Post by Kallen on Jun 24, 2015 16:20:15 GMT -5
THAT NIGHT
Chapter one: So It Begins
Chapter one: So It Begins
"Kal, I've always knew you had balls. But this, this is insane," Xhex commented. Kallen ignored her, concentrating on the task before her. The Bloodletter sighed and pushed herself off the wall. Well, the beams and crumbled drywall meant to be a wall. She moved over to the table where Kallen had set up shop. It was littered with vials containing powder and glowing liquids. Dark petals from star-roses dusted the table, a stack of ash vines close to toppling. She crossed her arms, leaning past her friend to get a better look at what she was doing. She frowned.
"How did you get this stuff anyway? The petals and ash vines are easy, but the rest? Only the Sorcen have that," she puzzled. Kallen gave a small little shrug. To put it simply, Kallen had flown in and snagged the stuff from right under their noses saying "Need this." They had shrieked at her, throwing their magic like darts. To which Kallen had eloquently responded, "Go fuck yourselves!" But she thought better to leave that part out. It wasn't like it wasn't obvious though. With a sigh of the many put-upon, Xhex threw up her arms.
“I at least told you not to go by yourself, didn't I?” Xhex demanded. “What'd I say?” As Xhex repeated herself, Kallen obediently mumbled in unison, “Darwin says people like you need to die.” It wasn't like she meant to put her friend through all this stress anyway. If she had had a choice, Xhex wouldn't even be involved with this little scheme of her's. But, the pink-haired girl wouldn't have it. She had scolded Kallen endlessly and made her swear on her father's grave that she wouldn't do anything alone. Kallen had. What she had failed to mention that as a "traitor" her father had no grave. Just a rotting corpse. Therefore, her vow was null and void. Xhex didn't appreciate that either.At this point though, Kallen didn't care, the less she was involved the better. She sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry. But it was easier to just do it myself," she admitted. The rest of the meaning went unspoken. Kallen had wings, making her faster. Xhex...Xhex no longer had her's. She wore her scars proudly, displayed them for all to see. But Kallen had seen the girl staring up at the such with such longer it hurt her. They talked about it, once. About how it happened. After that? Neither breathed a word. With a shake of her head, Xhex looked at the poison in Kallen's hands.
"You think it will work?" she questioned. Holding the bottle tight in her hands, Kallen nodded.
"It has to..."
The Blue Moon Ball. The party was in full swing. Nobles and upper-class all across Rothkalin were here to celebrate on this night. Well, the Netherlings and their allies at least. Which to say were few and far between. The Draiksula, their poisoness red skin covered with heavy material. The Scara, beings of the Dark Woods, danced, true revelers. The most wild of the Rothkalin creatures, she supposed. She even spotted a couple Verkers, probably the closest to Neherlings. And because of that, on and off again allies. Kallen sighed, wishing to be anywhere but here. But, soon. Soon she would be. She touched her necklace. The bloodstone rested heavily upon her skin. All who saw would believe that it was indeed red blood swirling in it's depth. That's why the girls had chosen it. The perfect container for the poison. A body moved behind her, pressing along her back as two hands rested beside her on the balcony. Without even turning, she knew who it was. Asher's scent tickled her nose and it was all she could do not to fly off the balcony away. If she caused a scene, her grandfather would have her head. Well, maybe not her head. But an arm or organ would suffice. Warm breath moved over her neck.
"Shouldn't you be down there? You'd be a vision...a goddess among swine," he whispered. Kallen once thought those complements were charming. Now? Now they made her skin crawl. Without missing a beat, she answered him back.
"And you? King of the swine? No...even swine are above you." He chuckled at that, nuzzling his face into her nape. Inside her chest, her heart pounded. Calm your fucking heart Kallen! Asher, hearing it's pounding and once again misinterpreting it, reaching up. Just before he laid his hand upon it--and her breast--she caught his wrist. Black painted nails dug into his exposed flesh, drawing blood. She could feel him grin.
"Foreplay already, flower? We haven't even danced yet," he chuckled. Mental rubber band Kallen. Snap. Snap. She turned, gazing into those blue-gray eyes. She had heard that those eyes did things to women. They swooned. They lusted. They turned into a fever. They made panties disappear. Much to his great annoyance, they did nothing to Kallen. He was close, far too close. As as he pressed into her front, she felt a hardness in his pants. With gritted teeth, she stared unwavering back into those eyes. Mental. Rubber. Band.
"Leave me be, Asher. I have no time for your silly games," she snapped. It was always a practice with patience with him. Most days, she won. Today was apparently not going to be one of those days. He grinned smugly down at her, her arrogance overwhelming. The idea that she didn't want him didn't even enter into his mind,
"And here I thought enjoyed games, flower?" he purred. Her hand tightened on his wrist, blood flowing anew.
"I don't play games where I don't make the rules," she hissed. Asher opened his mouth to respond when a guard stomped before them. She heard a low growl come from Asher's throat. The guards weren't under his command but their cousin Slate. The guard saluted them.
"I have a message for you, sire," he reported.
"I shall deal with it later," he snarled. Taking this moment of distraction, Kallen took to heel of her free hand and slammed it into his adams apple. He let out a gasp of air and as she made her escape, she heard him wheezing "Insolent chit." With a satisfied grin, Kallen made her way down the steps and into the ballroom. Her arrival into the ballroom left little an impression. Everyone here knew her, and her novelty had faded long ago. Well, the majority of it at least. She moved through the crowd, the long train of her top flowing behind her. Like many others in attendance, she was dressed in black finery, metal pieces adorning her in blue-silver. Her mahogany hair was swept up in an elaborate fashion. If she had know what the evening entailed, she would have told her ladies maids not to both. Reaching the throne dais against the main wall, she dipped into a low curtsy before her grandfather. His white eyes stared down at her, piercing her soul. The extent of her grandfather's abilities were unknown to her, and for moments, she feared he knew of her plan. She couldn't say how, but the fear settled cold inside her. After a long moment, he nodded. She straightened and left, the cold fear leaving her as she moved away. Dancing held no appeal to her, but it was expected. And she could not afford to bring attention at this point of the night.
On and on she danced, partners moving with her in a blur. Their faces moved through her mind as swiftly as they came. She only kept notice of Asher, careful not to get close and tempt his hand. She danced with all kinds. Princes, dukes, earls. Male, female, she cared little. The entire time as she danced, the blue moon rose higher and higher in the sky until it settled in the center. Blue light from it cast the ballroom into a dreamy haze, beams shining through the glass roof.
All too soon, but not soon enough, it was time. Kallen moved from the dance floor, watching momentarily at the sight. Creatures of all shapes and sizes spun dreamily. Every now and then, a flash of tooth and claw was seen. The trickle of blood here, a murderous glance there. This was the world Kallen was leaving behind, and she couldn't be happier.
Silently and stealthily she moved from the ballroom and into the many halls of the palace. Her hands ran along the cool stone of the walls. She kept to the shadows, her heeled boots making not a sound on the marbled floors. Farther up and around a corner, a girl waited for her. Pink hair was covered by a black wig, wingless back covered by an iridescent cape. Just like Kallen, Xhex was dressed as royalty for this night. Anything else would have caused too much attention. Wordlessly, the two girls exchanged items. Xhex gave Kallen her sword and Kallen took the vial of red liquid from her pocket. Asher's blood, take not long ago, was stored inside. The two girls slipped away inside of another room. It was her uncle's, Asher's father.
“Right on time. Your family?” Xhex asked, hurrying to close to door behind them. Kallen removed her necklace, drawing a dagger from her boot. It was larger than she was used to, awkward in her hand.
“Distracted. Shale even noticed Asher's absence for a while,” she reported. Before Xhex could respond a muffled sob came from the center of the room. With a sigh, Kallen turned. A beautiful Netherling woman lay there, clad in nothing but cloth rope binding. A gag was in her mouth and tears had stained it. She was turly a vision, from her gray eyes, to her long black hair, and the markings that decorated her breasts and hips. Infact, she was Amira, Rowen favorite woman. Kallen had never given her much thought. They rarely interacted together. But, it mattered little. She would do. Xhex picked up Kallen's necklace and let three drops of Asher's blood drip in. They sizzled and his scent filled the air. It was enough to make Kallen's stomach turn. With a sigh, she palmed the blade and stepped toward Amira.
“Well then, let's get started.”
"How did you get this stuff anyway? The petals and ash vines are easy, but the rest? Only the Sorcen have that," she puzzled. Kallen gave a small little shrug. To put it simply, Kallen had flown in and snagged the stuff from right under their noses saying "Need this." They had shrieked at her, throwing their magic like darts. To which Kallen had eloquently responded, "Go fuck yourselves!" But she thought better to leave that part out. It wasn't like it wasn't obvious though. With a sigh of the many put-upon, Xhex threw up her arms.
“I at least told you not to go by yourself, didn't I?” Xhex demanded. “What'd I say?” As Xhex repeated herself, Kallen obediently mumbled in unison, “Darwin says people like you need to die.” It wasn't like she meant to put her friend through all this stress anyway. If she had had a choice, Xhex wouldn't even be involved with this little scheme of her's. But, the pink-haired girl wouldn't have it. She had scolded Kallen endlessly and made her swear on her father's grave that she wouldn't do anything alone. Kallen had. What she had failed to mention that as a "traitor" her father had no grave. Just a rotting corpse. Therefore, her vow was null and void. Xhex didn't appreciate that either.At this point though, Kallen didn't care, the less she was involved the better. She sighed.
"Look, I'm sorry. But it was easier to just do it myself," she admitted. The rest of the meaning went unspoken. Kallen had wings, making her faster. Xhex...Xhex no longer had her's. She wore her scars proudly, displayed them for all to see. But Kallen had seen the girl staring up at the such with such longer it hurt her. They talked about it, once. About how it happened. After that? Neither breathed a word. With a shake of her head, Xhex looked at the poison in Kallen's hands.
"You think it will work?" she questioned. Holding the bottle tight in her hands, Kallen nodded.
"It has to..."
-*---------------------------*---------------------------*-
The Blue Moon Ball. The party was in full swing. Nobles and upper-class all across Rothkalin were here to celebrate on this night. Well, the Netherlings and their allies at least. Which to say were few and far between. The Draiksula, their poisoness red skin covered with heavy material. The Scara, beings of the Dark Woods, danced, true revelers. The most wild of the Rothkalin creatures, she supposed. She even spotted a couple Verkers, probably the closest to Neherlings. And because of that, on and off again allies. Kallen sighed, wishing to be anywhere but here. But, soon. Soon she would be. She touched her necklace. The bloodstone rested heavily upon her skin. All who saw would believe that it was indeed red blood swirling in it's depth. That's why the girls had chosen it. The perfect container for the poison. A body moved behind her, pressing along her back as two hands rested beside her on the balcony. Without even turning, she knew who it was. Asher's scent tickled her nose and it was all she could do not to fly off the balcony away. If she caused a scene, her grandfather would have her head. Well, maybe not her head. But an arm or organ would suffice. Warm breath moved over her neck.
"Shouldn't you be down there? You'd be a vision...a goddess among swine," he whispered. Kallen once thought those complements were charming. Now? Now they made her skin crawl. Without missing a beat, she answered him back.
"And you? King of the swine? No...even swine are above you." He chuckled at that, nuzzling his face into her nape. Inside her chest, her heart pounded. Calm your fucking heart Kallen! Asher, hearing it's pounding and once again misinterpreting it, reaching up. Just before he laid his hand upon it--and her breast--she caught his wrist. Black painted nails dug into his exposed flesh, drawing blood. She could feel him grin.
"Foreplay already, flower? We haven't even danced yet," he chuckled. Mental rubber band Kallen. Snap. Snap. She turned, gazing into those blue-gray eyes. She had heard that those eyes did things to women. They swooned. They lusted. They turned into a fever. They made panties disappear. Much to his great annoyance, they did nothing to Kallen. He was close, far too close. As as he pressed into her front, she felt a hardness in his pants. With gritted teeth, she stared unwavering back into those eyes. Mental. Rubber. Band.
"Leave me be, Asher. I have no time for your silly games," she snapped. It was always a practice with patience with him. Most days, she won. Today was apparently not going to be one of those days. He grinned smugly down at her, her arrogance overwhelming. The idea that she didn't want him didn't even enter into his mind,
"And here I thought enjoyed games, flower?" he purred. Her hand tightened on his wrist, blood flowing anew.
"I don't play games where I don't make the rules," she hissed. Asher opened his mouth to respond when a guard stomped before them. She heard a low growl come from Asher's throat. The guards weren't under his command but their cousin Slate. The guard saluted them.
"I have a message for you, sire," he reported.
"I shall deal with it later," he snarled. Taking this moment of distraction, Kallen took to heel of her free hand and slammed it into his adams apple. He let out a gasp of air and as she made her escape, she heard him wheezing "Insolent chit." With a satisfied grin, Kallen made her way down the steps and into the ballroom. Her arrival into the ballroom left little an impression. Everyone here knew her, and her novelty had faded long ago. Well, the majority of it at least. She moved through the crowd, the long train of her top flowing behind her. Like many others in attendance, she was dressed in black finery, metal pieces adorning her in blue-silver. Her mahogany hair was swept up in an elaborate fashion. If she had know what the evening entailed, she would have told her ladies maids not to both. Reaching the throne dais against the main wall, she dipped into a low curtsy before her grandfather. His white eyes stared down at her, piercing her soul. The extent of her grandfather's abilities were unknown to her, and for moments, she feared he knew of her plan. She couldn't say how, but the fear settled cold inside her. After a long moment, he nodded. She straightened and left, the cold fear leaving her as she moved away. Dancing held no appeal to her, but it was expected. And she could not afford to bring attention at this point of the night.
On and on she danced, partners moving with her in a blur. Their faces moved through her mind as swiftly as they came. She only kept notice of Asher, careful not to get close and tempt his hand. She danced with all kinds. Princes, dukes, earls. Male, female, she cared little. The entire time as she danced, the blue moon rose higher and higher in the sky until it settled in the center. Blue light from it cast the ballroom into a dreamy haze, beams shining through the glass roof.
All too soon, but not soon enough, it was time. Kallen moved from the dance floor, watching momentarily at the sight. Creatures of all shapes and sizes spun dreamily. Every now and then, a flash of tooth and claw was seen. The trickle of blood here, a murderous glance there. This was the world Kallen was leaving behind, and she couldn't be happier.
Silently and stealthily she moved from the ballroom and into the many halls of the palace. Her hands ran along the cool stone of the walls. She kept to the shadows, her heeled boots making not a sound on the marbled floors. Farther up and around a corner, a girl waited for her. Pink hair was covered by a black wig, wingless back covered by an iridescent cape. Just like Kallen, Xhex was dressed as royalty for this night. Anything else would have caused too much attention. Wordlessly, the two girls exchanged items. Xhex gave Kallen her sword and Kallen took the vial of red liquid from her pocket. Asher's blood, take not long ago, was stored inside. The two girls slipped away inside of another room. It was her uncle's, Asher's father.
“Right on time. Your family?” Xhex asked, hurrying to close to door behind them. Kallen removed her necklace, drawing a dagger from her boot. It was larger than she was used to, awkward in her hand.
“Distracted. Shale even noticed Asher's absence for a while,” she reported. Before Xhex could respond a muffled sob came from the center of the room. With a sigh, Kallen turned. A beautiful Netherling woman lay there, clad in nothing but cloth rope binding. A gag was in her mouth and tears had stained it. She was turly a vision, from her gray eyes, to her long black hair, and the markings that decorated her breasts and hips. Infact, she was Amira, Rowen favorite woman. Kallen had never given her much thought. They rarely interacted together. But, it mattered little. She would do. Xhex picked up Kallen's necklace and let three drops of Asher's blood drip in. They sizzled and his scent filled the air. It was enough to make Kallen's stomach turn. With a sigh, she palmed the blade and stepped toward Amira.
“Well then, let's get started.”