Duplicity

Sydrameera

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Post subject: Duplicity

This S/L is running concurrently with the Sanctuary S/L in Arthuran.

”Remember....remember.....remember...

The insistent voice was becoming somewhat annoying, flitting through her dreams as it was, insisting she go remembering things when really all she wanted to do was obtain the sleep necessary to regain her strength. The annoying little voice wouldn't take no for an answer, though, and continued to float through the haze of indistinct dreams that churned in her sleeping mind.

Sleep wasn't something she regularly indulged in, it wasn't truly necessary for her survival, but she had been poisoned with silver. That meant she would need to rest to allow her wolf, the physical part of her, to recuperate. She had been reluctant to fall asleep, afraid in her vulnerable state Ameerah would be able to reassert herself as the dominant mind, but Valorius had promised he would keep Ameerah at bay while she slept and she had to trust him. There was little other choice if she wished to regain her strength. She hadn't planned on dreaming, at least not like this.

”Remember.....” Again the disembodied voice insisted she remember...but what? What the hell was she supposed to be remembering? Around her a crimson mist began to form, the images that had been so vague before taking on shape until a specific scene began to appear in front of her. The room was unfamiliar to her though she recognized the tell-tale signs New Orleans in the décor as well as in the skyline outside the window under which sat a bassinet. Oh a baby...that was interesting.

Taking an unconscious step forward she suddenly found herself in the center of the dream image, as if she were a specter observing the events though what events she was meant to see was anyone's guess. Once fully within the dream image the rest of her senses came to life and she could smell the familiar scents of New Orleans as well as hear the soft timbre of a familiar voice. The baby forgotten she turned to face a door that had been left only just a sliver, a pair of women on the other side speaking in hushed tones, one of whom she knew right away was her mother.

Walking softly in spite of the fact that this was a dream (one never could tell when dealing with her family) she neared the door, her head cocked in order to hear the hushed words being spoken.

”It is the only way to prevent them from finding her,” came her mother's hushed tone and she frowned. Who was she trying to hide her from? If it was the fucker who had stolen her then she had failed miserably. Who was her mother talking too? A sound from behind her drew her gaze back to the bassinet, the ornately carved cradle draped with sheer white organza to protect the baby within it from bugs that might take advantage of the warm evening. Realizing she was looking at herself as an infant her eyes narrowed and she moved away from the door to approach the cradle. Ameerah as a baby. How cute. Even her inner monologue was laced heavily with venom when thinking on her counterpart and pausing in front of the cradle she reached out and pulled the sheer drapes away from the bassinet so that the infant within it was revealed to her gaze.

And she was met with the unwavering stare of a pair of eyes as ruby red in hue as her own. Her eyes flared slightly as realization dawned. It was her, not Ameerah, in that bassinet. Her. She'd always known Amunette had been the name given her, them, at birth but everyone always assumed that Ameerah had been the first mind and she had developed later as a means of controlling all that Ameerah held within her. Everyone was wrong.

She had been first. It was Ameerah who had been conjured from her mind, not the other way around. The voices behind her on the other side of the door grew in volume as Duvessa and her mystery friend continued to discuss what was to be done and she knew she wasn't within a dream but a memory. Her memory. There had to be more to this, she knew it, Duvessa was up to something but before she could enact whatever plan she had in mind a figure appeared on the balcony to the left, skulking in the shadows as he eased into the room, slipping past the wards Duvessa had erected effortlessly. She recognized him...Guillaume. He was loup garou, Duvessa's half brother, and should not have had the ability to just bust through Duvessa's wards and yet, there he was, doing just that.

She watched, helpless, as Guillaume scooped her from the bassinet, his hand coming down over her infant mouth when she might have made a noise. Backtracking the way he'd come he was gone and just like that she'd been stolen from her mother and set upon the path that would lead her to what she was today. It had been too easy and her ever present resentment towards Duvessa only grew. This was all old news, though. Everyone knew she had been stolen by Guillaume with the help of the nameless entity that still sought to destroy her and all those attached to her so why show her this now?

There was more to see, she knew it in her bones, and moving forward she started after the fleeing figure of Guillaume only to hear the door behind her open. Duvessa's dismayed shout at finding Amunette missing causing her head to snap around her eyes instantly locked with those of her mother's...

…..and she sat bolt upright in bed. Blinking she stared blankly in front of her until she was able to focus on her surroundings and register that she was awake and back in the present. A growled shriek of frustration born of the inability to continue on in the dream and see what other revelations awaited echoed through the room as she slapped at the bed on either side of her before flopping back against the pillows. Dammit! Still..she had seen enough, enough to set her on the path towards understanding exactly who she was. Now she knew....

She. Was. First.

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:28 pm

Sydrameera

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Post subject: Re: Duplicity

The aftermath of a battle is never as exciting or romantic as the idea of the battle itself and even for supernatural beings this is no exception. Dead bodies needed to be burned or transported for burial, the injured and wounded returned to their continents, as in the case of Madrin Kir, or taken back to Drybrush where they could receive healing attention. As luck would have it, Gethe's army killed more people than they wounded, so those in need of healing were primarily among her own troops and they would be tended to by their own. Unlike Elved there would be no buildings that need be rebuilt, no citizens displaced or homeless because of this battle, and that too would make clean up a bit easier.

Nedira Kir was right, there was no sympathy within her for the fallen Madrin Kir. It was his standing in Eiler alone that had kept him alive. She would see he was returned, alive, to his continent where no doubt King Elias could provide far more skilled healers than she could here on Heruin. Especially as she had seen with her own eyes the Paladin, Wish, already departing on horseback with Sharay in tow. There had been no time to speak to either woman and as they had already chosen their preferred means of transport she felt no need to interfere with their departure. Truthfully she was a bit surprised to see Wish hightailing it out of there so fast, given the lip lock Madrin had placed on her, she expected the fae woman to attend to the injured man. Clearly her assumptions had been mistaken and, quite frankly, she didn't care enough to wonder why.

The portal was opened for the Kir continent and without a word she sent them through before closing it behind them. It was then she felt the fissure of another portal erecting and looked over to see Valorius leading his troops through, back to the Protectorate camp, with a body slung over his shoulder. She didn't need to ask who it was, only Tyler would be given the honor of being carried upon Valorius' shoulders, and the urge to follow him was strong but she stayed where she was. This was a Protectorate thing, something for the Elite's, by the Elite's, and she would not interfere. They were loyal to her, would fight or die for her without hesitation or question, but she was not one of them and she would do them the honor of not pretending to be. Tyler would be remembered for his service with something formal back in Eternelle Lune, but this, tonight, was for them.

The orders had been given, clean up was well underway, and everyone else had already begun to leave. She was the last to remain beyond those who would continue to see to the clean up efforts, and it was time for her to get the fuck out of there. With a final word of instruction she turned and stepped into the nearest shadow, the sandy landscape of Heruin seeming cool and still in the dark world of the Shadow Lands. In minutes she was back on their island off the coast of Drybrush, the island she had jokingly named Île d'Absolom after the abandoned sanitarium her Father had once converted into his home. Her destination was single minded and entering their bedroom suite she began stripping off her dirty and bloodied clothes instantly, leaving them where they fell, and by the time she entered their large bathing chamber she was nude.

Though the land of Aleris was primitive compared to what she had known on Earth there was still running water and approaching the large sunken tub it was soon filling with warm water, the scent of jasmine and sandalwood filling the room from the oil she had poured liberally into the running water. Once the tub had filled she lowered herself gratefully into the scented water, water that quickly tinged pink from the blood it sloughed off of her skin, but she didn't care. She could run a second bath later. Easing against the back of the tub she sank down beneath the water to allow her hair to be rinsed of any dried blood and she surfaced after several minutes, her hands pushing the wet locks back from her face. She washed her hair, her skin, luxuriating in the hot water, then finally allowed herself to relax, again laying against the back of the tub.

She didn't require sleep in the manner of mortal people, but that didn't mean she did not become weary on a mental, or emotional, level. She spent most of her days in a state of constant awareness as she had to maintain complete control over her mind lest she lose it to the will of the bitch she was trying to get rid of. But the warm water, coupled with the scent of the oil, and the chance to relax for the first time since she had re-emerged from the box she had been stuffed into was too much of an allure for her and she let her eyes close, let her mind wander, let her control slip...for just a second...

Her body lurched forward in the bathtub, water sloshing over the sides as she clutched at the edges, amber yellow eyes wide and filled with confusion as she surveyed her surroundings, surroundings she obviously did not remember. When had she gotten into the bathtub? The last thing she remembered...she...was at the Tavern in Drybrush. Wasn't she? When had she come home? Turning to look at the bathwater she saw the red tinge, could smell the blood, and pushing out of the water she stepped from the tub and quickly wrapped the nearby white towel around herself. Just what the fuck was going on? Thoughts of the history of “mental illness” suffered by those of her family line, both mortal and immortal, flashed through her thoughts and she wondered if she was finally succumbing to them herself.

Moving slowly through the bathroom she felt a twinge in her shoulder and, looking behind her, she saw the last vestiges of a knife wound healing over. She had been stabbed? Who the fuck had stabbed her? Had she killed them? She better have fucking killed them. Where was Valorius? Was he alright? Why would she be taking a bath if he wasn't alright. That and more crowded her thoughts as she continued into their bedroom only to be greeted with her discarded clothing scattered across the floor. Pausing next to the closest article of clothing she crouched down and picked it up between two fingertips. It was a pair of leather pants and, if the sight of them was any indication, they would be form fitting and low riding. She didn't wear shit like this. Ever. The only time she'd worn crap like this was when...

Realization dawned, perhaps a bit more slowly than it should have, but in her defense she had been told Amunette was gone for good, never to return. She'd had no reason to doubt the word of her Father and the urge to dismiss the thought was strong but she knew, deep down she knew. She had only ever lost time like this when Amunette was around and deliberately blocking her from being aware of what she was doing. She knew her other half was back, and she was fucking pissed. Was Valorius aware Amunette was back? He had to be, he had to know the woman he was with was not her, not in mind anyway, and he had kept it from her. That fueled her anger more than anything and slowly she rose to her feet, amber yellow eyes rising to fix on the mirror across from her.

Her reflection grew larger as she drew closer to the mirror until she stood directly in front of it, her amber gaze blazing as she looked into her own eyes. ”I don't know how you got out, but I promise you, you will go back into your fucking box. For good this time.”

Her voice had taken on the hint of a growl, her fury fueling her determination to see Amunette destroyed, for once and for all. And then she lurched forward, her entire body moving towards the mirror in front of her as if someone had shoved her forcefully from behind. Hands came up and slammed against wall, bracing her from actually colliding with the mirror in front of her, though it took all of her strength to keep her body from continuing to propel forward. Looking into the reflection of her eyes a pinpoint of crimson had appeared and, with each heartbeat, grew stronger.

Wet hair clung to her face and neck as she strained against the force that continued to compel her forward, her teeth gritting, her arms actually shaking from resistance. ”N...no...I...w..won't...let...you”

Anything else she might have said was cut off as she lost the fight and her entire body lurched forward from an unseen force, her head slamming face first into the large gilt mirror full force. The mirror cracked from the assault as she pushed back from the mirror only to slam forward again, and again. A spider web of cracks covered the mirror, the large crack from the initial onslaught coated in blood from where it had sliced into her skin. Three times she appeared to be slam herself into the mirror until finally she pushed back, her hands rising to push her again bloodied hair from her face as crimson eyes gazed at her fractured reflection.

”Listen up you pathetic little mongrel as this is the last coherent thought I will allow you to have. You do not own this body..I do. My body. My life. My husband. You stole years from me and now I intend to take them back, with interest. And soon, you will be nothing more than a figment of my imagination.”

A slow smile curled her lips as a growl of anger and torment echoed in the back of her thoughts before she closed Ameerah's mind off, sealing her awareness away so she could not view Amunette's actions and, as a result, making it harder for her to claim control of the body. She couldn't let herself slip again, not until she managed to rid herself of Ameerah's influence all together. With a sigh she examined her hair, her again bloodied hair, and turning made her way back to the bathing room. There would be no luxurious soak this time, however. This little loss of control was enough to convince her that it was time to kick things into high gear as far as her attempted coup d'etat went.

Valorius would be with his troops for a while yet and she intended to use that time to her advantage. Within the hour she was bathed and dressed, an indignant sniff in reaction to Ameerah's criticism of her choice of clothing given as she examined her reflection in an undamaged mirror, the leather that encased her lower extremities quite fetching in her humble opinion. Satisfied she turned to face the darkened room. It was yet night and the lone candle that burned next to her was enough to cast a wide array of shadows, shadows that were soon playing host to a very agitated eternal as she traveled across the Shadow Lands from Heruin to Arthuran.

From within the protected confines of the bedroom within her darling little chateau she stepped, garnet eyes sweeping the room to ensure all was as she left it. Satisfied that no one had found her hide-away she set to work. It was time to put this bitch down.

Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 8:02 pm

Sydrameera

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Post subject: Re: Duplicity

Her abrupt arrival at the Mansion of the Magister of Drybrush took the small staff left to tend to the property by surprise, no surprise there. The elderly woman who had seen to the property for so many years had been retired comfortably and a younger, more able bodied, chatelaine and groundskeeper had been chosen to replace her.

Seeing the Padishah of Heruin stumble into the foyer, doubled over in pain, blood running from her lips, was not a sight young Carlene had expected and cried out in dismay at the sight of Ameerah. Amber eyes fixed on the girl, the feral light causing the young woman to actually take a step back as the Padishah’s gaze fell on her.

”Find the one they call Parker and bring him to me. Don’t let anyone else in this manor. No one. I don’t want to be disturbed until Parker arrives.”

Carlene could only nod, mute with her surprised horror. It wasn’t until Ameerah turned and stumbled up the stairs and was out of sight that the chatelaine finally expelled the breath she had been holding. She stared after the Padishah for a moment before springing into action. Something told her it would be a very bad idea to disobey the Lady of Heruin right now and she was soon running across the foyer and out the front door in search of the man called Parker.

He wasn’t too hard to find. Ameerah’s crew had become something of a permanent fixture in Drybrush and Parker always acted as her emissary so it wasn’t hard to track him down after a few questions in the Market. While there she heard the rumors that were already quickly circulating about the explosion on Absolom Isle, the island inhabited by the Padishah and Bel Telal. That explained some of Ameerah’s dramatic appearance at the Magister’s Manor but not all of it and she might have let the details of said dramatic appearance slip to a person or two at the Market during her search.

Once Parker had been located a flustered Carlene quickly blurted out everything that had happened and that Ameerah wished him to come right away. He said nothing to the girl, simply turned and began walking briskly towards the manor, forcing Carlene to practically trot to keep up with him. He did not hesitate to ascend the stairs once they had reached the manor, his stern voice dictating that Carlene stay behind, knowing Ameerah would not wish an audience for this.

Knocking on the door of the master bedchamber he was admitted at once, her voice calling out to bid enter the moment the knock echoed through the room. Entering he got his first look at Ameerah and the state she was. Though no less shocked than Carlene had been his surprise did not register on his face. He had been in Ameerah’s service for many years and had experienced things he’d never expected at her side. This was no different.

”What the hell is going on Parker…? What has she been doing? The Sea Wolf…”

Her voice actually broke on the last part of her statement and he sighed a bit as he moved forward, his eyes fixed on her, seeing the blood that was expelled from between her lips with every spasm of pain that wracked her body. When he spoke his voice was gentle but firm, as he had always been. His loyalty was unquestioned yet he had never shied away from telling her like it was. It was one of the many reasons she valued him as she did and he knew she wouldn’t want him to sugar coat anything.

“You know what’s happening. Deep down, you know. You always have. You also know it was inevitable. You have two choices now. You can fight her and continue to destroy the body you are in, or you can let her have it. We both know what choice you will make. Before you destroy yourself, though, you have a continent to see to. There’s sickness here, a vile mysterious illness that is tearing apart the remote cities and is now being seen in Drybrush as well. You have a duty to them, Padishah.”

Illness on Heruin. Was it affecting the other continents? Most likely if it had made it to the remote desert continent. Nodding she suddenly doubled over, her hands clutching at her abdomen as she screamed in pain as if something was attempting to claw its way from her belly. Parker moved to her side, helping her ease into a nearby chair until she was finally able to speak again, panting as if she could not catch her breath. When he caught sight of her face he could see blood now running from her nose as well as from between her lips. It was getting worse and he didn’t know how much time she had. Where was the Prince? That was the million dollar question right there.

”Start putting out the word for healers, any level of healing skill is needed. Have the crew help the sick to the medical building. It’s not very big so if there isn’t enough room use the Inn. Get the Protectorate to help if you need it. “

Parker nodded, having expected such orders as the Princess was clearly not capable of undertaking the task herself. “And what of you?” he asked gently.

Meeting his gaze a bead of red formed in the corner of one amber eye before falling to leave a crimson streak down her cheek as the symptoms of her inner struggle grew worse.

”Like you said Parker…we both know which option I’ll choose. Go. You have work to do.”

Parker simply nodded and left, doing as it was bid. In this he knew his words would fall on deaf ears and again he wondered where the Prince was. He had work to do, though, and set about doing it, marshaling Ameerah’s crew as the majority of them began relocating the sick people while a few others scoured the city for healers.

No word came from Ameerah nor the Magister’s manor though rumors about the Padishah and why she was cloistering herself in the manor ran rampant about Drybrush. For her part she rarely left the bedchamber she had claimed as her own for the time being, the curtains drawn against the incessant Heruin sun, as her body grew weaker and weaker. Pain constantly tore at her until she could no longer walk on her own, blood flowing from her lips, eyes, ears, nose. But she would not yield.

Better to see herself destroyed than give herself over to be ruled by Amunette for the rest of eternity.

Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:27 pm

Valorius Malku

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Post subject: Re: Duplicity

It Was Always A Juggling Act, Trying To Stay Ahead Of Your Worldly Responsibilities While Keeping Your Own Life On The Rails. The Second You Have Control Of One, The Other Would Start Veering Off Track -- That's Just How It Was. As Far As Lives And Obligations Went Though He Could Have It A Lot Worse. He Was A Prince, A Guardian, Powerful But Not Hungry For Power. There Was No Poverty For Him, No Real Struggle Beyond Those Faced By So Many Others In The World. However, There Were Still Problems, Unique As They Were But Problems Nonetheless.

The First Being The Company He Enjoyed Keeping.

He Had Befriended A Hated Entity. A God That Had Tried And Failed To Lay Claim To A World Already Claimed. Friendship Had Been Struck With An Evil That Threatened To Destroy The Realm He Called Home. The Wounds She Caused Were Still Healing, Still Raw, And Yet There Wasn't Any Anger In Him. Maybe He Should Have Hate For The Goddess. Maybe He Should Be Among The Many That Wanted Her Dead And Gone. Perhaps, If He Hadn't Come To Know What Was Inside Her Or Been Given A First Hand Glimpse At The Depths Of Her Mind Than The Rage Felt The World Over Would Be Shared By Him.

But He Doubted It.

What He Had Done And Who He Was When Fighting In The Previous War Was Nearly A Lifetime Ago Despite The Damage Still Being So Fresh. Back Then He Had Been Driven By A Compulsion He Didn't Necessarily Agree With. The Instinct To Bring Order, Beaten Down And Overwhelmed By It, It Was Easy To Be Confused And Think He Acted Of His Own Free Will Back Then. Yet It Wasn't A Passionate Emotion For Him, It Was Born Of A Necessity Somewhere Deep Inside. Still, Even At Its Strongest He Hadn't Felt Any Hate Towards Sharay Or Any Of Her Army, Just A Compulsion That She And They Had To Be Stopped.

When The War Was Done And That Drive For Balance Was Less Commanding His Own Nature Broke Through. That Nature Was A Powerfully Defiant One. Defy Expectations, Defy Assumptions, Just A Want To Defy -- It Was An Incredibly Intense Want That Opposed The Cold Instinct. That Is How It Had All Started. A Choice To Follow His Want Instead Of His Instinct. Instinct Had Said To Let The Goddess Disappear With The War She Started, But The Want Demanded He Find Out More. If Everyone Was In Agreement That She Was Beyond Understanding Than What Other Choice Did He Have But To Disagree?

It Was A Natural Law That A God Was The Purest Essence Of Whatever Energy They Commanded. Energy Can Never Be Added To Or Destroyed, It Can Only Be Changed. A God Could Not Be Changed. Such Conflicting Laws Demanded To Be Tested, And Test Them He Did. Making The God A Temporary Part Of Him Was A Risky Decision But It Was His. He Wasn't Compelled By A Force Within Him Or Swayed By Any Need Beyond His Own Nature. The Need To Know If A God Could Change, If It Could Be More Than What Even It Believed It Could Be.

Because If A God Could Change And Be More -- Why Not Him?

What Happened To Him Was Not Truly A Change, He Knew That Now. Where Sharay Had To Be Shown What Was Lurking In Her And That She Could Choose To Embrace It Or Ignore It, He Had Already Glimpsed What Was Inside Him; He Only Needed A Way To Access It. The Intense Negative Energy Within The Essence Of The Death God Provided The Way. Now He Was Complete. The Necessity For Order Was Gone. Not Replaced By A Need For Chaos, But On Equal Ground With It. There Was No More Pulling In One Direction - Now He Decided For Himself.

It Had Taken A Long Time For Him To Finally Grow Into Who He Was Meant To Be. Many Of The Things That Had To Happen Between Then And Now Were Unexpected.. Some Good, Some Not So Good, But All Would Be With Him Forever. He Had To Always Remember The Road It Took To Get Where He Was, So He Would Never Take For Granted Where He Is.

Sharay Had Made It Possible For Him To Become Who He Was Always Meant To Be. Strange As It Was, She Provided The Spark That Burned Away All Those Blocks And Barriers Meant To Keep Him On The Straight And Narrow Whether He Wanted It Or Not. How Could He Hate Her? Disagree With Her Views, Yes. Question Her Pursuits, Definitely. Rival The Majority Of Her Methods, Without Question. Hating Her Though Wasn't Something He Could Do. If Not Having It In Him To Despise Her Meant He Was Of The Minority Than He Could Live With That. He Never Liked Being Part Of A Crowd Anyway.

Which Is Why He Threw Himself Into His Work Instead Of The Public Eye. It Allowed Him To Remain Private While At The Same Time Paying Back The World That Helped Him Find Himself. Aleris Had Provided Many Of The Trials Necessary For Him To Evolve, So It Was Only Fair That He Gave It As Much Time As He Could Spare When It Was In Need.

Which Was The Reason It Took Longer Than Normal For Him To Respond When The Home Amunette And He Shared Was Burnt To A Cinder.

When He Did Respond Though, There Was That Feeling In The Air. The Feeling He Had Experienced Enough Times To Know Immediately. The Winds Of Change Were Back Again, And Like It Or Not Something Critical Was On The Horizon.

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Heruin Was Always A Quiet Continent, But Now It Was Like A Tomb. Some Kind Of Illness Was Spreading Across The Sand Infecting Encampments And Coastal Settlements. His Elites Brought Back Reports Every Day Of Bodies Being Found, Or Entire Groups Of People Who Seemed To Have Just Wandered And Let Themselves Die In The Desert. There Was So Much Going On And Amunette Was Nowhere To Be Found. Oh He Could Feel Her Presence But Something Was Shielding Her From Him, Keeping Her Exact Location And Situation Hidden. Maybe It Was Her. Setting Their Home On Fire, No Doubt She Was Angry, And He Wasn't Exactly Happy About Having To Have Things Rebuilt Either -- But His Responsibility Was To The Continent. If Amunette Was Pissed At Him Than He Would Just Have To Wait Things Out On That Front, For The Time Being There Were Too Many People That Needed Assistance.

As Many Healers As Could Be Located Were Working Around The Clock With The Protectorate, Traveling All Across The Scorched Lands To Offer What Help Could Be Given. There Were Reports That The Natural Healers, Those Who Used Only Herbs And Medicinal Remedies Were Not Having As Much Success As The Healers Who Utilized Magic. The Only Problem Was That The Former Greatly Outnumbered The Latter So Progress Was So Slow It Was Nearly At A Standstill.

Supplies Were Constantly Being Brought In From Eternelle Lune To Meet The Demand. Fresh Water Was In Especially High Need Due To The Lack Of Sources On The Continent. Word Had Spread That All 4 Continents Were Facing The Same Sickness So Resources Were Scarce, And Inter-Continental Travel Had Nearly Ground To A Halt. The World Was Sick, And Those Who Weren't Were In No Hurry To Interact With Those Who Were. Again, Progress Was Very Slow.

The Protectorate Encampment Had Become The Central Hub For The Continent. There Were Dozens Of Large Field Tents Erected That Housed The Sick. The Majority Of Those Infected Had To Be Restrained And Constantly Watched. Some Would Try To Hurt Those Around Them And Others Would Try To Hurt Themselves. Restraints, Gags, Around The Clock Watch And Study, It Was A Full Continental Response To A Problem That Seemed To Come Over Night And Showed No Signs Of Slowing. The Bel Telal Was Doing All He Could To Hold Everything Together But The More Who Were Found Dead, The More Days Passed Without Any Immediate Solutions, The More Silent The Desert Became.

It Had Been Days Since Anyone Had Seen The Young Prince. Rarely Did He Give So Much As A Shout From Inside The Tent, Calling For Another Member Of The Protectorate So As To Send Them With Orders On What To Do Next. Inside His Tent He Had A Series Of Maps, Scattered Reports From Every Corner Of The Continent, Numbers On How Many New Infections Had Been Diagnosed And How Many Had Died Since The Last Update. Rumors Were Spreading That The Padishah Had Left,That She Had Disappeared Somewhere In Aleris Or Even Returned Back To Eternelle Lune. Some Even Began To Talk That The Sickness Had Made It To Their Own Homeland And The Princess Was There To Deal With It. None Of These Were Addressed By The Young Man. He Had More Important Issues To Tend To Than Groundless Assumptions From Overworked Soldiers.

On The Day That Parker Journeyed Into The Encampment The Hushed Whispers Between Soldiers Were Especially Quiet. Something Must Be Wrong If The Princess' First Mate Was Coming In Her Place. Any Questions The Protectorate Might Have Had Would Be Answered At A Later Time, Parker Made Certain To Find One Of The Masked Elites And Inform Them That He Needed To Speak With Valorius, Emphasizing The Urgency And That It Was In Fact About Amunette.

To Say Parker Was Slightly Nervous As He Was Brought To The Large Command Tent, Circled By Several Hooded Soldiers All Larger Than Himself Would Have Been An Understatement. But Whatever The Message, No Amount Of Apprehension Would Keep Him From Delivering It.

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Parker Did Not Die That Day. The Message He Relayed Was More Important Than Any Aggression Valorius Might Have Felt. Amunette Was In Trouble, She Was In Pain And She Needed Him. The First Mate Gave His Captains Whereabouts, But When Asked Why If She Needed The Prince With Her She Chose To Hide Herself, Parker Swore That He Didn't Know And That He Didn't Believe It Was She Who Was Doing To Shielding. The Idea That Some Other Force Would Prevent Him From Being Able To Feel Her Pain Was More Than Enough To Have The Prince Leaving Standing Orders That The Elites Were To Command While He Was Away. That Protective And Healing Measures Were To Continue No Matter What.

Valorius Departed Immediately Giving His Orders, Journeying To Drybrush. It Took A Few Days Due To More Quickened Means Of Transport Being Used To Offer Aid To The Further Reaches Of Heruin. Parker Remained With The Protectorate And Worked In Tandem With Them, And Like It Or Not The Bel Telal Knew The Man Was Capable Enough To Do What Needed To Be Done -- For The Time Being The Continent Would Rely On Them.

Valorius Arrived At The Manor During The Evening, And He Was Greeted Almost Nervously At The Door By A Young Girl. Amunette's Energy Radiated From Inside, And The Fact He Was So Close Made Him Actually Able The Feel It. She Was Not Just In Pain, She Was In Agony. With That Much Hurt There Was No Way She Could Have Concentrated Steadily Enough To Block Him From Sensing It. He Forced His Way Into The Manor And Carlene Followed Him, She Apologized Repeatedly And Stammered On Most Of What She Said But It Didn't Matter Anyway -- She Was Not Important At That Moment.

He Felt So Much As He Came Up The Staircase. Anger, At How She'd Just Burned Down The Home -They- Built In This New World. Guilt, That Somehow He'd Pushed Her To It By Letting Her Be Locked Away Inside Herself By Astynax. Also Concern About What Was Happening To Her And Why She Hadn't Sent For Him.

Then He Opened The Door, And There She Was. The Bed Settled Across The Room With Her Laying In It. Blood Stained Much Of The Linen, There Were Droplets And Prints Of It Made By Both Hand And Foot On The Floor. Mirrors Were Broken, Windows Were Broken, And Then There Was Her In The Center Of It All. For Several Seconds All He Could Do Was Stare.

Anger? Gone. Guilt? Ovewhelming. Concern? Palpable.

The World Stopped At The Threshold, Left Behind Him As He Stepped Inside. He Looked At Her, He Looked Around The Room, Every Broken Piece Of Glass And Drop Of Blood Bringing Out A Worry That Started With A Trembling In The Fingers. His Right Boot Pulled At The Ground As He Stepped In A Patch Of Blood That Had Thickened, Sticking To The Sole Of His Boot And Bringing His Eyes To It.

How Long Had She Been There? How Long Had He Been Staring At Papers Inside His Tent While She Was Laying In That Bed Bleeding? Suffering? How Long Had He Been Angry And Bitter While She Needed Him? It Was The Second Time That She Had Needed Him Most -- And He Had Not Been There For Her.

He Moved To The Side Of The Bed And Her Eyes Were Shut, But He Could Feel That She Was Not Gone, Only Sleeping. Her Energy Was Different Now. It Was -- Easier To See, As If Her Body Wasn't Providing The Barrier That It Used To. It Was Invisible To The Normal Eye, Unseen By Vision Based Upon 3 Dimensions. What He Saw Resembled A Thunderstorm All Along Her Body, Two Forces Struggling Against Each Other, And Because Of It The Flesh Was Breaking Down.

He Reached His Right Hand Out To Touch Her Hand.

"..Nette?"

Where His Fingers Touched The Skin Crackled Like Tissue Paper, Disappearing Into The Air Like Ash While Another Line Of Blood Began Trickling. Quickly He Pulled His Hand Back.

"Oh fuck...Amunette. I'm..."

Suddenly He Turned From Her And Looked All Around The Room, His Expression Frantic And His Voice Full Of Panic.

"I know you can hear me. I know what we asked..I know what we said. We need you. SHE needs you!"

Again He Turned Towards Her, Making Sure Not To Get Too Close Or Even Bump The Bed Accidentally. He Forced A Half Smile And Spoke To Her.

"I don't know how to fix this...but they will. Just a few more minutes and you'll be ok. They'll take care of you."

The Words Seemed Genuine Enough, The Only Problem Was That He Didn't Know Who He Was Trying To Convince.

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 6:43 pm

Revenge is the act of passion.

Vengeance is an act of justice.

Duvessa

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Post subject: Re: Duplicity

She heard him. Of course she heard him. Though they had been asked not to interfere in their lives, for good or ill, she still kept herself well informed and it was with no surprise that she heard her son’s voice ring through the private chambers she shared with her husband, demanding their help for Aumnette. They had known it would come to this, had seen the warning signs, and they were prepared. It was simply a matter of waiting for them to call for help or for Amunette to be so far gone as to be a danger to herself and those around her. They had been so very close to that but Valorius’ call for help came first and lifting diamond clear eyes to meet those of her husband’s she smiled a bit sadly at Astynax.

”Take her to the Chamber. I will speak with Valorius.”

Her dulcet voice was soft, weighed down with sadness she knew she was about to inflict upon her cherished son. But all would not be sadness if she could just get him to see it. Nodding in agreement with her plan Astynax’s lips touched to her own fleetingly as they each faded from existence, he to the Nexus Chamber where he would greet Amunette, she to Aleris where she would try to help Valorius cope with what was about to happen.

Seconds after his voice faded the room filled with mist, obscuring his vision, until a figure stepped from the dense fog that rolled in from the ether. Coming face to face with her handsome son she smiled gently, knowing that Amunette was already gone, her decaying figure whisked away through the fog to the Nexus Chamber where Astynax would greet her…what was left of her anyway.

Stepping forward her right hand rose and she placed her palm to his cheek tenderly, her eyes meeting his to see only anguish and pain in the depths of his gaze. Anger quickly flared as a result, anger at Amunette, Ameerah, whoever…she had caused Valorius nothing but pain and it was her secret hope that this would spell the end of their star-crossed relationship. She could not stop him from being with her if he so wished, but she would not see him descend into the madness that now beset Arikkon, again thanks to Ameerah and her cavalier disregard for those men in her life.

“She is with Astynax now, my darling son. He will save her if he can but…I must warn you, she will be much altered. We must force her two selves to become one and we may be unable to save the body. I have no idea who she will be once we are through. She may not even know you.”

She hated herself for saying such things, knowing it would hurt him, but there was no way to predict how Ameerah would weather what must be done to save her life, if she would retain all of her former memories, feelings, thoughts, instincts. She could end up as a totally different person, one foreign to him. She believed if Valorius and Ameerah were meant to be together, they would be. They would reunite and fall in love all over again. In the meantime she wasn’t about to let her son languish after her when she might not even return the same person. She wasn’t going to erase his feelings for her…no, those he needed, they had helped shape the man he had become and she was so very proud of him. But, there was something she could do, something she had not discussed with her husband but she fully intended to do anyway.

“You were meant to be so much more than simply her bodyguard,” she finally said, her voice gentle as her left hand rose to mirror the right so that she was cupping his face in her hands. “You were tethered to her unjustly and I am going to make that right.”

Drawing his face down she kissed his forehead, a small “shiver” of energy running from her lips to his skin, a subtle force, but one that would be profoundly felt.

“To love her, or not to love her, is your choice. But no longer will you be bound to her against your will. No longer will your souls or minds be tethered. You are free to live and love as you choose, even if it is her.”

As she drew back her crystalline eyes met his and she knew he may potentially be angry with her for what she had just done. Astynax very likely would be. It wasn’t often she and her husband disagreed but when it came to matters of Ameerah they more often than not ended up butting heads. He had made Valorius her care taker to ensure his darling would survive…but she would no longer allow her son to be saddled with an albatross he had not chosen. His feelings for Ameerah would remain, but now he would have the ability to choose whether he would bind himself to her so completely, or if he would seek happiness elsewhere.

”I do not know how long this will take for you here, in Aleris, but I will keep you informed. In the meantime I encourage you to use this time to figure out what you truly want. If your heart truly belongs to her or if you love her simply because it was decreed you should before your birth.”

Another kiss, this one to his cheek, and she was stepping away from him in a swirl of white satin skirts, a soft smile touching her lips as she gazed upon the face of her cherished son.

”Choose your course, my son. There is still happiness ahead for you..if you wish it.” Of course she didn’t elaborate but rather left the vague statement hanging in the air for him to ponder on later. ”I love you my son.”

And, blowing him a kiss of farewell, she stepped into the fog that soon dissipated in her wake, fading entirely to reveal the bedchamber. It was empty save for him, Ameerah was gone as was any evidence of her having been there. The room was as if she had never stepped foot into it.

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:42 pm

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