I don't know what to think now. I walked in on my dad in the library. He was in the big chair, asleep. I got up because I could tell she wasn't home. I don't know how. At least dad was here, but Sanria isn't. I woke him up and his eyes looked bloody and red, kinda like he'd been crying. He said someone took her. But if someone can take an adult, can't they take away a kid? What if someone takes Nioma, or me? Maybe no one wants me anyway.
It's hard cause I just got used to having Sanria around like a real mom since my real mom loves her new family more than ours. Dad says the still loves us, but she never comes to visit me. I was thinking about calling Sanria mom... but she's not here and dad looks like he used to look before he married Sanria. Sad and lonely and mad and a little bit afraid. I guess I'm all those things, too, even though Nioma is here, and Mr. and Mrs. Bunny and my dog. Animals and little sisters aren't moms.
What if she never comes back? I mean, I already lived without a mom for a long time, even if Mirin was kinda like a mom. Big sisters aren't good moms either. I miss Sanria. If she were still here, dad would be happy and I'd be asleep already. She'd read me an adventure book. I wonder if she sees the moon like I see it? And the red one beside the regular one. Maybe I just don't get to have a mom ever.
Fury and Realization
Gilean blasted down the old wooden door of Velentham's Heifong apartment with a blinding ray of white light, sending dry splinters flying in every direction. He charged through the rooms of the modest dwelling searching for Sanria. He knew it was foolish to expect for Velentham to have brought her here but Gilean had nothing else to go on. This was the only place he knew of that Velentham might have taken her but as the faint golden glow surrounding his body helped to illuminate one dingy corner after another he came to realize that his search was in vain.
Gilean exited onto Velentham's small balcony and sat heavily upon a small stone bench surrounded by crumpled cigarette butts. A wave of despair washed over him and the icy knot of dread in his gut tightened mercilessly. How could things have gone so wrong so quickly. A day just like any other. Helping those in need at the Temple of Lathander. A few moments of secluded meditation before leaving. Then arriving home to an empty house and a battered Thasmudyan in his front yard.
It was almost unbelievable. Gilean had taken every precaution to ensure Sanria would be safe from his delusional cousin. But somehow Velentham had used Thasmudyan to lure Sanria out and taken her. Damn Thasmudyan! How could he have been so naive? So stupid?
Gilean closed his eyes for a moment. No. It wasn't Thasmudyan's fault. Velentham was a celestial in full command of his abilities. He could influence people's thoughts and feelings... perhaps even someone as gifted as Thasmudyan. This wasn't time for placing blame. This was the time for finding and retrieving his wife.
He swallowed hard, trying to force down that icy ball in his gut. Gilean knew he couldn't do this alone. Yes, he was celestial, same as Velentham, but Gilean had been cast out by his people and stripped of most of his true nature, left with only limited command of the power within him. If he were to have any hope of finding Sanria and bringing her home safely, he would need all the help he could get.
The plain truth was, he was not the only one who cared for Sanria. For better or for worse, the were others who would not want to see her mistreated and as awkward as it may be, he was going to need their help. Gilean took a deep breath and stood from the bench, departing in a swirl of gold.
Gilean exited onto Velentham's small balcony and sat heavily upon a small stone bench surrounded by crumpled cigarette butts. A wave of despair washed over him and the icy knot of dread in his gut tightened mercilessly. How could things have gone so wrong so quickly. A day just like any other. Helping those in need at the Temple of Lathander. A few moments of secluded meditation before leaving. Then arriving home to an empty house and a battered Thasmudyan in his front yard.
It was almost unbelievable. Gilean had taken every precaution to ensure Sanria would be safe from his delusional cousin. But somehow Velentham had used Thasmudyan to lure Sanria out and taken her. Damn Thasmudyan! How could he have been so naive? So stupid?
Gilean closed his eyes for a moment. No. It wasn't Thasmudyan's fault. Velentham was a celestial in full command of his abilities. He could influence people's thoughts and feelings... perhaps even someone as gifted as Thasmudyan. This wasn't time for placing blame. This was the time for finding and retrieving his wife.
He swallowed hard, trying to force down that icy ball in his gut. Gilean knew he couldn't do this alone. Yes, he was celestial, same as Velentham, but Gilean had been cast out by his people and stripped of most of his true nature, left with only limited command of the power within him. If he were to have any hope of finding Sanria and bringing her home safely, he would need all the help he could get.
The plain truth was, he was not the only one who cared for Sanria. For better or for worse, the were others who would not want to see her mistreated and as awkward as it may be, he was going to need their help. Gilean took a deep breath and stood from the bench, departing in a swirl of gold.
Silver Eyes
She had tried. Sanria had tried to keep herself behind the ward, in the safety that Gilean had given her, but part of her still cared for Thasmudyan. He had come to warn her, a gesture most befitting his care and kindness. He told her that he had chosen against helping Velentham, and Sanria felt her heart soften. It was no mere feat to go against the coaxing that Celestials were capable of using. Then Velentham had shown up.
Sanria wasn't prepared for the sight, Velentham looked much more gaunt than he had looked before. His hair was a mess, his eyes glowing with a madness, and the only other time she had seen the same look of desperation on his face was when he had taken her away and forced himself upon her. She thought after that he would have left her alone. She thought after Velentham's fight with Colin so many years ago, he had forgotten her. His appearance, the face lined with hatred and desperation, proved otherwise. He had driven himself crazy.
So she tried. She tried to remind Thasmudyan of his obligations. Lyvinnia was still needing her father. And her calling out ended in disaster. She caused the hesitation on Thasmudyan's behalf, and Velentham had lashed out. All else was automatic. The ward forgotten in the hopes that if she got between the men the fight would end. Instead, Thasmudyan rushed forward, Velentham leapt over, and she was crushed in a vice-like grip with no hope of getting free.
It was not long after that Velentham's magic kept them suspended together in a bubble over a landscape boiling with fire and flame. He uttered a few words, and Sanria found herself unable to speak. Silence. Her eyes watered as the Celestial turned his gaze on her, his eyes burning silver, his gaunt face tight with a smile. "Don't cry, my love," he cooed, wiping her face with his free hand. "Soon this will all be but a distant memory and your pain will melt away."
Sanria felt the familiar tickle at the back of her mind and she knew in that instant that Velentham was already at work on her mind. The idea of escaping flashed in her mind, and the silver eyes narrowed for only a moment. "You will burn, love. And I can't have that." Tears rolled down her cheeks, kept liquid only by the bubble that surrounded them. Velentham pulled her close, kissing her mouth. Though she tried to pull back, she couldn't fight the grip that held her close. She could cast no spell. The stale cigarette smell in his hair was nearly all she could take, and he finally pulled back. With a smile, Velentham drifted their bubble closer to the fiery surface below, and Sanria knew she was utterly beyond help.
Sanria wasn't prepared for the sight, Velentham looked much more gaunt than he had looked before. His hair was a mess, his eyes glowing with a madness, and the only other time she had seen the same look of desperation on his face was when he had taken her away and forced himself upon her. She thought after that he would have left her alone. She thought after Velentham's fight with Colin so many years ago, he had forgotten her. His appearance, the face lined with hatred and desperation, proved otherwise. He had driven himself crazy.
So she tried. She tried to remind Thasmudyan of his obligations. Lyvinnia was still needing her father. And her calling out ended in disaster. She caused the hesitation on Thasmudyan's behalf, and Velentham had lashed out. All else was automatic. The ward forgotten in the hopes that if she got between the men the fight would end. Instead, Thasmudyan rushed forward, Velentham leapt over, and she was crushed in a vice-like grip with no hope of getting free.
It was not long after that Velentham's magic kept them suspended together in a bubble over a landscape boiling with fire and flame. He uttered a few words, and Sanria found herself unable to speak. Silence. Her eyes watered as the Celestial turned his gaze on her, his eyes burning silver, his gaunt face tight with a smile. "Don't cry, my love," he cooed, wiping her face with his free hand. "Soon this will all be but a distant memory and your pain will melt away."
Sanria felt the familiar tickle at the back of her mind and she knew in that instant that Velentham was already at work on her mind. The idea of escaping flashed in her mind, and the silver eyes narrowed for only a moment. "You will burn, love. And I can't have that." Tears rolled down her cheeks, kept liquid only by the bubble that surrounded them. Velentham pulled her close, kissing her mouth. Though she tried to pull back, she couldn't fight the grip that held her close. She could cast no spell. The stale cigarette smell in his hair was nearly all she could take, and he finally pulled back. With a smile, Velentham drifted their bubble closer to the fiery surface below, and Sanria knew she was utterly beyond help.
Straight Flush
"Do you still wish to persist, beggar?" Velentham stood, fully revealed in his celestial form. His wings bared, his silver eyes glowing, and his long sword at his side. "I gave my word, didn't I?" Thasmudyan said, and he rose, casting a shield about himself.
It was humorous, watching the pitiful man believe himself a worth foe, but it would only take a moment more. From the corner of his eye, Velentham watched Sanria growing more frantic. Only a moment more. "Stop! Thasmudyan, please!!! Velentham, please don't do this... Think of Lyvinnia! Please!!"
"Lyvinnia..." and the beggar turned toward Sanria.
Velentham began to chant the words of the same spell, this time intending fully release the power through the shield and into the very heart of the beggar. "You've got the damned things off now get back here!!!" Sanria screamed. And Velentham let the ball of energy fly.
The next sequence unfolded better than Velentham could have anticipated. The beggar's shield was barely enough to keep him from obliteration, but enough to get the man to charge. And when the beggar charged, Sanria fled the ward to stop him. Velentham vaulted himself into the air, gliding with ease over Thasmudyan's charge, and scooped Sanria into his arms.
Unadulterated and unbridled joy swept over Velentham's mind as he squeezed Sanria to him, overpowering her attempts to free herself. He grinned at Thasmudyan. "Good trade, beggar. And I thank you."
"Sanria!!"
"Have a good life."
With a single word, Velentham vanished with his prize in tow. Victory was his, and there would be nothing to take it away from him again.
It was humorous, watching the pitiful man believe himself a worth foe, but it would only take a moment more. From the corner of his eye, Velentham watched Sanria growing more frantic. Only a moment more. "Stop! Thasmudyan, please!!! Velentham, please don't do this... Think of Lyvinnia! Please!!"
"Lyvinnia..." and the beggar turned toward Sanria.
Velentham began to chant the words of the same spell, this time intending fully release the power through the shield and into the very heart of the beggar. "You've got the damned things off now get back here!!!" Sanria screamed. And Velentham let the ball of energy fly.
The next sequence unfolded better than Velentham could have anticipated. The beggar's shield was barely enough to keep him from obliteration, but enough to get the man to charge. And when the beggar charged, Sanria fled the ward to stop him. Velentham vaulted himself into the air, gliding with ease over Thasmudyan's charge, and scooped Sanria into his arms.
Unadulterated and unbridled joy swept over Velentham's mind as he squeezed Sanria to him, overpowering her attempts to free herself. He grinned at Thasmudyan. "Good trade, beggar. And I thank you."
"Sanria!!"
"Have a good life."
With a single word, Velentham vanished with his prize in tow. Victory was his, and there would be nothing to take it away from him again.
Four of a Kind
"Thasmudyan... no..." Sanria begged, and Velentham checked the bile that rose.
"You'll come out here and fight me?"
"He will kill you... he won't stop... please... don't offer this," Sanria begged. Velentham hated the way she clutched the beggar, but he had his goal. He would attain it.
"Answer the question, Velentham."
"I'll see to it that she won't touch Sanria."
"Thasmudyan! No!" Sanria raced to the front of the beggar, pleading with him.
"He is a Celestial, he is a wizard... he will kill you. Please..."
"Don't you see, Sanria? This is my chance to free you from all of this.. to atone for my mistakes," the beggar said.
Everything was falling into place, the stars aligning, the sounds of his own kind, singing to him in his mind. "I've answered my half, now make haste, beggar." He watched his woman hold Thasmudyan's hands up, showing him the bangles that held him captive. But the beggar had on his bravado, something Velentham had counted on. The beggar would do his best to show Sanria he was worthy. No sooner than the beggar stepped forward, did Velentham know he had what he wanted.
"Would be an awful lot more fun if you got rid of these first, you know," the beggar said, holding up his shackled wrists.
"Oh no, my friend. This must be quick, and who am I to make things harder by slowing them down with a magic flinging contest that I would win anyway?"
"Please!" Sanria said, pacing behind the ward.
"I never knew the Celestials to be cowards."
"Did you want to play, then?"
"Do you want the satisfaction of knowing you defeated me as I really am, or do you just want to kill a helpless human?"
"The lamb has teeth," Velentham said with a grin. "Very well."
The ancient spell Velentham used was one learned long ago, one his people had held in antiquity, one they used on their travels to slay evil of all kinds. It also had the ability to overpower many other types of magic. He summoned the spell, only partial strength, and in a flash of light, the shackles that held the beggar's magic in check were reduced to fragments and the beggar knocked onto his knees.
"You'll come out here and fight me?"
"He will kill you... he won't stop... please... don't offer this," Sanria begged. Velentham hated the way she clutched the beggar, but he had his goal. He would attain it.
"Answer the question, Velentham."
"I'll see to it that she won't touch Sanria."
"Thasmudyan! No!" Sanria raced to the front of the beggar, pleading with him.
"He is a Celestial, he is a wizard... he will kill you. Please..."
"Don't you see, Sanria? This is my chance to free you from all of this.. to atone for my mistakes," the beggar said.
Everything was falling into place, the stars aligning, the sounds of his own kind, singing to him in his mind. "I've answered my half, now make haste, beggar." He watched his woman hold Thasmudyan's hands up, showing him the bangles that held him captive. But the beggar had on his bravado, something Velentham had counted on. The beggar would do his best to show Sanria he was worthy. No sooner than the beggar stepped forward, did Velentham know he had what he wanted.
"Would be an awful lot more fun if you got rid of these first, you know," the beggar said, holding up his shackled wrists.
"Oh no, my friend. This must be quick, and who am I to make things harder by slowing them down with a magic flinging contest that I would win anyway?"
"Please!" Sanria said, pacing behind the ward.
"I never knew the Celestials to be cowards."
"Did you want to play, then?"
"Do you want the satisfaction of knowing you defeated me as I really am, or do you just want to kill a helpless human?"
"The lamb has teeth," Velentham said with a grin. "Very well."
The ancient spell Velentham used was one learned long ago, one his people had held in antiquity, one they used on their travels to slay evil of all kinds. It also had the ability to overpower many other types of magic. He summoned the spell, only partial strength, and in a flash of light, the shackles that held the beggar's magic in check were reduced to fragments and the beggar knocked onto his knees.
Full House
The idea that the beggar was able to call him out, to make him look bad in Sanria's eyes, was intolerable to Velentham and made him absolutely salivate with the desire to end Thasmudyan's life. Discretion, however, is the better part of valor, but that was difficult when his woman wouldn't tell the truth. When she said things such as, "I've never wanted you."
"Lies. If you didn't want me I wouldn't be here. You did at one time. Of your own free will."
"It doesn't matter. What matters is what she wants now. I'm willing to let her make that choice, though. You aren't," the beggar interrupted.
"She made her choice and they came and took her from me. I'm merely here to enforce the decision she made in the first place. Make her... keep her word."
"So what? Decisions change. She's chosen me before, too. Should I be holding her word to that?"
"If you weren't weak, perhaps you would."
The dark ichor of insanity crept back into the edges of Velentham's mind, only to be beaten back by an idea. He could see Sanria held some sort of affection for the beggar. Some desire to keep him safe. If he could get Thasmudyan to leave the safety of the ward, he could get Sanria to follow most certainly. He knew her mind from long ago. Knew she couldn't stop herself from helping the helpless. In that instant, the goal was in sight. "Why don't you come out here, beggar. Come meet with me on open ground. Here."
Velentham bent low, a genuflection that opened the space before him. He had felt the mind of Thasmudyan. Felt the wavering desires there. He knew the man could be coaxed. "Do you take me for a fool? You know that is no fair fight while I am so restrained," Thasmudyan said. Velentham looked to the shackles on the beggar's wrists. "I could always help you off with your arms and send you back to that filth you call a lifestream."
"As if you had the power to do that."
"Oh, but anyone does. Provided they take your life, so you said in our dis- cussion. You always come back. Like a cockroach. We can hit two birds with one stone, what do you say? I'll free you of your restraints, and get you out of my way. Better yet... I could help you find the little naked savage that sits out here waiting to see if you screw up."
"...Who?"
"How could you forget the dark-heart that mothered your own flesh and blood?"
"Maya's here? That's ...interesting, I suppose. But I have no need to find her."
"She has need to find you, beggar. Suffering seems to be one of her keenest desires, and to see you in the thick of it would suit her fine."
"She's here watching the cottage?" Sanria asked, and the sound of her voice was like a bell.
"She would have hurt you, but I won't let her. She simply wants to see someone suffer... and I'll gladly sacrifice the beggar for her needs and spare you the pain."
Sanria and the beggar conferred, and Velentham growled. To see the two of them speaking together sent his blood boiling. He could barely contain the ire when the beggar's voice was directed at him. "If I give you this fight you desire... Maya will leave Sanria alone?" And the clouds cleared, and the sun shone, and Velentham turned to the beggar with joy veiled only by the scowl on his face.
"Lies. If you didn't want me I wouldn't be here. You did at one time. Of your own free will."
"It doesn't matter. What matters is what she wants now. I'm willing to let her make that choice, though. You aren't," the beggar interrupted.
"She made her choice and they came and took her from me. I'm merely here to enforce the decision she made in the first place. Make her... keep her word."
"So what? Decisions change. She's chosen me before, too. Should I be holding her word to that?"
"If you weren't weak, perhaps you would."
The dark ichor of insanity crept back into the edges of Velentham's mind, only to be beaten back by an idea. He could see Sanria held some sort of affection for the beggar. Some desire to keep him safe. If he could get Thasmudyan to leave the safety of the ward, he could get Sanria to follow most certainly. He knew her mind from long ago. Knew she couldn't stop herself from helping the helpless. In that instant, the goal was in sight. "Why don't you come out here, beggar. Come meet with me on open ground. Here."
Velentham bent low, a genuflection that opened the space before him. He had felt the mind of Thasmudyan. Felt the wavering desires there. He knew the man could be coaxed. "Do you take me for a fool? You know that is no fair fight while I am so restrained," Thasmudyan said. Velentham looked to the shackles on the beggar's wrists. "I could always help you off with your arms and send you back to that filth you call a lifestream."
"As if you had the power to do that."
"Oh, but anyone does. Provided they take your life, so you said in our dis- cussion. You always come back. Like a cockroach. We can hit two birds with one stone, what do you say? I'll free you of your restraints, and get you out of my way. Better yet... I could help you find the little naked savage that sits out here waiting to see if you screw up."
"...Who?"
"How could you forget the dark-heart that mothered your own flesh and blood?"
"Maya's here? That's ...interesting, I suppose. But I have no need to find her."
"She has need to find you, beggar. Suffering seems to be one of her keenest desires, and to see you in the thick of it would suit her fine."
"She's here watching the cottage?" Sanria asked, and the sound of her voice was like a bell.
"She would have hurt you, but I won't let her. She simply wants to see someone suffer... and I'll gladly sacrifice the beggar for her needs and spare you the pain."
Sanria and the beggar conferred, and Velentham growled. To see the two of them speaking together sent his blood boiling. He could barely contain the ire when the beggar's voice was directed at him. "If I give you this fight you desire... Maya will leave Sanria alone?" And the clouds cleared, and the sun shone, and Velentham turned to the beggar with joy veiled only by the scowl on his face.
High Card
It was a sudden movement that caused Velentham to pause, to utter a spell of invisibility, to cloak himself and silence his rage. The beggar, and he was heading for the cottage. Velentham uttered a spell, lifting his feet into the air, and drifted along well behind Thasmudyan. He watched as the man went straight to the front door and knocked. He watched as the love of his life answered the door... and came outside.
Velentham drifted near enough to hear them, to hear the goddamned beggar stand there as though innocent, sharing with Sanria their plans. "He said that... he wanted revenge... on Gilean. He wanted me.. to carry it out," the beggar said.
"What did he say he wanted you to do?" Sanria returned.
"He wanted me to.. well, take Gilean to the Lifestream and 'accidentally' leave him there."
"And you didn't do it..." she said, and Velentham clenched his teeth as the beggar got into her good graces just as easily as butter melting on a hot griddle.
"...No."
They talked more, driving Velentham into a fever. He ran his hands through his hair, he drifted to and fro, she was so near. So close. If she would only come slightly away from that ward, he could just do what he wanted - take her away. He might not be able to flee the material plane with her, but he could take her to a place that they'd never look, he'd just have to get her away from the cottage. Away from the dopey bastard that stood talking to her and making himself more esteemed in her eyes. Velentham had enough.
His invisibility spell gone, his levitation dismissed, Velentham walked from the woods with a rage barely contained. "So here you are, beggar. Telling all our plans."
"So you are here, after all..." Thasmudyan said.
"Unlike you I never left. I don't cower from the things I want."
"And what do you have to say, beggar? I thought we were friends."
"I've decided that if I have to resort to deceit, trickery, and murder to get what I want, then perhaps that thing is not worth having."
"Truly a man after my own cousin. Perhaps that's why he has her and you don't?"
"If I have to deceive her to have her, then I don't really have her, do I?"
It was in that moment, all sanity Velentham had remaining drifted away. He had no thought of what his people might do to him. No thought of being banished from his own kind. The only thought Velentham had in his mind was the eradication of the beggar. Thasmudyan would die.
Velentham drifted near enough to hear them, to hear the goddamned beggar stand there as though innocent, sharing with Sanria their plans. "He said that... he wanted revenge... on Gilean. He wanted me.. to carry it out," the beggar said.
"What did he say he wanted you to do?" Sanria returned.
"He wanted me to.. well, take Gilean to the Lifestream and 'accidentally' leave him there."
"And you didn't do it..." she said, and Velentham clenched his teeth as the beggar got into her good graces just as easily as butter melting on a hot griddle.
"...No."
They talked more, driving Velentham into a fever. He ran his hands through his hair, he drifted to and fro, she was so near. So close. If she would only come slightly away from that ward, he could just do what he wanted - take her away. He might not be able to flee the material plane with her, but he could take her to a place that they'd never look, he'd just have to get her away from the cottage. Away from the dopey bastard that stood talking to her and making himself more esteemed in her eyes. Velentham had enough.
His invisibility spell gone, his levitation dismissed, Velentham walked from the woods with a rage barely contained. "So here you are, beggar. Telling all our plans."
"So you are here, after all..." Thasmudyan said.
"Unlike you I never left. I don't cower from the things I want."
"And what do you have to say, beggar? I thought we were friends."
"I've decided that if I have to resort to deceit, trickery, and murder to get what I want, then perhaps that thing is not worth having."
"Truly a man after my own cousin. Perhaps that's why he has her and you don't?"
"If I have to deceive her to have her, then I don't really have her, do I?"
It was in that moment, all sanity Velentham had remaining drifted away. He had no thought of what his people might do to him. No thought of being banished from his own kind. The only thought Velentham had in his mind was the eradication of the beggar. Thasmudyan would die.
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