Velentham watched Colin as his eyes snapped to him. The big man had a bit of a problem, a black darkness that seemed to grow around him and within him. The activation of the darkness had an immediate affect on Velentham and his vision began to grow white, outlining his target in perfect detail. Still, thanks to the amulets he still wore, he was able to remain in some control of his faculties. "I'll show you who's finished!" Colin yelled.
"Sanria. Let's go."
The couple were more concerned about their child Orn who stared open mouthed at his father. Colin dropped to his knee to console the child as did Sanria, and it infuriated Velentham. He walked over and grabbed Sanria by the arm, pulling her to her feet, but before he could move away with his quarry, Colin was on his feet, holding her other arm. "You let her go. Now!" Colin growled.
"I've never in my life hesitated to get rid of evil, and you reek of it. I will slay you where you stand. Let go of her, she's coming with me, as it should have been and will be."
The squalling of the infant barely registered in Velentham's hearing. Sanria's pleas for them to stop were barely heard. Velentham's full focus was on the large man in front of him and his near inability to keep himself sane. From mid-air he pulled his sword, still holding on to Sanria with his other hand.
With a roar, Colin latched onto Velentham's wrist, squeezing as hard as he could. While it hurt, Velentham was not to be deterred. He sent a blast of radiance into Colin's body, a blast that would have disabled any normal demon, but Colin merely howled in pain. The big man aimed a punch, forcing Velentham to release Sanria and move out of the way. He couldn't understand how this beast of a man was able to withstand his radiance, but as he stepped deeper into his Celestial nature, he was positive he'd put an end to Colin.
When Worlds Collide
Sanria went outside the cavern, expecting to have time to collect herself, but found Colin sitting with the children. She couldn't tell him what Velentham had done to her. She wouldn't crush him with the news. She would wait until Velentham had gone, and he'd have to leave now. There was nothing more left for him to want.
Though Colin was concerned, Sanria kept the story from him. She had only moments before Velentham was there. Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? "Velentham. What's going on? What did you say to Sanria?" Colin asked, and Sanria felt dread in the pit of her stomach.
"You want to know?"
"Please... stop it," she begged, knowing what was coming.
Sanria started as Colin smacked Velentham's hand away from his head. There were rare times indeed that Sanria got the opportunity to see the speed that Colin possessed and the strength. There just weren't many problems to be had anymore. But as he leapt to his feet she knew she had to stop him before the black makou in him took over, a reality fast intruding as his eyes grew darker.
She got up quickly and stepped in front of Colin. "Please, don't do this... there's no need, Velentham will be going."
"What he did to you. No. He will pay for that."
"I am going to be leaving," Velentham said from behind her.
"We have business before you go Velentham."
"Is that so?"
Sanria could feel the chill aura as it began to surround Colin. She reached up and took Colin's face in her hands. She was desperate to prevent what would happen. And what would happen? A Celestial, born to end evil, and a man filled with a substance that some would consider the root of evil itself. "No. No no no... Colin!"
Colin came to only for a moment as he looked down at her, his eyes teary. "Sanria... what he did. He can't just get away with that."
"Colin... I am a big girl and I can deal with it. I won't see you two in a fight. Not here, not now, not ever."
"Are you finished, Sanria?" Velentham asked.
The words were all it took for Colin's focus to be drawn away from her. Sanria felt nearly helpless as Colin began to close the gap between himself and Velentham.
Though Colin was concerned, Sanria kept the story from him. She had only moments before Velentham was there. Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? "Velentham. What's going on? What did you say to Sanria?" Colin asked, and Sanria felt dread in the pit of her stomach.
"You want to know?"
"Please... stop it," she begged, knowing what was coming.
Sanria started as Colin smacked Velentham's hand away from his head. There were rare times indeed that Sanria got the opportunity to see the speed that Colin possessed and the strength. There just weren't many problems to be had anymore. But as he leapt to his feet she knew she had to stop him before the black makou in him took over, a reality fast intruding as his eyes grew darker.
She got up quickly and stepped in front of Colin. "Please, don't do this... there's no need, Velentham will be going."
"What he did to you. No. He will pay for that."
"I am going to be leaving," Velentham said from behind her.
"We have business before you go Velentham."
"Is that so?"
Sanria could feel the chill aura as it began to surround Colin. She reached up and took Colin's face in her hands. She was desperate to prevent what would happen. And what would happen? A Celestial, born to end evil, and a man filled with a substance that some would consider the root of evil itself. "No. No no no... Colin!"
Colin came to only for a moment as he looked down at her, his eyes teary. "Sanria... what he did. He can't just get away with that."
"Colin... I am a big girl and I can deal with it. I won't see you two in a fight. Not here, not now, not ever."
"Are you finished, Sanria?" Velentham asked.
The words were all it took for Colin's focus to be drawn away from her. Sanria felt nearly helpless as Colin began to close the gap between himself and Velentham.
Reflection
It had been several months, five, Claire reminded herself, with no word from Gilean at all. She stayed at the cottage, afraid to leave in case he returned, but she longed to go in search of him. To find someone who could help her locate her lover.
The idea of retrieving the necklaces and finding Kaliadra to traverse the planes crossed her mind more than once, but what if he didn't want to be found. Perhaps he had gone back and decided to stay. In the grand scheme of things, she didn't mean too much. Regardless, Gilean's absence was hard for her.
She spent her hours trying not to count her hours, reading spell books, gazing on the flowers Gilean had given her when he told her how he felt. Often times, she'd find herself crying - the purple flames that burned so brightly on her skin nothing more than a dull simmer.
It was difficult to admit that maybe, just maybe, she would never see him again. She would reach out, hopeful that she might be able to feel him with her mind if nothing else. The stillness that came back to her left her soul chilled.
The idea of retrieving the necklaces and finding Kaliadra to traverse the planes crossed her mind more than once, but what if he didn't want to be found. Perhaps he had gone back and decided to stay. In the grand scheme of things, she didn't mean too much. Regardless, Gilean's absence was hard for her.
She spent her hours trying not to count her hours, reading spell books, gazing on the flowers Gilean had given her when he told her how he felt. Often times, she'd find herself crying - the purple flames that burned so brightly on her skin nothing more than a dull simmer.
It was difficult to admit that maybe, just maybe, she would never see him again. She would reach out, hopeful that she might be able to feel him with her mind if nothing else. The stillness that came back to her left her soul chilled.
Trading Lives
Velentham got up and went through the moonwell to find himself in the garden of the cavern. He swiftly went through the various rooms, looking for Sanria. He would explain to her that she just didn't remember him properly and that Colin had brainwashed her to be against him. If she would just give him the chance to show her the right way, things would be alright.
It was clear she wasn't in the cavern, but she couldn't have gone far. As he went to leave the library, he heard the voices coming from outside. Velentham opened the door to see Sanria sitting on a blanket with Colin and their baby, sobbing. Colin's hand was on her shoulder and Velentham felt his bile rise.
"Colin." Velentham said by way of greeting, giving the larger man a nod.
"Velentham. What's going on? What did you say to Sanria?"
How dare Colin question him. "You want to know?"
"Please... stop it," Sanria said, turning to look up at him.
"He wants to know. I think he should know."
"Look, I don't know what you're playing at Velentham but Sanria told you to leave. I think you need to listen to her."
Velentham knelt down and put his hand to Colin's temple. He forced into Colin's brain, in a matter of seconds, everything from Sanria coming out of the cavern to chastise him to him pouring his energies into her to him relishing her body for an hour on the top of a mountain.
The big man suddenly knocked Velentham's hand away and nearly jumped to standing. Velentham slowly rose, looking down his nose at Colin with a very slight smirk. Colin spoke, his voice choked, "Sanria... take the kids inside."
It was clear she wasn't in the cavern, but she couldn't have gone far. As he went to leave the library, he heard the voices coming from outside. Velentham opened the door to see Sanria sitting on a blanket with Colin and their baby, sobbing. Colin's hand was on her shoulder and Velentham felt his bile rise.
"Colin." Velentham said by way of greeting, giving the larger man a nod.
"Velentham. What's going on? What did you say to Sanria?"
How dare Colin question him. "You want to know?"
"Please... stop it," Sanria said, turning to look up at him.
"He wants to know. I think he should know."
"Look, I don't know what you're playing at Velentham but Sanria told you to leave. I think you need to listen to her."
Velentham knelt down and put his hand to Colin's temple. He forced into Colin's brain, in a matter of seconds, everything from Sanria coming out of the cavern to chastise him to him pouring his energies into her to him relishing her body for an hour on the top of a mountain.
The big man suddenly knocked Velentham's hand away and nearly jumped to standing. Velentham slowly rose, looking down his nose at Colin with a very slight smirk. Colin spoke, his voice choked, "Sanria... take the kids inside."
Mountaintop Removal
Sanria should have sensed that things weren't going to go according to plan when she walked out to yell at Velentham. The truth was she was beyond angry. She had, indeed, loved Velentham in the past and had wanted to stay with him, but that was a lifetime ago. For him to come into her home and go into her mind and share all he found there with Colin to try to hurt him was beyond even her limits for forgiveness.
Sanria was adamant in her refusal of him, but it didn't seem to make the slightest impression on Velentham. He grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace and held her there against his chest. "You need me, Sanria. I need you. I came through the nine hells for you, I am not going to give up. I won't take no for an answer."
"You... are going to have to, Velentham."
"I won't see you unhappy."
"I'm not unhappy, and you're going to have to let go of me now."
"You can't lie to me."
Velentham lifted her easily into his arms, and Sanria felt her heart go into overdrive. She couldn't manage a singular protest before he was up in the air, flying faster than any spell could manage, and landing on top of a distant mountaintop. This was not playing out well at all.
It didn't matter what came out of her mouth, Sanria could not get Velentham to leave her alone. The more she refused, the more she began to feel a peculiar sensation enter into her mind. Her thoughts came to her slower, her whole body began to relax into every touch and kiss he placed on her. She felt as though her thoughts were sinking beneath water and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't rise above them.
It was at least an hour before Velentham finished with her and the weight of calm and relaxation began to recede. As his influence left her, Sanria was left sitting in shock. She couldn't believe him as he looked over at her, his face concerned. "Please, don't regret this..."
"Take me home... please."
"Sanria..."
"Just take me home. And when we get there... you need to leave."
"Sanria -"
Sanria got up, remembering only then that she did have abilities. Know- ing, remembering, that she could have left well before anything happened nearly made her sick. She had been so long without her magic, unable to cast, the idea had no place in her mind. She let out a sob and cast a moonwell, vanishing to the cavern beyond without another word.
Sanria was adamant in her refusal of him, but it didn't seem to make the slightest impression on Velentham. He grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace and held her there against his chest. "You need me, Sanria. I need you. I came through the nine hells for you, I am not going to give up. I won't take no for an answer."
"You... are going to have to, Velentham."
"I won't see you unhappy."
"I'm not unhappy, and you're going to have to let go of me now."
"You can't lie to me."
Velentham lifted her easily into his arms, and Sanria felt her heart go into overdrive. She couldn't manage a singular protest before he was up in the air, flying faster than any spell could manage, and landing on top of a distant mountaintop. This was not playing out well at all.
It didn't matter what came out of her mouth, Sanria could not get Velentham to leave her alone. The more she refused, the more she began to feel a peculiar sensation enter into her mind. Her thoughts came to her slower, her whole body began to relax into every touch and kiss he placed on her. She felt as though her thoughts were sinking beneath water and no matter how much she tried, she couldn't rise above them.
It was at least an hour before Velentham finished with her and the weight of calm and relaxation began to recede. As his influence left her, Sanria was left sitting in shock. She couldn't believe him as he looked over at her, his face concerned. "Please, don't regret this..."
"Take me home... please."
"Sanria..."
"Just take me home. And when we get there... you need to leave."
"Sanria -"
Sanria got up, remembering only then that she did have abilities. Know- ing, remembering, that she could have left well before anything happened nearly made her sick. She had been so long without her magic, unable to cast, the idea had no place in her mind. She let out a sob and cast a moonwell, vanishing to the cavern beyond without another word.
On Gaining Love
Velentham sat on the top of the mountain, the moonwell behind him still swirling after Sanria's departure, and let out a yell of rage. Things were not supposed to go this way. She was supposed to admit she loved him and admit she wanted to be with him. He shouldn't have had to use the energies to make her stay here with him. He shouldn't have had to use the energies to make her make love to him. Now she wanted him gone.
Velentham thought back over the day as it had played out. She had come to him upset. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Those things you said to Colin! You told him things you saw while you were in my mind? Who does that?"
"I understand that you're upset, and I'm sorry. I was angry and hurt."
"Is that what you do when you're angry and upset? Try to ruin someone elses life?"
"I honestly didn't mean to ruin your life."
"And what in the hell is this business about coming to take me away?"
"It's what I came here for, yes. I make no qualms about that. I want you to be with me, Sanria."
"Well I'm with Colin. I told you that before."
"But you don't really want to be."
"That is not for you to decide. It's for me to decide and I've chosen to be with him. I do love him."
"But not like you should. You can't hide that from me, Sanria. I know."
"It doesn't matter! Throm is dead, Thasmudyan is... my past -"
"And I am right here. I know what we had, so do you."
It should have been enough but Velentham had been shocked by the bull- headed nature of Sanria's mind. "Colin is right here, too," she said.
"But you've had one moment where you really looked at him as a lover, every time after, years after, you've looked at him as someone you have to take care of - someone that you had to defer to. An afterthought!"
"That's not true."
"Isn't it? I've seen it, Sanria."
"That... that was before. Not now."
"All his jealousies, are you going to try to tell me that now that he is getting upset with you over Thasmudyan, worrying about your every move, speaking for you when you can speak for yourself that you're not feeling that small ball of regret in your heart?"
She kept telling him no. Kept claiming she loved Colin, but Velentham knew better. She couldn't lie to him. He had seen every corner of her mind. He took her to this very mountaintop. He had said everything he could say. "Why do you fight this?" he asked.
"It's not right, Velentham. If you saw anything, you should have seen how frequently my life was tied up in one affair or another."
"If I were Thasmudyan would you do it?"
"That is... low."
She had tried to get up, but he simply couldn't let her get away from him. "No, it isn't. You can't lie to me, Sanria. I've seen your heart."
"And you're not above using that to your advantage, are you?"
That stung. "For you? No."
He poured every ounce of calming, soothing, relaxing energy into her and had succeeded in bending her to his desires. But now, she wanted him out. Out of her life. No. He wouldn't leave until she was left with him.
Velentham thought back over the day as it had played out. She had come to him upset. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Those things you said to Colin! You told him things you saw while you were in my mind? Who does that?"
"I understand that you're upset, and I'm sorry. I was angry and hurt."
"Is that what you do when you're angry and upset? Try to ruin someone elses life?"
"I honestly didn't mean to ruin your life."
"And what in the hell is this business about coming to take me away?"
"It's what I came here for, yes. I make no qualms about that. I want you to be with me, Sanria."
"Well I'm with Colin. I told you that before."
"But you don't really want to be."
"That is not for you to decide. It's for me to decide and I've chosen to be with him. I do love him."
"But not like you should. You can't hide that from me, Sanria. I know."
"It doesn't matter! Throm is dead, Thasmudyan is... my past -"
"And I am right here. I know what we had, so do you."
It should have been enough but Velentham had been shocked by the bull- headed nature of Sanria's mind. "Colin is right here, too," she said.
"But you've had one moment where you really looked at him as a lover, every time after, years after, you've looked at him as someone you have to take care of - someone that you had to defer to. An afterthought!"
"That's not true."
"Isn't it? I've seen it, Sanria."
"That... that was before. Not now."
"All his jealousies, are you going to try to tell me that now that he is getting upset with you over Thasmudyan, worrying about your every move, speaking for you when you can speak for yourself that you're not feeling that small ball of regret in your heart?"
She kept telling him no. Kept claiming she loved Colin, but Velentham knew better. She couldn't lie to him. He had seen every corner of her mind. He took her to this very mountaintop. He had said everything he could say. "Why do you fight this?" he asked.
"It's not right, Velentham. If you saw anything, you should have seen how frequently my life was tied up in one affair or another."
"If I were Thasmudyan would you do it?"
"That is... low."
She had tried to get up, but he simply couldn't let her get away from him. "No, it isn't. You can't lie to me, Sanria. I've seen your heart."
"And you're not above using that to your advantage, are you?"
That stung. "For you? No."
He poured every ounce of calming, soothing, relaxing energy into her and had succeeded in bending her to his desires. But now, she wanted him out. Out of her life. No. He wouldn't leave until she was left with him.
Fed Up (1-2)
Arlenia stared out over the sea, her eyes twin pits of despair. She picked up a rock and hefted it over the edge with a growl, then clutched her stomach. To do such a thing hurt. It sucked.
She sulked back down the mountain, her stomach preceding her. She hated that she was saddled with this child. She hated it. She loathed the father. She had to do something, and the idea struck her as she came down the path.
Arlenia went to Banion's hut. "Banion, do you have something to stop bleeding?"
"Are you bleeding child?" he asked with concern.
"No but, I'm concerned."
"Well there's no need to be concerned if nothing is wrong." "Please?"
Banion sighed and walked over to his cupboard. He pulled out a vial and handed it to her. "If you are bleeding or anyone else is bleeding, this will heal anything."
"And do you have anything for pain?"
"Arlenia..."
"Please, Banion."
Banion turned around and again fished through the cupboard. He produced another vial and handed it to her. "Anything else?"
"No, this will do. Thank you. I feel so much better already."
"Alright."
Arlenia walked slowly back up the mountain, hiking until she caught a stitch in her side and had to rest. She went deeper into the wooded area where she would not be seen. She pulled out a blade and looked down to her stomach. "I'll send you to your father. Piece by piece."
Arlenia took a stick and put it in her mouth. Biting down, she slid the blade into her stomach and immediately she started to sweat. She growled as the blade slid deeper. Stars began to fill her vision, but she forced herself to remain conscious. She cut enough of herself open to reach her hand into her own uterus. She felt the fetus within and pulled it out.
At the sudden rush of blood and amniotic fluid Arlenia nearly passed out. She laid the infant on the ground and downed the vial for pain. At last, she gained some focus. The infant squirmed, its airways uncleared, it's death immanent.
Arlenia severed the afterbirth from within herself and pulled it out. With the infant and the placenta laying on the ground, she quaffed the healing potion and watched the gaping wound at her side heal.
For a moment, she felt sorry for what she had done. Seeing the infant, no longer than 6 inches, open and close its mouth until it finally stopped... but then the madness that had come onto her rose again - and Arlenia set to work. She would send one piece for every month she was pregnant. Five in all.
The work was gruesome, but even the hot blood on her skin and the smell of iron didn't make her stop. Colin would have his child.
She sulked back down the mountain, her stomach preceding her. She hated that she was saddled with this child. She hated it. She loathed the father. She had to do something, and the idea struck her as she came down the path.
Arlenia went to Banion's hut. "Banion, do you have something to stop bleeding?"
"Are you bleeding child?" he asked with concern.
"No but, I'm concerned."
"Well there's no need to be concerned if nothing is wrong." "Please?"
Banion sighed and walked over to his cupboard. He pulled out a vial and handed it to her. "If you are bleeding or anyone else is bleeding, this will heal anything."
"And do you have anything for pain?"
"Arlenia..."
"Please, Banion."
Banion turned around and again fished through the cupboard. He produced another vial and handed it to her. "Anything else?"
"No, this will do. Thank you. I feel so much better already."
"Alright."
Arlenia walked slowly back up the mountain, hiking until she caught a stitch in her side and had to rest. She went deeper into the wooded area where she would not be seen. She pulled out a blade and looked down to her stomach. "I'll send you to your father. Piece by piece."
Arlenia took a stick and put it in her mouth. Biting down, she slid the blade into her stomach and immediately she started to sweat. She growled as the blade slid deeper. Stars began to fill her vision, but she forced herself to remain conscious. She cut enough of herself open to reach her hand into her own uterus. She felt the fetus within and pulled it out.
At the sudden rush of blood and amniotic fluid Arlenia nearly passed out. She laid the infant on the ground and downed the vial for pain. At last, she gained some focus. The infant squirmed, its airways uncleared, it's death immanent.
Arlenia severed the afterbirth from within herself and pulled it out. With the infant and the placenta laying on the ground, she quaffed the healing potion and watched the gaping wound at her side heal.
For a moment, she felt sorry for what she had done. Seeing the infant, no longer than 6 inches, open and close its mouth until it finally stopped... but then the madness that had come onto her rose again - and Arlenia set to work. She would send one piece for every month she was pregnant. Five in all.
The work was gruesome, but even the hot blood on her skin and the smell of iron didn't make her stop. Colin would have his child.
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