The sensation was most like falling, or perhaps it was like being punched in the gut and needing to vomit, or perhaps it was like nothing. Yes. If nothing had a feeling, it would be this. A void. But then again... no. Whatever it was, it was in Sanria as she opened her door and watched Maya walk in. The words came back to her in a roar, a distant conversation:
"You asked why I keep showing up in your life," Thasmudyan said, "Don't
you think that maybe, being with you was the happiest moment in my lives,
and that all I'm hoping for is another chance to have something like that
again?"
"What if Maya comes looking for you?" she asked.
"I'll deal with that if it happens. She hasn't been, though."
"If you want to be with her... if she does, I won't stop you. I've done
my fair share of... others."
"Fair enough. Still, I don't see myself choosing her if I could have you
instead."
Sanria felt her knees go weak. This was not supposed to happen. Not when she had just decided. Not when she had just told Colin that when Thasmudyan came back, she was going to be with him. No. Not this. Not now.
"So it is the right residence then. Evening to you Sanria," Maya said. No, no, this wasn't supposed to be. How did she know anything was going on? And then Sanria's questions were answered as her daughter hopped down the stairs calling out a hello. No.
"I... I see you've met my daughter, somehow. Colin... this is Maya. Maya, this is Colin, Leandra's father."
"The husband I presume," and the words seemed a slap in Sanria's face.
"No... not... exactly," Sanria said, ignored.
"I have heard your name before," Colin said.
"I'm an acquaintance of your wife's," another slap.
"We're, separated... actually,"
"Such a shame, true love really is something rare to be treasured. I'm sure you'll both find it some day," and Maya rested her eyes on Sanria.
This was not supposed to be happening. Leandra excused herself and ran back up the stairs, and Maya launched into a discussion - one to which Sanria found no choice but to sit down for. Leandra hated her, and was miserable, and needed to know the truth about Brin and Visha and- where had this come from? "Driven by a series of hates and hurts that filtered into the wrong hands will destroy your family," Maya said.
"Please, listen. There are no lies here. She knows her father and I love her, she knows that I'm not... exactly with her father. As far as Brin goes, she had issues within her that Leandra couldn't hope to compete with."
"In a world where so many children prepare to come to breathe.... should we not offer them a future worth living? Your daughter gives me hope towards my own, please do not misplace my intentions."
"...your own?"
"You didn't know? Oh of course not, it has been so long since that day you introduced us. I'm with child."
"With... wait... whose child?"
"Thasmudyan's of course."
Yes. Like falling and being punched and needing to vomit. Like cold that curls up at your feet, winding about them, nestling like a viper. Sanria felt herself turn away, blanching at the expression on Colin's face, the one he was trying to keep her from seeing. She had told Thasmudyan before that she was afraid this reality was permanent for her. Though he gave his assurances it was not... Sanria had merely to turn around to look on the face of the truth.
Adults Blow
Leandra called mentally for her father and waited, twiddling her thumbs and sighing. He was certainly taking his time, maybe he was just upset and didn't really want to see her - he still sounded upset by all of this. Still, she had to clarify things. As she left Maya, the woman had spoken into her mind, "Visha." She had mentioned that Visha was Brin's father, but if Visha was Brin's father, then that meant Visha was her father, too. Then Colin wasn't her dad at all, and that sent a little bit of panic into Leandra's body.
"Papa," she started once Colin had barely gotten into the room, "who is Visha?" She couldn't have anticipated the look of shock on his face.
"Visha...? Where did you hear that name?"
"I... you're my real dad, aren't you? Not Visha?"
"Of course I'm your dad. Now, Leandra, tell me, where did you hear this?"
"Promise you won't get mad at me?"
"Oh Leandra..."
So Leandra launched into the story of how she escaped the confines of the cavern and headed into Westbridge (what else was she supposed to do, actually stay here?) and her encounter with Maya. She told Colin how Maya was supposed to marry Thasmudyan and saw her father's eyes lighten a bit. "So anyways, I talked to her more about it and begged her to help me get rid of him, and she said she would. That all I had to do was tell Thasmudyan that I wanted a little time with my family before he got with Mama so he'd leave and go to Maya. Then she said she'd do the rest."
"Wait, wait... Leandra, you just met this woman and you're... plotting with her?"
"Not to kill him, she told me that she wasn't going to do that. Just to get him away from here so that you and mama can be together again. But... then she got this weird look on her face when I told her my name. She said, "Brin Stone?" and I was like yeah, and told her how gross... I mean, how you and Emalia had a baby and named her that."
"Leandra, be respectful."
"Well it is..." she muttered.
"Did she say anything about where Visha and Brin are now?" Colin asked.
"No. Nothing else. But she asked where we live and said maybe she'd come visit us."
And like magic, like, really - the doorbell rang. Ignoring her grounding, Leandra leapt up from her bed with a grin. "Maybe that's her!" And she zipped out the door.
"Leandra, wait!" Colin called after.
"Papa," she started once Colin had barely gotten into the room, "who is Visha?" She couldn't have anticipated the look of shock on his face.
"Visha...? Where did you hear that name?"
"I... you're my real dad, aren't you? Not Visha?"
"Of course I'm your dad. Now, Leandra, tell me, where did you hear this?"
"Promise you won't get mad at me?"
"Oh Leandra..."
So Leandra launched into the story of how she escaped the confines of the cavern and headed into Westbridge (what else was she supposed to do, actually stay here?) and her encounter with Maya. She told Colin how Maya was supposed to marry Thasmudyan and saw her father's eyes lighten a bit. "So anyways, I talked to her more about it and begged her to help me get rid of him, and she said she would. That all I had to do was tell Thasmudyan that I wanted a little time with my family before he got with Mama so he'd leave and go to Maya. Then she said she'd do the rest."
"Wait, wait... Leandra, you just met this woman and you're... plotting with her?"
"Not to kill him, she told me that she wasn't going to do that. Just to get him away from here so that you and mama can be together again. But... then she got this weird look on her face when I told her my name. She said, "Brin Stone?" and I was like yeah, and told her how gross... I mean, how you and Emalia had a baby and named her that."
"Leandra, be respectful."
"Well it is..." she muttered.
"Did she say anything about where Visha and Brin are now?" Colin asked.
"No. Nothing else. But she asked where we live and said maybe she'd come visit us."
And like magic, like, really - the doorbell rang. Ignoring her grounding, Leandra leapt up from her bed with a grin. "Maybe that's her!" And she zipped out the door.
"Leandra, wait!" Colin called after.
Directive Lambda
The Report from Lynk was disturbing to be sure, but the news was not out of the ordinary. With Vecotr's occupation of the city of Westbidge came the rise in crime, and filth present in the city. The level of corruption that had found its way into the city, against his efforts left a sour copper taste in Psycho's mouth. The reports claimed that this may have been the Long Death, but with the spread his efforts left a sour copper taste in Psycho's mouth. The reports claimed that this may have been the Long Death, but with the spread of disease in the minds of the public it could have been any number of crazy groups.
After Lynk had left his chambers Psycho spoke out loud to himself discussing his options. He often found it better to discuss complicated matters out loud to himself s that he could respond to the pitfaalls of his thinking. "Someone is making a display of these bodies, trying to reach someone. " "What would they gain by attacking civilians, and how could they be protected in the future? " "The people were afraid to go out at night. Until the truth was uncovered it would be hard to protect the populace. " "What would they gain by scaring people into their homes? " "The town may have other night activity around the area worth investigating. "If the actions were indeed the Long Death the Order would have to be put on Alert." Psycho thought very deeply about how to respond to any attack or ambush that Long Death may be preparing. After several hours and under consultation from his Magical Adviser Galactus and from the Steel Priest Psycho came upwith Directive Lambda.
After Lynk had left his chambers Psycho spoke out loud to himself discussing his options. He often found it better to discuss complicated matters out loud to himself s that he could respond to the pitfaalls of his thinking. "Someone is making a display of these bodies, trying to reach someone. " "What would they gain by attacking civilians, and how could they be protected in the future? " "The people were afraid to go out at night. Until the truth was uncovered it would be hard to protect the populace. " "What would they gain by scaring people into their homes? " "The town may have other night activity around the area worth investigating. "If the actions were indeed the Long Death the Order would have to be put on Alert." Psycho thought very deeply about how to respond to any attack or ambush that Long Death may be preparing. After several hours and under consultation from his Magical Adviser Galactus and from the Steel Priest Psycho came upwith Directive Lambda.
Understanding
Slowly, very slowly, the scream faded into silence. Then, Banion's lovely girl was sobbing dry tears onto the ground. "There, now, child," he crooned, and got to his hands and knees, lifting her skeletal face to look at him. She bore the necessary equipment for stealing the life force from anyone - a pair of curved fangs. "You will have your revenge and then your rest."
"Fire... I'm on f... fire..."
"A side affect that will soon diminish," Banion lied. The pain would be omnipresent, eternal, until he sent her back into oblivion.
"Make... it stop..." she chattered.
"Easy now," he said, running a hand over her head. "You were murdered, my dear girl."
"Yes..."
"I want you to have your revenge."
Banion smiled as Arlenia rose for the first time since her death. She stumbled at first, then stood and held her hands out, looking at the skeletal remains that glowed dully. "Why... why..."
Banion got up as well, putting a hand on Arlenia's arm. "Child, you have been gone from this mortal coil for nigh on a month. You are still just as beautiful as before. Even more beautiful, for now, you are my creation. My daughter."
The furnace-red eyes blazed in his direction and Banion gave a small, placating smile. Arlenia looked at him with her head tilted. "Creation?"
"Yes, child."
"No... I don't want this..."
"Ustulo in anima quod non obedit, Maldicam in corpus quod non secor," as he spoke the words, Arlenia let forth a scream of pain, "Pati in dolorem de tuus dominus, Donec vos discere in semitam."
"PLEASE!" Arlenia screamed out, driven to her knees.
With a wave of his hand, Banion released the spell and knelt beside Arlenia. "Sweet child," he said. "Please, go find your revenge and don't make me have to do any more of that. I don't want your soul to suffer. Go find him. And bring his head back to me."
"My... revenge..."
"Vicariously through me, vicariously through you, child. It will be ours together."
"Fire... I'm on f... fire..."
"A side affect that will soon diminish," Banion lied. The pain would be omnipresent, eternal, until he sent her back into oblivion.
"Make... it stop..." she chattered.
"Easy now," he said, running a hand over her head. "You were murdered, my dear girl."
"Yes..."
"I want you to have your revenge."
Banion smiled as Arlenia rose for the first time since her death. She stumbled at first, then stood and held her hands out, looking at the skeletal remains that glowed dully. "Why... why..."
Banion got up as well, putting a hand on Arlenia's arm. "Child, you have been gone from this mortal coil for nigh on a month. You are still just as beautiful as before. Even more beautiful, for now, you are my creation. My daughter."
The furnace-red eyes blazed in his direction and Banion gave a small, placating smile. Arlenia looked at him with her head tilted. "Creation?"
"Yes, child."
"No... I don't want this..."
"Ustulo in anima quod non obedit, Maldicam in corpus quod non secor," as he spoke the words, Arlenia let forth a scream of pain, "Pati in dolorem de tuus dominus, Donec vos discere in semitam."
"PLEASE!" Arlenia screamed out, driven to her knees.
With a wave of his hand, Banion released the spell and knelt beside Arlenia. "Sweet child," he said. "Please, go find your revenge and don't make me have to do any more of that. I don't want your soul to suffer. Go find him. And bring his head back to me."
"My... revenge..."
"Vicariously through me, vicariously through you, child. It will be ours together."
No way... I Mean, Really?!
No way... I mean, really, what were the odds that some half naked, tattooed woman with tons of kinda cool piercings would be able to recite the name of the man that drove Leandra to madness. How in the hell did she know him, anyway? And so Leandra found herself sliding shyly toward the woman, "H... hey... Excuse me... I... uh, I heard you say Thasmudyan. You know him?"
"Depends which me your asking," the woman replied, and Leandra was automatically confused. "Apologies dear, Why?" Much better.
"He's the man screwing around with my mom. He's ruined my life and my family," Leandra said simply - it was a fact however you looked at it, really.
There was something about the woman, maybe it was that twitching that started at her temples, that told Leandra she might not want to bother her, but then, "Take a load off my dear, the gods tell me you've been on your feet some time. Yes I knew him. A woman introduced him to me some time ago, helping him to find love after their own marriage didn't last. Sanria her name was."
And the odds were astronomical and just kept coming. "That's my mom... You know my mom, too? I used to think she was a complete moron, but she's not toooo bad."
"Apologies dear, your mother IS.. a complete moron." The statement made Leandra mad for a second. It was one thing to call your own mother a moron, another to have a stranger do it. "She has this habit of interfering, and causing troubles of heart ache and danger on those she claims to love. She destroyed that man, We are almost married you know. She didn't tell you he was seeing somebody?"
"You and Thasmudyan are supposed to get married??? He's always staying in our house and stuff. He's supposed to be healing my dad but while my dad was asleep he was sleeping with my mom."
"He told me he was stuck in the lifestream. That time travels different there, knowing I can not enter."
"He's a good liar, it seems. He's been at our house since I was, like, little. Sometimes he leaves. Then he comes back and my mom gets stupid happy."
"When he comes to lay in my bed no doubt."
"Adults are stupid. No offense."
Leandra said nothing of the twitching temples of the woman, they were a little unnerving, so she just kept her eyes off of them so no one would be the wiser. "Well... I'm going to have to call of the wedding proposal," the woman said.
"No... don't do that!" Shit! SHIT! Thought Leandra. And here she had just screwed up the one chance to get that man out of her house for good! SHIT! "You have to take him... get him out of my house..."
"Well I don't want him, not anymore."
"No no... no... if you don't want him that means he might end up being my dad..."
"Not if you got rid of him."
"You mean to kill him?"
"Of course not child, to deliberately take death from a being would be wrong."
And Leandra found herself listening to a woman telling her exactly what she would need to do to get rid of the problem. It was simple, really and Leandra found her heart lightening. "Thank you... uh... what's your name?"
"Maya, Maya Do'Urden of the 9th house of Menzoberranzan."
"Depends which me your asking," the woman replied, and Leandra was automatically confused. "Apologies dear, Why?" Much better.
"He's the man screwing around with my mom. He's ruined my life and my family," Leandra said simply - it was a fact however you looked at it, really.
There was something about the woman, maybe it was that twitching that started at her temples, that told Leandra she might not want to bother her, but then, "Take a load off my dear, the gods tell me you've been on your feet some time. Yes I knew him. A woman introduced him to me some time ago, helping him to find love after their own marriage didn't last. Sanria her name was."
And the odds were astronomical and just kept coming. "That's my mom... You know my mom, too? I used to think she was a complete moron, but she's not toooo bad."
"Apologies dear, your mother IS.. a complete moron." The statement made Leandra mad for a second. It was one thing to call your own mother a moron, another to have a stranger do it. "She has this habit of interfering, and causing troubles of heart ache and danger on those she claims to love. She destroyed that man, We are almost married you know. She didn't tell you he was seeing somebody?"
"You and Thasmudyan are supposed to get married??? He's always staying in our house and stuff. He's supposed to be healing my dad but while my dad was asleep he was sleeping with my mom."
"He told me he was stuck in the lifestream. That time travels different there, knowing I can not enter."
"He's a good liar, it seems. He's been at our house since I was, like, little. Sometimes he leaves. Then he comes back and my mom gets stupid happy."
"When he comes to lay in my bed no doubt."
"Adults are stupid. No offense."
Leandra said nothing of the twitching temples of the woman, they were a little unnerving, so she just kept her eyes off of them so no one would be the wiser. "Well... I'm going to have to call of the wedding proposal," the woman said.
"No... don't do that!" Shit! SHIT! Thought Leandra. And here she had just screwed up the one chance to get that man out of her house for good! SHIT! "You have to take him... get him out of my house..."
"Well I don't want him, not anymore."
"No no... no... if you don't want him that means he might end up being my dad..."
"Not if you got rid of him."
"You mean to kill him?"
"Of course not child, to deliberately take death from a being would be wrong."
And Leandra found herself listening to a woman telling her exactly what she would need to do to get rid of the problem. It was simple, really and Leandra found her heart lightening. "Thank you... uh... what's your name?"
"Maya, Maya Do'Urden of the 9th house of Menzoberranzan."
Grounded!
It was so boring. More than boring it was like, ugh, frustrating. How many times could Leandra count the leaves on the tree that grew in her room? How many times could she stare at the walls, the winking crystals. Ugh! Leandra put a hand on her stomach and patted it lightly. It was still relatively flat, barely anything there, but it was kinda cool to think that there was something in there. A little boy - eventually. Leandra sighed and sat up on her bed. She had to get rid of the boredom.
Peeking out her door, the coast clear, Leandra slipped down the stairwell and opened the heavy front door. She thought of going to Skive and asking him to fly her somewhere, but that would alert her mother that she was out of her room. If she went to Askari's house, they'd certainly tell on her - she couldn't appear and disappear like Askari could. So, Leandra shrugged and decided to go to town - Westbridge - simply because... she'd never been and she was bored.
It was a bit of a walk, but Leandra made decent time. Whenever a traveler passed her, she kept her gaze averted just in case they might have known she was her mother's daughter. She reached the gates and her mouth fell open. It was like... huge! The buildings, the soldiers, the people, even the smell - like food and body odor and - Leandra's eyes fell on the bench in Market Square. Who the hell was that?
Leandra crept closer, looking at the woman who barely wore clothes. She looked wild somehow, all those markings and piercings and tattoos... and she looked sad. Then Leandra heard a word tumble from the woman's lips that sent a shock of electricity through her body. "Thasmudyan."
Peeking out her door, the coast clear, Leandra slipped down the stairwell and opened the heavy front door. She thought of going to Skive and asking him to fly her somewhere, but that would alert her mother that she was out of her room. If she went to Askari's house, they'd certainly tell on her - she couldn't appear and disappear like Askari could. So, Leandra shrugged and decided to go to town - Westbridge - simply because... she'd never been and she was bored.
It was a bit of a walk, but Leandra made decent time. Whenever a traveler passed her, she kept her gaze averted just in case they might have known she was her mother's daughter. She reached the gates and her mouth fell open. It was like... huge! The buildings, the soldiers, the people, even the smell - like food and body odor and - Leandra's eyes fell on the bench in Market Square. Who the hell was that?
Leandra crept closer, looking at the woman who barely wore clothes. She looked wild somehow, all those markings and piercings and tattoos... and she looked sad. Then Leandra heard a word tumble from the woman's lips that sent a shock of electricity through her body. "Thasmudyan."
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