. Pausing just outside the parlor, he took a deep breath and went inside.
Just as he thought. Not human.
What looked like the stuffed skin of a naked woman was sitting in his armchair, her veiny flesh covered in gore. Bright blue eyes peered at him through the torn eyeholes, then drifted to the two figures tied up on his couch - the man who had wanted Segostro intimidated, and his friend Haylon. They were bound and gagged in what appeared to be webs, and all the color was drained from their faces. The fleshy sack raised a hand, causing the web covering Haylon's mouth to vanish. His eyes narrowed. Magic.
"Mr. Haylon, won't you tell Lord Remathia why we're all here this morning?" The lips didn't move. The thing was wearing that woman's skin like a makeshift cocoon.
Haylon slumped to the side. His eyes were glazed, and drool was dripping down his chin. Poison. "Segostro knew for months... one in Marn's a fake," he wheezed. "Your owl and Narain are probably dead."
"Oh, they're quite alright," the creature said. "We allowed little Seona to return to her room. Narain is tied up at Haylon's house - you can pick him up after out little talk. In the meantime, why don't you call Seona down here? I'd like to speak with her too."
Eltana glared at her. "Seona, wake up! We have a visitor," he bellowed.
"We'll give her a few minutes. If not, I'll send one of my friends up to wake her."
"There is nothing more to be done now," he said quietly, rising from his chair. "I'll just have to occupy myself while I await their return."
His evening proceeded as usual. He ate dinner by himself, and much to the cook's shock he did not send a single dish back to be remade. Once he finished, he went upstairs and ran a hot bath for himself. He sank into the water and closed his eyes, trying his best to keep his mind off the mission. It had to be going well - if anything went wrong, Narain surely would have returned with the news by now. As dangerous as Segostro was, Narain knew better than to get himself killed. His skills as an assassin were second only to Vanyusha's. Sinking deeper into the water, he glanced out through the window and stared at the night sky. How he wished he could fall asleep and greet them in the morning. But he knew he wouldn't be sleeping tonight, no matter how hard he tried.
This was his mission above all else, and he would see it out to its conclusion.
After draining the bathtub he dried off and slipped into a comfortable robe, then he returned to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed, closing his eyes. He lay motionless for what seemed like ages, and just as he was about to fall asleep he heard a noise in the hallway. So Narain and Seona had returned! Wonderful timing. Yawning, he rose and headed out the door, and was surprised to see the sun rising through the window. It was already morning? The two must have went right to sleep. He'd give them some time to rest up, but it wouldn't hurt to check in on them. As he passed the staircase on the way to Seona's room, he went still and stared at the bloody clawmarks just above the railing. His eyes narrowed. An intruder... but how hadn't he heard anything? He needed to go find -
"Lord Remathia, I hope you managed to get some sleep," came a raspy, high-pitched voice from downstairs. "Please join us in the parlor. I have much to discuss with you and your little friends. Oh, and do watch your step - I made a bit of a mess last night."
Dammit.
Sighing, Eltana made his way downstairs. The remains of several servants littered the floor, torn to shreds by something obviously not human. As unsettled as he was, he doubted he was in any sincere danger. This intruder had the whole night to kill him, so it was unlikely someone wanted him dead. Pausing just outside the parlor, he took a deep breath and went inside.
Just as he thought. Not human.
What looked like the stuffed skin of a naked woman was sitting in his armchair, her veiny flesh covered in gore. Bright blue eyes peered at him through the torn eyeholes, then drifted to the two figures tied up on his couch - the man who had wanted Segostro intimidated, and his friend Haylon. They were bound and gagged in what appeared to be webs, and all the color was drained from their faces. The fleshy sack raised a hand, causing the web covering Haylon's mouth to vanish. His eyes narrowed. Magic.
"Mr. Haylon, won't you tell Lord Remathia why we're all here this morning?" The lips didn't move. The thing was wearing that woman's skin like a makeshift cocoon.
Haylon slumped to the side. His eyes were glazed, and drool was dripping down his chin. Poison. "Segostro knew for months... one in Marn's a fake," he wheezed. "Your owl and Narain are probably dead."
"Oh, they're quite alright," the creature said. "We allowed little Seona to return to her room. Narain is tied up at Haylon's house - you can pick him up after out little talk. In the meantime, why don't you call Seona down here? I'd like to speak with her too."
Eltana glared at her. "Seona, wake up! We have a visitor," he bellowed.
"We'll give her a few minutes. If not, I'll send one of my friends up to wake her."