|
|
| (4 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/SecondMovement|Second Movement]]
| + | #REDIRECT [[ADanceOfAngels]] |
| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
| |
| − | | |
| − | == Dance in Darkness ==
| |
| − | | |
| − | Midnight... by midnight, you arrive at the Vestal's palace.
| |
| − | | |
| − | On a shadowland a day's trip north of Whiteshield... walking close to the houses of stone of the dead, hearing the deafening silence, seeing... things... moving within the houses, doors like mouths, windows like eyes... and nothing on the street but the air of something... wrong.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The palace itself is a mockery to be called that... a big fort, a mouth with many eyes, but made of clean-cut, if very dark, marble. The house of a very wealthy and old ghost who acted as an informant for the Lover, until the moment the Vestal felt the need of having the place for herself so she could rest in the Shadowlands... and so, she took it.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The carriage stops suddenly, the horses making noises no horse should make, more akin to vicious roars... and the maid that took over driving opens the door. Maera hops out without looking back at Kanti. "Come on, we are here. You better be well enough by now, Kanti."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti looks up in suprise, having retreated into herself as much as Maera would let her. She quickly picks up her spear nd adjusts her dress, stepping down obdiantly after Maera.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Here ... so soon....she trembled slighty
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I...I think I am, Maera..." she stretches a little to test herself...ahhh...not quite, but..hopefully she wouldn't notice...
| |
| − | | |
| − | ...Why did she want to see her though...and..armed as she was....
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Maera:</b> "Good." Maera says, walking in the hollow, gaping mouth of the building, through twisting corridors... and getting to the large hall where the Vestal waits... discussing.
| |
| − | | |
| − | There she lays in her heavy, dark robes - the Vestal of the Livid Lamasery. Her eyes red like rubies, her hair as fire, her lips as blood... and her skin as milk. Her voice as hot whispers. To her side, were two girls Kanti had seen... one was anathema, her mark the golden version of the Vestal's... a poor girl taken when the Whiteshield palace was crushed. Fiona was her name, and she had broken... so easily. She was so young, barely outside of childhood, with hazel hair and eyes... and now dressed as flamboyantly and possessively as Kanti herself, an impressive beauty on her young form. The other, a heart-faced girl with full pouty lips, not incredibly beautiful but somehow very charismatic had a name that escaped Kanti, she had been taken on the Boil....
| |
| − | | |
| − | And, around the Vestal...
| |
| − | | |
| − | She had seen the fully-armored man before. In a full metal armor, a cross in his visor, his demeanor and aura seeming as hard and cold as his armor. Crusader Wielding His Regret. An equal to the Vestal, disapproving of most of her attittudes, his voice old and hard. And the.... <i>thing,</i> she had never seen.
| |
| − | | |
| − | A 10 feet tall statue, weighing no less than a ton, carved of smooth black marble and smoother soulsteel. Its veins are the color of Corpus, and on its surface, a thousand souls wail for release. Shaped like a man, moving like one - in fluid motions, if slow ones, little evidencing its inhumanity in movements, although it is obvious, by any observer, even deep in the night, that there is something just wrong with it.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Its form is human, but featureless - without such as nails, hair, lines, mouth, nose, or genitalia. its eyes, or the slight releve on his face where eyes should be, gleam like two crimson stars in a unholy night sky. Just below where the neck ends, on the top half of its chest, one can see an octogonal hearthstone of deep, unreflexive black. The Hearthstone of a Manse deep in the Labyrinth, the automaton’s power source. His voice is a cacophony that seems bred in nightmares - a hollow, echoing sound, that has many different voices at the same time.
| |
| − | | |
| − | But they all stop talking when Kanti comes in, looking at her and Maera. Maera kneels, with all respect, eyes cast down. "Mistress, I have brought her as I had promised. I place both myself and her at your mercy... here she is, and like me, she lives and dies for you.."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti's eyes roam the room in awe and fear, drinking in all the details...
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Crusader standing there, watching her with impassive cool eyes..se feared him yes, but he would only kill her...
| |
| − | | |
| − | The statue...that ... thing .... It had no place here! No place in Creation! No place at all...but there it was, by the Vestal's power no doubt...
| |
| − | | |
| − | Then there were the two girls ... poor things ... much like herself really .... especially fiona...
| |
| − | | |
| − | And then ... there was her. The sight took Kanti's breath away, falling to her knees without thinking, not yet able to break her view of the Vestal...
| |
| − | | |
| − | For a brief instant before they all all supressed, stamped firmly down, there is fear and love and hate and lust all painted on her face, showing the inner turmoil she feels.
| |
| − | | |
| − | This woman had done such things to her...but...she...her presence... it was like a drug...even in the darkest times ... it was there. Wrapping itself around her hurts like a blanket, the knowledge that truely she was cared for, that all the suffering was nessesary, but that she was no less loved for it...
| |
| − | | |
| − | No! She was a monster!
| |
| − | | |
| − | But...she cared...
| |
| − | | |
| − | Kanti averted her eyes, looking at the floor.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I am here to do as you will, my mistress."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Vestal of the Livid Lamasery:</b> Her head cocks back a bit, and she leans on her fist, smiling, admiring Kanti...
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>So beautiful....</i>
| |
| − | | |
| − | For the first time, she saw Kanti in her dress, for the first time she sees Kanti walking in her scars. She had left behind a broken woman, scarred and curling in fetal position before being taken for more, even after the scarification was done... and now she saw her, walking, beautiful in her marks and her dress....
| |
| − | | |
| − | Oh, her dress!
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Vestal would forever love Berengiere for the dress she made her pretty. So perfect, so perfect... while the Vestal stood in the conservative, heavy robes of a nun in the bishop's service, the woman in front of her was dressed as... an immaculate? An immaculate of blood... an immaculate of the underworld. An immaculate whose dress was as open and inviting as the one of a southern courtesan. An Immaculate whore.
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Vestal's cheeks tinge of red, lusty, predatory red, and she smiles at Kanti. "You are beautiful, Kanti. My Kanti... you look wonderful, now. Too wonderful. Would you dance for me, my pretty Kanti?" She asks, nicely. So nice of the Vestal, in eyes that are so accepting... as she motions to Maera. "Come, Maera. Tell me of what I don't yet know... are you thirsty? I know I am." She says, ordering for Sarah to get some refreshments...
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b>...dance....
| |
| − | | |
| − | ...she wanted her to dance...
| |
| − | | |
| − | ...of course she would dance for her...anything for her...with those eyes...accepting her...wanting her...she wanted her...and ...that was all that mattered...wasnt it?
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Of course, my mistress."
| |
| − | | |
| − | She rose to her feet, willing essence into her skin...flames starting to sway under her skin, held back by the cage of black cuts.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She closes her eyes for the briefest instant ... her thought's drifting back ... dances in the sunlight...dances in the starlight ...dances in heaven ... and now she was to dance in hell...
| |
| − | | |
| − | With another breath she started to move, irises blossoming about her feet as she did, dancing to the rythem of her heart...the only beat she had to dance to.
| |
| − | | |
| − | A pounding rythem, quick, powerful as she flowed through the moves of the dance...the eyes on her as she did...following her as she twisted and turned through the dance.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Then for a few brief, glorious moments, she forgot about where it was that she danced, who it was she danced for, and simply danced for the joy of it...
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Vestal of the Livid Lamasery:</b> "Wonderful...." The Vestal says, admiring Kanti... admiring her so much... her creation. Such a beautiful creation... such a beautiful and skilled dragoness...
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Crusader crosses his arms, trying hard to be impassive... so hard... but his eyes do not leave Kanti... and her dance. Her beautiful dance. "So, Vestal? You have beautiful toys, but it did not save you, did it? You overplayed your hand, and walked back here like a hurt dog. That is not the way of an Apostle of the Shining One.", the old voice speaks, softer than it had ever been before due to the dance...
| |
| − | | |
| − | Her eyes narrow, and would spit fire if she could. Instead, she only lets the entropy in her consume a nearby glass. "Go bugger yourself, Crusader. You would do no better against all of them. We did not know who they are, or what they could. They came out of nowhere! I have the bitch in my hands, and suddenly there is a brute punching my back out, and a great airship above me. Tell me the day you begin to see the future."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Our master does. The Shining One sees all." Comes the voice... the multihued voice, like the voice of every soul in the surface of the creature... of the Visage of a Thousand Demises, so many of them trying to scream....
| |
| − | | |
| − | "And that is why the boy burned all the bodies and denied us the knowledge of the sanctuary? We needed the relics there!", Speaks the Crusader...
| |
| − | | |
| − | "The Shining One knows all." Reiterates the statue. "It was surely a test."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Yes, yes... and so was the Lover rescuing the boy? Anyway... what do we do now? That stupid Hierophant was one of our leaders! We need more of his prowess here, not trying to prove his might against the Pale Angel. He got what he bargained for... and now what do we have? It will be soon..." Asks the Crusader
| |
| − | | |
| − | "It doesn't change anything. The Celebrant will keep Windia occupied. We will open the Labyrinth. We will throw the seeds of chaos to the wind, and the north will burn." The Vestall speaks, entranced by the dancing dragoness.... "And then our master will get what he deserves, and our crusades will sweep the north. I will not be here when that happens, you know. They will all die, to bring chaos. But I will be far away after our army comes."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Oh, and... the Hierophant would have killed the whelp if not for the Windwraith's intervention. His venom might have her dead as we speak..."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Probably. So, we have confirmation it is the Windwraith, eh? The powers are gathering... as we expected. But they should not be together like this. And he grants them powerful abilities... what about this Lunar?"
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Yes, it is him.", the Vestal assents, gesturing for kanti to finish her performance and come to her...
| |
| − | | |
| − | "You are leaving. I thought as much. I do not desire death, but this is the chance to repent... I will lead this new crusade, and die with it. As I die, all shall come.. trample Whiteshield... and fight. With the Prophet giving anger to their hearts, Windia, the Silver Pact, the Lover and the Bull will meet as they fight back against our forces... or at least part of them will, and destroy themselves for us. And I will be there." The Crusader says, his voice once again cold as his armor.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Oh, your notion of honor... I do more for the Shining One alive, thank you. But I am not going until I have them. The Pale Angel and the Dark Angel... knelt at my feet, kissing me and adoring the Void through *me*!"
| |
| − | | |
| − | She stops, waiting on Kanti, drinking on her sight... "They are here, you know. Miriana and her Seventh Moon, that unlearned, crass scum from the Boil."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Yes." Says the Crusader, and you can just <i>feel</i> his eyes, hard as ice. "And I will form a hunting party, and hunt them to the ends of this country. I will burn them as an example."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <i>No!!!</i> She cries, exasperated.... "They are <i>mine!</i> You take care of Whiteshield, you two... the ritual will be soon. Just go... and I will take care of them. My pretties will be enough, I assure you. Now, please leave... I need to spend some time with my pretties."
| |
| − | | |
| − | And, with few more words, they go... leaving all of you alone.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Come, Kanti... kneel beside me, rest your head here..." She runs her hand across her lap, "And tell me how you have been, my pretty Dragoness..."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti stops her dance at the Vestal's request, trembling softly with the effort and emotion of at all as she walks towards the Vestal, careful footsteps, a trail of iris blossoms behind her...
| |
| − | | |
| − | And then her mistress' distress...a cold look at the Crusader for annoying her so, quickly averted in fear...then they went...the cold one and the abombination....
| |
| − | | |
| − | Leaving her with the mistress ... she kneeled slowly, a tremble filling her body...so close now...to the one that did this too her. Took her beauty and remade it to her own liking, inflicted such hurts on her just to hear her screams...and yet...
| |
| − | | |
| − | She rested her head on the Vestals lap ...and yet..for one brief instant, she was here and nothing else mattered, just that she with the Vestal and the Vestal loved her...
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I....your servants have been ...good to m mistress....thank you .... but...." Kanti trailed off...
| |
| − | | |
| − | "But?" The Vestal asked, one hand trailing down Kanti's cheek as she trembled slightly..
| |
| − | | |
| − | "...I missed you, mistress" spoken as the merest whisper...why she missed her, she did not know...had hated every instant with her....but....how could she not love her?
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Vestal of the Livid Lamasery:</b> Her soft hand caressing Kanti, she lowered her face, whispering, "I missed you too."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I will be sure to make up for all that time... specially with how you look now... so beautiful. The robes fit you, Kanti... did you like my gift? How they fit who you are now?"
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> No No No! NO! She hated them, her weakness, her pain, woven into ....such a shape...for her mistress' pleasure...
| |
| − | | |
| − | And so she smiled up at the vestal and her soft carresses "I did yes...thank you Mistress ... for such a wonderful gift."
| |
| − | | |
| − | How could she say such things...how could such things fall from her lips...<br>
| |
| − | She shivered again, and hated herself for it.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Vestal of the Livid Lamasery:</b> She held Kanti's face on both hands, smiling, "I am glad. Very glad, my pretty."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Promise me. Promise me you will always keep them, never let them be taken away or thrown away... and that you will remember me in their whispers. Promise me..."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> "I will mistress ...I will" she whispers softly, looking up at the Vestal, gazing into her eyes, loosing herself in them...
| |
| − | | |
| − | Keep them with fond memories.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Keep them until the day I kill you.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Keep them forever.
| |
| − | | |
| − | Keep them and remember you.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Vestal of the Livid Lamasery:</b> "Yes. Good Kanti. My good pretty." She says, moving her face aside and getting up... with a tinge of pain.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Mistress! You shouldn't move yet! It is not done yet!" Fiona says, exasperated, the golden in her forehead shining some.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "It's ok, Fiona... I want Kanti's touch as well." She says, sliding her robe off... and letting her form, pale and beautiful, shaped as only the Exalted can be.... dark and red lingerie, so fancy inside the plain robes of her order. And in her back, a red, black and blue swelling. "I was unprepared. My defenses weren't active... and this is what the saves did to me, Kanti. They hurt me. Miriana and Moon."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti looks briefly lost as she is lifted off her mistress' lap, before she recovers, looking up at her, worship in her eyes...
| |
| − | | |
| − | And, mistress was hurt!! HOW?! how could they do such a thing to her...
| |
| − | | |
| − | She forgot all about her hatred...slipping her hands up the vestals legs, not breaking contact with her eyes. She reached the wound, pressing her hands to it lightly, pushing the healing essence into Charmaine, a warmth to take away her mistress' hurts...
| |
| − | | |
| − | She looks up, seeking approval.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Vestal of the Livid Lamasery:</b> The Vestal touches Kanti, closing her eyes at the healing... "Like that... like that..." She smiles, kissing Kanti. "It hurt real bad. They cowardly pinned your mistress down, while a big, unwashed brute punched my back. He wanted to break me... wanted to break me, Kanti. They got close to it, too..."
| |
| − | | |
| − | She purrs, "And they are around here now. They broke into one of our garrisons, and have been quite... noisy."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti shudders halfway between revulsion and exstacy as she is kissed.
| |
| − | | |
| − | She...
| |
| − | | |
| − | She...can be ...hurt....
| |
| − | | |
| − | She can be killed...
| |
| − | | |
| − | ...why does that thought fill me with terror?
| |
| − | | |
| − | "What is it you wish me to do to them, mistress?"
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Vestal of the Livid Lamasery:</b> "They challenged me, the witch wrote in the blood of our Great Lord's servants... 'suffer not a witch to live'. Oh, but I shall."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "If she comes to fight me, I will be prepared, and humble the little bitch. But I willl not even give her the chance. I want you to go, Kanti... to bring them to me. To go with the rest of my pretties... and take them to me. Alive."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Otherwise I will be very angry... and you don't want that, do you, my pretty?"
| |
| − | | |
| − | The Vestal's fingers were sneaking inside her dress, bringing her ecstasy just as she brings her orders... running her fingers over Kanti's flesh in a posessive way. "I need the black-winged woman mostly intact. I want her to serve beside you. The male... I just need him alive. You can hurt him all you wish... but I know you won't, will you? You will avenge your mistress, you will fight them in my name, and bring them back to me, won't you?"
| |
| − | | |
| − | She kisses Kanti again, "But kill them, or let them die... and I will do worse than you can imagine to you..."
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Kanti:</b> Kanti cries out as the vestal brings her to exstacy focusing on her words....trying too....
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Bring ...the black-winged woman...back unharmed...bring the man...back...yes mistress...I'll do that for you...anything for you..."
| |
| − | | |
| − | She returns her kisses desperately, holding on to her for support.
| |
| − | | |
| − | "I...I understand mistress... I...I will not fail you!!"
| |
| − | | |
| − | Or I will not come home .... perhaps they could kill her...end it all...
| |
| − | | |
| − | Or perhaps.....no....that would never work...but...it could...maybe...
| |
| − | | |
| − | None of these thoughts reaching her face, still looking up at the Vestal with love..and a powerful need ... and a powerful fear in her eyes.
| |
| − | | |
| − | <b>Vestal of the Livid Lamasery:</b> "Yes, go... clad in your screams, my immaculate of lust... go and bring them down."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "Fiona and the others shall go with you... you will be covered... and be outfitted like you were once again the great Garda Bird. MY bird..."
| |
| − | | |
| − | "You will leave tomorrow... and tonight, you are mine... you all are."
| |
| − | | |
| − | She kissed Kanti again, and let her whimpers join the screams in her robes...
| |
| − | | |
| − | ----
| |
| − | | |
| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/SecondMovement|Second Movement]]
| |
| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
| |
