Claire lay that night in a crushing embrace that held her close to Ruthivan's chest. He had been angry with her yet again, she'd cast a spell on him to bring the worst discomfort and refused to heal him. Still, he held her close to him and heard none of her protests.
She had sworn to get free of the bond that linked them together, swore to get free of him, and as swiftly as she'd breathed the words, he'd reminded her that she was trapped in the house. The ward that surrounded it, tailor tuned to her own frequencies, keeping her prisoner. 'It will be there until you learn your place,' he'd said. 'What does that mean?' she asked, unable to even pull away from him enough to look at him. 'As long as you have to ask, it will be there.'
What could she do? Claire was raising a brood with this... monster. She hated that she felt a clear resentment toward her children as well. They were half of him, her blood and his own were locked in them for eternity - mingled together to never be taken apart. If she did find a way out of this place, did she take them and hope to conquer the twisted racist message he'd hammered into them? Or leave them behind, lost causes to grow into xenophobic hatemongers like the man who was their father?
The final question... getting out of here. Her own father had given her to Ruthivan like cattle without concern over his angry tendencies. If he knew what Ruthivan had done, he would surely free her of the marriage... but she couldn't go tell him. Certainly, Ruthivan wouldn't let her. Unless... she tried to fake everything until he was satisfied in her compliance.
Claire closed her eyes and brought back one of the best memories she had - a picnic behind the cottage - Gilean's face when she brought out the chocolate covered strawberries. She let the warm feelings spread and when she opened her eyes in the darkness of the bedroom, she noticed a faint purple glow coming from her skin. She would hold the memories tightly, her flames would return, and Ruthivan would have to slowly release his grip. When he did, Claire would take her chance.
Situation Critical
Enmach sat across from Fenlauch. The gold-skinned being was clad in a loose tunic and breeches, his golden armor stowed neatly in the corner of the room. He stared at Enmach with a patient gaze, his hands folded over his lap. The room had a smell of rose petals and sandalwood from the incense that had long stopped burning. Enmach lowered her gaze, hoping Fenlauch would not immediately disapprove of her request.
Finally, he spoke, leaning forward as he did so. "Enmach, it needs be said that you have become too involved in Sanria's affairs."
"I am her advisor," she said quietly.
"I am aware," the baritone voice said, "but that does not mean she is permitted to call on us whenever the situation seems out of her hands."
"Fenlauch, a woman is in a very volatile relationship, it does have to do with balance."
Fenlauch gave a stare that caused Enmach to swallow and again lower her eyes. "It is personal, Enmach, and that is not why we are here."
"I know, but-"
"I am also aware of your involvement with Orn when he was seeking his mother some time ago." Enmach sank in her seat. "You deliberately circumvented our rules to aid him."
"Fenlauch, I merely-"
"Silence," Fenlauch said. The word was soft, but the power behind it was unmistakable. "You cannot keep pushing to aid them, Enmach. Your emotions have clouded your judgment. If you keep insisting on aiding them at every turn, rather than guiding them, I will have to send you home."
Enmach raised her head suddenly. "But Fenlauch, this woman is in dire need of help."
"Then guide Sanria to find help among the human beings and other assorted citizens of the realms. We are here to observe and push for overarching balance, not invest ourselves in minor affairs."
"Minor aff-"
"Enmach, you have your final warning. Advise, but disengage yourself from this matter. We have few of us as it is here, and there have been rumblings that things have been changing as far as the Gods are concerned. There are greater things we must be watchful over. Sanria will have to find help from another source. Do I make myself clear?"
Enmach stood and bowed her head in polite assent. "Yes, you have been perfectly clear."
"Good. I do not wish to hurt you, Enmach, but sometimes a keen reminder is needed to keep us on our paths."
"Yes, I understand."
"Is that all, then?"
"That is all." "Then be well, and please give Sanria my apologies when you
deliver the news."
Enmach turned and walked from Fenlauch's room. She held her head up, her expression neutral, as she walked down the halls of the castle. She shoved her emotions down as she walked to Sanria's office. It was for the greater good, she reminded herself, and with a still heavy heart, knocked lightly on the door.
Finally, he spoke, leaning forward as he did so. "Enmach, it needs be said that you have become too involved in Sanria's affairs."
"I am her advisor," she said quietly.
"I am aware," the baritone voice said, "but that does not mean she is permitted to call on us whenever the situation seems out of her hands."
"Fenlauch, a woman is in a very volatile relationship, it does have to do with balance."
Fenlauch gave a stare that caused Enmach to swallow and again lower her eyes. "It is personal, Enmach, and that is not why we are here."
"I know, but-"
"I am also aware of your involvement with Orn when he was seeking his mother some time ago." Enmach sank in her seat. "You deliberately circumvented our rules to aid him."
"Fenlauch, I merely-"
"Silence," Fenlauch said. The word was soft, but the power behind it was unmistakable. "You cannot keep pushing to aid them, Enmach. Your emotions have clouded your judgment. If you keep insisting on aiding them at every turn, rather than guiding them, I will have to send you home."
Enmach raised her head suddenly. "But Fenlauch, this woman is in dire need of help."
"Then guide Sanria to find help among the human beings and other assorted citizens of the realms. We are here to observe and push for overarching balance, not invest ourselves in minor affairs."
"Minor aff-"
"Enmach, you have your final warning. Advise, but disengage yourself from this matter. We have few of us as it is here, and there have been rumblings that things have been changing as far as the Gods are concerned. There are greater things we must be watchful over. Sanria will have to find help from another source. Do I make myself clear?"
Enmach stood and bowed her head in polite assent. "Yes, you have been perfectly clear."
"Good. I do not wish to hurt you, Enmach, but sometimes a keen reminder is needed to keep us on our paths."
"Yes, I understand."
"Is that all, then?"
"That is all." "Then be well, and please give Sanria my apologies when you
deliver the news."
Enmach turned and walked from Fenlauch's room. She held her head up, her expression neutral, as she walked down the halls of the castle. She shoved her emotions down as she walked to Sanria's office. It was for the greater good, she reminded herself, and with a still heavy heart, knocked lightly on the door.
Trussing Claire 2/2
He regretted it instantly when he saw the shock cross her features and the distrust flood her eyes. She closed her mouth, her jaw going tight, and tears rolled down her stoic face. It looked as though she was daring him to do it again, defiant.
Ruthivan held his breath for a moment then narrowed his eyes. "Get yourself together," he hissed, holding a finger in her face. "I knew you would do it," she whispered. "It was only a question of when." "Shut up," he spat. "You made me lash out, you and those humans, including the one that took our son." "Whatever we may have had, whatever might have been, it is gone. I will not rest until I have absolved myself of you." "Well," he said with a sneer, "you're going to have a long time to wait, Claire. You are bonded to me and belong with and to me. So straighten yourself up, or I'll straighten you myself."
He walked from the room, slamming the door behind him. He left the living room and paced in the woods beyond. He slammed his fist into a tree, crunching his bones and magically healing them. She made him so hateful and angry... it was her fault. In his mind, the realization that she would never love him filled his senses and drove him mad. He looked skyward and let out a howl of rage. It drifted through the woods to be absorbed by the trees that ruffled their leaves in repeated whispers to dissipate the pity and hate they were forced to absorb.
Ruthivan held his breath for a moment then narrowed his eyes. "Get yourself together," he hissed, holding a finger in her face. "I knew you would do it," she whispered. "It was only a question of when." "Shut up," he spat. "You made me lash out, you and those humans, including the one that took our son." "Whatever we may have had, whatever might have been, it is gone. I will not rest until I have absolved myself of you." "Well," he said with a sneer, "you're going to have a long time to wait, Claire. You are bonded to me and belong with and to me. So straighten yourself up, or I'll straighten you myself."
He walked from the room, slamming the door behind him. He left the living room and paced in the woods beyond. He slammed his fist into a tree, crunching his bones and magically healing them. She made him so hateful and angry... it was her fault. In his mind, the realization that she would never love him filled his senses and drove him mad. He looked skyward and let out a howl of rage. It drifted through the woods to be absorbed by the trees that ruffled their leaves in repeated whispers to dissipate the pity and hate they were forced to absorb.
Trussing Claire 1/2
Ruthivan walked into Celiara's room where all his children had gathered. Three faces looked back at him with an expression of worry. Celiara held Saren and Desmaren at her sides and Ruthivan gave a smile. These were his perfect gems, full blood Espers. He knelt down in front of them and put a hand on Celiara's knee. "I'm sorry you had to see that, children."
"Who were they, father?" Saren asked.
"Humans. They were here to cause trouble. You should always stay away from them."
"But Leanders hoomen," Desmaren said.
"Yes, and she caused trouble."
"But 'Skari loves, um, loves Leanders."
"Unfortunately. But they're gone now, so it's just the three of you until the new baby comes."
"Why is mother sad?" Saren asked quietly.
"Your mother is just... she's not sad."
"You maded her happy?" Desmaren smiled.
"I... will. I'll go do that right away."
Ruthivan stood up and left the children with a quick, "I love you." He walked into the bedroom to find Claire laying on the bed, sobbing. He set his jaw. "Claire, get up," he said, holding his voice in check. "You're making the children upset."
"How could you?" she sobbed as she sat up.
He walked to her side and snatched her to her feet, glaring into her face. He was tired of her self loathing and pity, tired of her never looking at him with any semblance of love, tired of her body with a complete lack of flames - no joy, tired of her moping about. She looked at him now with a glare of contempt, and he drew back and slapped her across the face.
"Who were they, father?" Saren asked.
"Humans. They were here to cause trouble. You should always stay away from them."
"But Leanders hoomen," Desmaren said.
"Yes, and she caused trouble."
"But 'Skari loves, um, loves Leanders."
"Unfortunately. But they're gone now, so it's just the three of you until the new baby comes."
"Why is mother sad?" Saren asked quietly.
"Your mother is just... she's not sad."
"You maded her happy?" Desmaren smiled.
"I... will. I'll go do that right away."
Ruthivan stood up and left the children with a quick, "I love you." He walked into the bedroom to find Claire laying on the bed, sobbing. He set his jaw. "Claire, get up," he said, holding his voice in check. "You're making the children upset."
"How could you?" she sobbed as she sat up.
He walked to her side and snatched her to her feet, glaring into her face. He was tired of her self loathing and pity, tired of her never looking at him with any semblance of love, tired of her body with a complete lack of flames - no joy, tired of her moping about. She looked at him now with a glare of contempt, and he drew back and slapped her across the face.
Come Alive
nnnnRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
The makou light in Ror's office flickered. "What the... " said Ror and he nearly fell off his chair as the room rocked on its foundation.
Aneh! The thought flashed through Ror's mind and before he knew it, he was out of his chair and running down the hallway. He sensed mixed signals coming from his fiancee. There was a lot of emotion and fear.
He yelled to the guards to follow him as he ran past them.
It took forever to get to the lab.
Why was the lab so far away?
Was it always this far?
Skipping half the steps on the stairway, Ror rushed to the entrance of the laboratory. There was a lot of smoke, rubble and personnel yelling. "Evacuate and help these people, " commanded Ror before pushing himself through the small crowd of researchers towards Aneh, asking, "What happened? " And spotting the remains of an once sturdy lab door to the left of him, Ror put his arm around his fiancee in protection. Taking a deep breath, Aneh put her hand on his arm. "Well, I hope life happened... Look... "
"I see a destroyed laboratory, not to mentioned scared and wounded people... And the giant armour that... " Ror fell silent. In the center of the wrecked laboratory, was indeed the armour that... It moved! Its arm went up and the helmet down as if it was studying its own gauntlet.
It was alive.
He knew it. Aneh knew it.
For a split second he thought, it worked! Then there was a tsunami of thoughts and risk analysis.
This thing had blown up his laboratory. It could harm them...
Still, it was strange and fascinating to see an idea come alive, literally....
He felt a tugging motion on his sleeve, "I have to talk to... Him... Her... " said Aneh, "I think him... "
Despite warning to be cautious, Ror quickly found himself in between the armour and his fiancee, functioning as her living shield.
As they approached, the helmet slightly turned to follow them....
The makou light in Ror's office flickered. "What the... " said Ror and he nearly fell off his chair as the room rocked on its foundation.
Aneh! The thought flashed through Ror's mind and before he knew it, he was out of his chair and running down the hallway. He sensed mixed signals coming from his fiancee. There was a lot of emotion and fear.
He yelled to the guards to follow him as he ran past them.
It took forever to get to the lab.
Why was the lab so far away?
Was it always this far?
Skipping half the steps on the stairway, Ror rushed to the entrance of the laboratory. There was a lot of smoke, rubble and personnel yelling. "Evacuate and help these people, " commanded Ror before pushing himself through the small crowd of researchers towards Aneh, asking, "What happened? " And spotting the remains of an once sturdy lab door to the left of him, Ror put his arm around his fiancee in protection. Taking a deep breath, Aneh put her hand on his arm. "Well, I hope life happened... Look... "
"I see a destroyed laboratory, not to mentioned scared and wounded people... And the giant armour that... " Ror fell silent. In the center of the wrecked laboratory, was indeed the armour that... It moved! Its arm went up and the helmet down as if it was studying its own gauntlet.
It was alive.
He knew it. Aneh knew it.
For a split second he thought, it worked! Then there was a tsunami of thoughts and risk analysis.
This thing had blown up his laboratory. It could harm them...
Still, it was strange and fascinating to see an idea come alive, literally....
He felt a tugging motion on his sleeve, "I have to talk to... Him... Her... " said Aneh, "I think him... "
Despite warning to be cautious, Ror quickly found himself in between the armour and his fiancee, functioning as her living shield.
As they approached, the helmet slightly turned to follow them....
The Monks of Vectors
On a silent night, a couple weeks ago.. A strange incident took place in the in the heart of Vectorian City. Warewolfs of a distance forest come attacking the city, killing innocent traders, citizens, women, children and none was spared.
The Guards were immediately deployed and security measures were taken into serious consideration. The Government suspect that this is an act of some intruders trying to create havoc within the Empire.
The warewolves are sneaky and the Empire lost thousands of their valuable guards. Ambushes took place all around the city and the city itself is too big and it is impossible to cover every inch of the city.
Very soon, the Government was impatient and couldn't stand losing so many guards in just 2 weeks. The batallion will soon fall and the city will soon be vulnarable to outsider attack, if this continues. A barricade needs to be set up almost immediately but none was strong enough to gather and to put up the barrier to protect the city against these ambushes.
The Government has left with no choice but to summon their Monks to aid in the battle while some helps to set up the obelisk for the barriers. The Monks fought bravely with their swift agility and some uses their mental strength and physical capability to belp with the barrier. In just 36 hours, the barrier is fully erected, securing the entire city.
The citizens, farmers, traders now have a secure living within the Empire while the monks were dispatched in a journey to seek the reason behind this warewolves ambushes.
The Monks now serve full time within the Empire and with their swift agility, they are surely something to be feared....
The Guards were immediately deployed and security measures were taken into serious consideration. The Government suspect that this is an act of some intruders trying to create havoc within the Empire.
The warewolves are sneaky and the Empire lost thousands of their valuable guards. Ambushes took place all around the city and the city itself is too big and it is impossible to cover every inch of the city.
Very soon, the Government was impatient and couldn't stand losing so many guards in just 2 weeks. The batallion will soon fall and the city will soon be vulnarable to outsider attack, if this continues. A barricade needs to be set up almost immediately but none was strong enough to gather and to put up the barrier to protect the city against these ambushes.
The Government has left with no choice but to summon their Monks to aid in the battle while some helps to set up the obelisk for the barriers. The Monks fought bravely with their swift agility and some uses their mental strength and physical capability to belp with the barrier. In just 36 hours, the barrier is fully erected, securing the entire city.
The citizens, farmers, traders now have a secure living within the Empire while the monks were dispatched in a journey to seek the reason behind this warewolves ambushes.
The Monks now serve full time within the Empire and with their swift agility, they are surely something to be feared....
The Unthinkable
Sanria sat at her desk in the castle. Her familiar knot of wood in the top staring back at her. It had been several days since she'd been to "visit" Claire, her mind had been reeling. She knew Claire's story, she knew Claire had been dominated completely by the man she was with, and could only arrive at one conclusion to help her solve the problem. They'd have to get rid of Ruthivan... permanently.
Killing a being to free another, was that right? The voices crept into Sanria's mind. 'Is there not a severe imbalance in that relationship? Is it not your duty to help balance?' No. Sanria shook her head in consternation. She was no killer. She sighed deeply and dug into her mind for answers. If they couldn't kill him, and he could manage to travel the planes (meaning he would most certainly return to collect Claire), what other possibility was there?
A soft knock on the door revealed Enmach, who swooped into the room under her usual graces. "Greetings Sanria. I apologize that I have not been around as of late." Sanria waved her hand dismissively, and then the idea struck her like a thunderbolt from the skies. "Enmach... have I ever told you of my friend, Claire?" "Only that she was once the lover of your husband."
Sanria shifted uncomfortably in her chair, deciding now was not the time to let Enmach in on all the facts of her relationship. She told her of Claire's life, current and past. Finally, Sanria looked at Enmach and let out a sigh. "Is it possible," here she paused, knowing that once this thought was in the world, there was no taking it back, "that we can alter his memories just as your people altered Colin's?"
Enmach knitted her brows and looked to the desk. "You realize what you are proposing is kidnapping and forcing someone to our will?" "I know..." Sanria's voice dropped to a whisper. "But if she doesn't get help..." "Does she want help? Did you ask?" "I didn't have a chance. Though it is not difficult to see that she is in dire straits." Enmach sighed heavily. "I'll talk to Fenlauch." She looked at Sanria and Sanria could see the confusion in the silver eyes. "You realize what you are suggesting is the same thing that happened to you..." Sanria looked down and gave a singular nod. "I know," she breathed as a whisper of shame.
Killing a being to free another, was that right? The voices crept into Sanria's mind. 'Is there not a severe imbalance in that relationship? Is it not your duty to help balance?' No. Sanria shook her head in consternation. She was no killer. She sighed deeply and dug into her mind for answers. If they couldn't kill him, and he could manage to travel the planes (meaning he would most certainly return to collect Claire), what other possibility was there?
A soft knock on the door revealed Enmach, who swooped into the room under her usual graces. "Greetings Sanria. I apologize that I have not been around as of late." Sanria waved her hand dismissively, and then the idea struck her like a thunderbolt from the skies. "Enmach... have I ever told you of my friend, Claire?" "Only that she was once the lover of your husband."
Sanria shifted uncomfortably in her chair, deciding now was not the time to let Enmach in on all the facts of her relationship. She told her of Claire's life, current and past. Finally, Sanria looked at Enmach and let out a sigh. "Is it possible," here she paused, knowing that once this thought was in the world, there was no taking it back, "that we can alter his memories just as your people altered Colin's?"
Enmach knitted her brows and looked to the desk. "You realize what you are proposing is kidnapping and forcing someone to our will?" "I know..." Sanria's voice dropped to a whisper. "But if she doesn't get help..." "Does she want help? Did you ask?" "I didn't have a chance. Though it is not difficult to see that she is in dire straits." Enmach sighed heavily. "I'll talk to Fenlauch." She looked at Sanria and Sanria could see the confusion in the silver eyes. "You realize what you are suggesting is the same thing that happened to you..." Sanria looked down and gave a singular nod. "I know," she breathed as a whisper of shame.
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