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Willow {Collaborative Story}
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Post by
470415
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Post by
470415
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Post by
576272
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Post by
Behelich
Shen lay motionlessly on his bed. Through sheer determination he managed to turn his head and look at the clock that ticked loudly on the wall. Clock! Being rich enough to allow oneself such a masterpiece of gnomish engineering and having to work as a lowly clerk were two things so unlikely to happen to the same person it just had to be him.
And now the dreams. Even though he would never admit it, in the back of his mind he knew exactly when they began to appear - after his employer put his heavy hand on Shen's shoulder and said encouragingly, without a slightest trace of an accent, "My boy, you have a talent in archaeology or my name is not Harald Sturluson."
The night after that, Shen had his first dream. Back then, he had no idea such hideous monstrosities even existed, let alone had a history that spanned thousands of years. For a whole week after that Shen did not dare turn off the lights in his room, lest the spiders came to him from the dark - and for what? Only for the young - whatever his parents thought, Shen still considered himself to be a young human, not even having celebrated his twenty-fifth birthday - man to accidentally assemble what mister Sturluson called a six-clawed cornice, whatever that meant.
That night the second nightmare came, and Shen could not even tell anyone about them, since he knew exactly what the answer would be.
"What a weird excuse for skiving, ha-ha, you really thought we'd buy it, you pantywaist? Now eat that oatmeal and get your sorry arse to work!"
I hate oatmeal.
Even though he could have easily slept for at least two more hours, Shen understood suddenly he wanted to get out of this house, while his parents, his uncle and his older and younger brother were still fast asleep. The thought of having to talk to them more than it was necessary clearly outweighed the comfort of his bed with not one but three mattresses.
When he was getting himself ready for the day, an idea came to his mind, idea so weird it was very likely to be true.
Maybe it's because we live close to the
Slaughtered Lamb
? You know what they say about the place...
"Oh boy, now you're telling us cultists are gathering next to our door, ha-ha, in the most respectable neighborhood you can imagine."
Shen spun around, only to understand that the voice of his father only sounded in his head.
Damn...
Fastening his shirt, Shen decided that whatever he could find there, the
Slaughtered Lamb
was worth visiting after the day was over. The young man looked into his reflection's eyes - deep set myrtle eyes with thin red lines around the iris that looked like fissures and crevasses in the ground, eyes that craved for normal sleep and found none for a very long time. He raised his hand to feel auburn stubble under his fingers, and decided that shaving was simply not worth the trouble.
I'm just weird-looking enough now to feel comfortable in that - what do they call it? Ah, seedy pub.
Post by
470415
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Post by
oneforthemoney
A sudden gust of cold air brushed against Shen causing the young human to shiver slightly in response.
“Well, I guess since I’m here...” Shen trailed off purposely as he glanced around for direction, a sign from the light or whatever the fel the night elves worshiped in lieu of it to warn him away from the path before him. Sadly, there was nothing and with a short huff of misted air and an exclamation of “light damn it” he set his shoulders and strode purposely towards the establishment of questionable repute.
Shen was not stupid regardless of what his sibling may claim. If he wanted to accomplish anything aside from getting drunk he had to look like he belonged in the Slaughtered Lamb and slip in without scene or drawing of attention from the patrons. Drawing attention to himself by slamming the door open and demanding if someone was sending him dreams involving purple skinned women and glowing seeds was likely to just get him thrown out with his coin purse taken for good measure no doubt by some enterprising rogue. With this in mind he cautiously walked forward and eased the door open as quietly as he could.
Opening the door revealed the interior of the pub which though somewhat ill lit nevertheless held a certain degree of familiarity that all pubs in Azeroth had. There was little idle chatter, it being late enough that anyone who had been truly drunk had passed out, gone to bed or been thrown out but early enough to have a few patrons about though few were quenching a thirst for ale. Shen slipped in and closed the door softly behind him earning him a few suspicious looks but they did not last long as most discounted him almost immediately as worthy of note.
Well at least it seems I do look the part
Shen thought to himself ruefully. Spotting the bar he immediately made his way over to it before plopping onto a stool with a scowl that he hoped at least appeared intimidating to anyone that bothered to look.
“Can I help you?” The bartender who was a great bull of a man with a shaved bald head that shone in the lights of the inn asked indifferently, his eyes traveling up and down Shen appraisingly and appearing not too impressed by what he saw.
“Hm, sure. Do you have anything for breakfast?” Shen inquired somewhat gruffly but politely. He figured that food would at the very least serve a palpable reason for his venture and ideally rouse little suspicion to his purpose which he still did not grasp the nature of. The bartender eyed him again but nodded all the same.
“Aye. We have pork and potatoes but you’ll have to grab a table when I get it.” Shen nodded his assent and the Bartender grunted before his eyes darted from side to side and he leaned forward. “Take my advice boy, when ya grab a table, avoid the shadows.” The bald man quickly warned in a concerned and quiet tone before leaning back with his face resuming its grim countenance. He immediately wandered down near the kitchen and barked Shen’s order.
Shen watched him go and felt the unease he had first felt when he had entered beginning to form a knot in his stomach. On the bright side, the Slaughtered Lamb appeared to live up to its reputation but at the same time it was little consolation after the bartenders’ helpful pep talk.
Shen jumped slightly when a black cloaked lithe figure with the cowl pulled down slipped onto the stool next to his. A woman and a rather attractive one at that as Shen could not fail but notice how the cloak hugged some of her rather more generous curves.
“It’s rather rude to stare.” Shen started and turned away quickly, coughing into his hand in an attempt to hide his unease at being found out. Judging by the smirk that curved her ruby red lips he had been unsuccessful.
“I’m sorry.” Shen uttered as gruffly as he could to give the impression of belonging in the bar and not the village imbecile to this woman of obvious means if the quality of her cloak was of any indication.
“Quite alright.” She assured him with a light chuckle at his expense. “But I can’t help but wonder what someone like you are doing in here.” She gestured idly to the ceiling as she turned to face him.
“I-I’m sorry?”
What could she mean by that
? Shen demanded of himself, caught off guard. Surely he hadn’t been found out already? He had been in here not even five minutes.
“Well I would think it clear that you did not intend on coming here for breakfast.” She informed him casually and appearing to take some enjoyment from the young man’s squirming.
“I- ahem. I’m not sure what you mean. Of course that’s why I’m here.” The woman rolled her eyes and balanced her head in her palm with her elbow resting on the bar as though bored.
“Really now. I think it painfully obvious you have no idea what you are doing here so don’t bother lying.” Shen shifted nervously and feeling more and more uneasy at her increasing challenges but played the ignorant all the same since it was more or less the truth anyway.
“Miss you are being very presumptuous.” Shen attempted to defend himself but her smirk only grew wider.
“My apologies. It’s just that I don’t know of many men who go out to a pub this early in the morning to eat breakfast without first putting on some shoes.” She told him easily, glancing meaningfully at his feet. Shen felt heat rise to his face but was saved further embarrassment by the bartender returning with a plate of his ordered food.
“Here you go.” The bartender informed Shen before thrusting out a hand meaningfully. “5 silver.” Shen immediately pulled some coin out of his pocket not bothering to count and gave it over before rising meaningfully.
“Well it was lovely meeting you but I must be off, no eating at the bar and all that.” Shen rapidly explained before retreating to a table nearer the corner and far from his new companions reach (but out of the shadows cast in the room) with almost undue haste, the woman’s eyes watching his retreat with interest.
Post by
Monday
Shen sat at the table and tried to appear as uninteresting as the ceiling, which was rough cut wood.
How'd she find out so soon? Am I really that obvious?
he thought, a little desperately. Tucking his feet beneath his chair to disguise his lack of shoes, he started to eat with what he thought was gusto.
Now how would I go about this?
Shen thought to himself.
Going to ask them is out. Perhaps I need to wait until one approaches me. Except that woman already did. If they're all like that
his thoughts trailed off as somebody came through the door.
It was a human male, indiscriminate height, tanned skin, with light brown hair falling to his shoulders, held at his temples with a band. He wore a plain gray woolen shirt and brown pants of the same substance. His hands were toughened and his nails had dirt under them.
Shen immediately classified him as a farmer, then something struck him as odd.
What would a farmer be doing here? This is about as far as you can get from the front gates as possible, and it isn't exactly the cheapest either...
However, Shen didn't have a death wish, so he sat back at his table and tried to act casual, letting his eyes pass over the stranger a few times.
His eyes widened slightly as the stranger came over and sat at his table, carrying a plate of potatoes and pork. "Why me," Shen muttered as the stranger sat down. He thought his voice was lowered, but he gathered from the quick grin flashing across the others face that he had heard. If he did, he didn't let on however.
"'ello there," the stranger grunted, holding out a hand to shake. Shen automatically took it. "Name's Morgan. You ever been 'ere before?" he asked in a pleasantly baritone voice. Shen shook his head. "No. I thought I'd stop by and see how the food is."
Morgan smirked slightly. "Sure you did," he said. "Now lissun here Shen, nobody comes here just to try the food. The bartender there? He runs a lot more than the bar, if you catch my drift." Shen cocked his head slightly, lowering his eyebrows. "Oh? Like what?"
Morgan rolled his eyes. "Oh come off it," he said, still with that smirk. "If you know what they're doing here you now what the bartender's runnin'." Shen turned an eye on him. "Listen here, 'Morgan'" he said, holding up two fingers and twitching them around the name Morgan. "I don't know what your problem is. I came for breakfast, and perhaps to ask somebody a question."
Morgan's eyebrows raised. "So it's information you're seeking?" he asked. "Well, I can get that too. Give me the question, and I'll give you your price." Shen looked around desperately for something to distract the other, but couldn't find anything.
"I'm looking for a dream sender," he said finally. Morgan tilted his head, giving no other indication, other than "Oh?" Shen nodded. "Night Elves, and glowing seeds. I'm not crazy, I can assure you."
Morgan stood up. "Tell you what," he said. "I'll give you that for free. Follow me."
Shen stood, confused, and followed Morgan down the stairs. The light grew more dim, and the air cooler. Shen looked around, slightly scared. The walls were grey stone, and when they reached the bottom of the stairs, three halls split off.
We're in a crypt,
Shen thought, panicked.
Morgan, seeming to sense Shen's thoughts, waved a hand dismissively. "Just give me a moment," he said, tracing a circle on the ground with a charcoal stick. "You're too important to kill," he said, as if this made everything better, and started scratching arcane runes on the ground. "Drug'thon, come to me..." he called.
Post by
470415
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Post by
576272
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Post by
Behelich
"Numb to the-"
The coffin's lid creaked maliciously and began to move. Shen wanted to scream, but could only stare in frozen horror as the thick piece of wood crawled seemingly by itself away from him until it collapsed, raising a cloud of dust. The sound it made was disturbingly alike the sound a heavy club makes when it lands on a human's skull, but, fortunately for Shen, he did not recognise it - not that it occupied his thoughts at the moment, anyway.
What did occupy his thoughts, though, was the coffin's occupant - a skeleton, to be precise, - sitting up slowly, turning its face frozen in eternal eerily grin to Shen and speaking.
"Now will you look at that. The youngsters this day, no respect for the elders!" clacked the jaws. Shen's lower lip wobbled as he managed, "W-w-what?"
"I mean, they don't even let you decay fully before the desecration begins - not like I have something worth desecrating, to begin with," the skeleton rattled on. Something about its voice nagged Shen - it was too... Alive?
"What in Tyr's name were you thinking about, boy?" the skeleton demanded.
"T-t-tyr?" Shen mumbled. "Who the fel is Tyr?"
"Blast it, Alaric, can't you even impersonate a skeleton properly?" came a voice from the door. Morgan's voice. Shen peered through the undead's ribcage and realised that, no more than several feet away another man was standing, his hands folded in a strange way. Out of the depths of Shen's memory came a vision as old as fifteen years, from the blissful times when he was still the youngest chid - a vision of a puppeteer on a carnival. The puppeteer had had his hands folded in exactly the same way.
"Impersonation?"
Alaric, a sharply dressed old man with a mane of silvery-gray hair and a horseshoe-shaped moustache, dropped his hands causing the skeleton to crumble.
"Nice job breaking it, Morgan. Nice job."
"B-b-but... How did you know I'm here?" Shen asked.
Behind the moustache, Alaric's lips twisted into a grin.
"Magic!" he exclaimed, reaching out as if to grab Shen.
"And your feet sticking out from behind the coffin," Morgan added, clearly proud with himself. Alaric moaned and buried his face in his palms.
"Now, seriously, Shen, did you think I was going to kill you? Just like that?"
"Without proper rituals and sacrificial altar..." Alaric muttered.
"You're not helping. At all."
"Neither are you. Just when I managed to bring enough sacred horror into this youngster..."
Shen couldn't believe his own ears. "Mister Sturluson's gonna be so mad at me... So mad..."
"Don't you worry about old Harald, lad, he whole-heartedly approves of this," Morgan said reassuringly. "You surprised him, and that's something. All his previous candidates were utterly broken after two, maybe three dreams, but YOU! You managed to endure SEVEN nightmares of unspeakable horror. I'm not lying, pal, we are genuinely impressed with you."
"Who are you?" whispered Shen.
Post by
470415
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
oneforthemoney
“Stand up.” Morgan ordered as he dragged Shen upright. Shen shakily stood, tensing just in case he had to try and make another run for it as he regained his feet. If Alaric or Morgan noticed they said nothing overt though the room had only a single entrance and the two men and demon stood between Shen and it.
“S-so what do you guys want f-from me?” Shen nervously asked the pair.
“Well, first off we needed to-.”
“What the fel are you doing own here Morgan?” A deep baritone demanded, dust falling slightly from the ceiling in response to the furious and booming voice. Morgan flinched before turning to the entrance of the chamber with a strained and nervous smile. Shen cast his gaze in that direction as well only to gasp and take a step back as the cold hand of fear wrapped itself around his heart. Standing in the entranceway was a tall man with his hands planted on his hips wearing deep red robes embroidered with skulls and demonic visages while a dark cowl shadowed his visage showing only a pair of ruby red eyes glaring at them through slits. Behind him though was what truly caused Shen to tremble stood a massive felguard with a two handed axe held to its side lightly but odds to evens were that the demon could have it up to guard at a moment’s notice.
“Ah, grandmaster Darius. What a surprise, what are you doing here.” Morgan intoned respectfully though a certain edge of fear made its way into his voice at the warlock’s presence.
“Don’t play games Morgan. I heard all that noise and figured an apprentice had lost control of a voidwalker again and it was busy eating them but when I came down what did I see but a summoning circle for a greater demon! And who the fel is that anyway!” Darius demanded, a gloved finger pointing accusingly at Shen.
“Oh he’s just here for some... work that we needed some extra hands for.”
Oh no, they’re going to take my hands
Shen thought to himself with slight panic, reason fleeing the unfortunate human for a moment.
“And what, exactly are you planning on doing here?” Darius demanded as he slowly entered the basement chamber with the felguard in tow. Alaric and Morgan grimaced slightly at the invasion of their space but wisely said nothing in complaint.
“We were, ahem, just going to use it as a meeting place.” Alaric quickly explained as the grandmaster stepped off the final step and into the chamber proper, the air seeming to charge with electricity slightly just by his presence.
“Is that right, and who exactly was going to oversee this meeting between the three of you?” Darius demanded in a cold tone. “That’s what I thought. Now get on with it.” Darius commanded when there was no answer, leaning against a wall casually.
“S-sir you misunderstand. We were just going to keep him here while we get a few things ready for him elsewhere.” Morgan quickly proclaimed, pointing at Shen. Darius cast his red eyes at the other human for a moment before returning to Morgan.
“Very well. Then you won’t mind me waiting until you finish here will you. Because may I remind you Morgan that if we have some unsanctioned human sacrifices down here the king and the church is going to be breathing down my neck with their restrictions again. We work for the Alliance and I don’t wish to have to operate illegally in this city again.” Darius told them in a commanding tone that broached no argument.
“Of course sir.” Morgan said with a short bow. Morgan shot Alaric a look and the man nodded, hurrying out of the chamber with a slight shiver when he passed the warlock grandmaster.
Shen sighed slightly with relief at the reassurance from the warlock and the loss of one of his captors. Darius swivelled his head to regard Shen at the exclamation and the red eyes danced in merriment.
“Don’t be so smug boy. I don’t care if they have plans for you, just not under my roof. Once you’re gone from here they can string you up for all I care.” Darius informed Shen with a slight cackle of amusement at his shock.
No help there
Shen thought with a certain degree of unease. At that moment the trapdoor opened again to reveal Alaric with a smug grin which turned to a neutral line when he turned to Darius.
“We’ll be taking him now.”
“Fine now get him out of here and keep in mind,” Darius added as he tapped one hand near his eye, a floating green orb appearing in the palm which floated near Morgan’s head, “that if you do anything to hurt him do it away from here or I’ll have your heads.” Shen felt his hope fall at that before Morgan guided him toward the trap door and the stairs with a firm hand.
Post by
576272
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
Shen predicted his fate gloomily. Darius had followed Morgan and Alaric toward the trap door leading upwards, when Morgan stopped. "Pardon, I forgot something," he said, and headed back the way they came. Darius rolled his eyes. "Such a stupid pupil," he told Alaric. "I'm surprised you're working with him."
Alaric shrugged and sighed. "Well, I needed some muscle. And I also needed somebody gullible enough to be a scapegoat if things go wrong." Darius's hood shifted, as if he was smiling. "Make your case believable, and I think you may escape unscathed." Alaric nodded and smiled.
"Back," Morgan announced. Alaric smiled and held a hand up, and a blast of shadow flew through the air and struck Darius in the face. Darius nether wards shone green, and absorbed the blow. Darius flipped to face Alaric, and his eyes burned. "I was wrong, both of you are stupid!" he declared, and thrust a hand at Alaric. He took a breath, and the soft sound of metal penetrating flesh came through the air.
Darius stood stock still, and blood began to leak from under his hood. Morgan grinned and slid his dagger out from where he had struck the other Warlock's lungs. "I'm not putting up with you any longer, Darius," he said, spitting on Darius, who slowly collapsed to his knees, then fell sideways.
Ignoring the body, they turned from the staircase and started toward toward another set of stairs, these leading downward. They proceeded down them, and turned left, walking along a staircase for about ten minutes. Shen was still in shock.
This isn't happening, this isn't happening, I haven't been kidnapped by anarchist warlocks, this isn't happening...
He shut his eyes tightly, but when he opened them he was still in the crypt under the Slaughtered Lamb, and Alaric was still leading him onward. As they neared another door, it opened. The same woman that he had seen before opened the door. "I see you got him," was all she said. Alaric nodded. "You know your part?" he asked. She nodded.
"Then go. We need the distraction."
She nodded again and waved a hand. Runes encased her, and she vanished. "Such a good woman, Amaranth. Nice and determined, willing to take orders," Alaric muttered. Morgan rolled his eyes. "Only when it suits her," he grumbled.
Alaric punched him in the arm. "You're just annoyed that you couldn't order her into bed." Morgan flushed and didn't say anything else.
Two minutes later they arrived at the Stockades. A captain in gold armor stood outside, looking bored."'ere, watcha doin' there?" he called, sounding annoted. "We need a warrant to take this prisoner to Westbrook," Morgan said. "I have the order right here," Morgan told the captain, holding up a piece of paper covered in runes. The guard looked at the paper, and his eyes slid out of focus.
"Of course," he said, tonelessly, and wrote up a warrant. The captain shook his head, then eyed the two quizzically. "What's yer name again?" he asked. Morgan opened his mouth to answer, when an explosion ripped through the night. The captain looked over their heads. "Light damn it! That was the Garrison!" he started to run off, then stopped. "Go ahead and leave, just show the guards your warrant!" he called back at Morgan, and took off.
Alaric and Morgan traded smiles.
I bet that was the distraction they were talking about,
Shen thought gloomily. They started toward the gate, eventually reaching it. Morgan showed his paper to the guard.
Ask him why, ask him why, let me speak!
Shen thought desperately. He began to groan through his gag, trying to catch the guard's attention.
The guard turned and smacked Shen across the face with his gauntlet. "Shut up scum. You aren't worth the space that you're going to be given, murdering a family like that."
Shen's eyes widened in shock as Alaric led them away. They turned off the road near Goldshire, and proceeded south. "Amaranth will meet us at Duskwood, I assume?" Morgan asked. Alaric nodded. "Yes. She has a rune system set up there as well. She's probably waiting for us."
Duskwood?
Shen thought.
Why Duskwood?
An answer didn't miraculously come however, and soon they were near the river... "Get in," Alaric said, gesturing at a boat. Shen gulped and got in the boat, and they pushed off, leaving behind Elwynn, and what was possibly the last hope for rescue...
Post by
470415
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Post by
576272
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Monday
Shen walked, still in shock, numb to the world. He barely noticed the dark trees sliding by, nor the dark mist that lay low over this land. But he did jerk abruptly as something snarled in the mist next to him. He cowered back, and Alaric walked forward, radiating pure confidence. "A worgen?" he grunted. Alaric waved a hand, and an the area where the growl had originated from turned pitch black.
A yelp came from the mist, and sounds of scampering, unsteady feet. "That'll teach the little bugger," Alaric grunted, pleased with himself. Morgan rolled his eyes. "Drug'thon's job is to do stuff like that, Alaric. Save your strength, you'll need it if we're found." Alaric glared at Morgan, but relented.
Shen stood unsteadily, and nearly screamed from the pain in his shoulder. Looking down, he noticed the scabbed cut has burst, and fresh blood was leaking down his side. Morgan noticed this as well, and held up a green item. "Eat this," he said. Shen stumbled back, shaking his head. Morgan grabbed him by the hair and pulled him forward. "Now!" he yelled, and shoved the item in Shen's throat.
Shen prepared to gag, before realizing it tasted wonderful. Swallowing on reflex, he felt a burning sensation travel through his body, fixing various scrapes and bruises he had achieved. Most of it gathered around his shoulder, however, and partly fixed it. Right before his eyes it scabbed over, then partly healed.
Morgan grunted in satisfaction. "There we go. You won't kill yourself walking now, but you certainly won't be able to go far with a wound like that, especially here 'Convict Shen'." He laughed.
Shen hung his head, and once the burning subsided, fresh agony coursed through him. "Walk," said Alaric, pushing him in the back. "Amaranth does bad things if she's kept waiting." Shen plodded miserably along. Eventually the minutes turned to hours, and the town of Darkshire loomed in the distance. "Morgan, you have the next paper ready?" Alaric asked.
Morgan nodded and pulled out another paper, this one covered with different runes. "SI:7 version is here," he replied, holding up the paper. Alaric nodded and turned his attention back to the town as they approached...
Post by
470415
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Post by
oneforthemoney
Amaranth meandered down the halls of the catacomb with the easy grace of the assassin she was. Of course that night she had chosen the somewhat tamer career of mere arson but she hardly felt it below her. Amaranth smacked her lips to better redistribute her remaining lipstick ensuring her lips retained its luscious red. Vain? Perhaps but she didn’t really care. After all she deserved it for her excellent work that night and the almost obscene amount of gold she had been paid to perform it.
In retrospect, she most likely should have avoided the path that her employers had taken to reach her earlier but she had been in such high spirits that she really just wanted to return to the pub proper of the Slaughtered Lamb and enjoy a well earned glass of high quality wine. So elate in her thoughts she didn’t even notice the gloved hand before it had pinned her to the wall of the corridor, a green glow encompassing the five digits around her throat illuminating the sharp and gaunt features and scathing red eyes beneath a cowl glaring at her.
“Where are they?” Darius snarled, his eyes searching the woman’s shocked expression with fury. “Answer me! I didn’t just drain my useless felguard to patch me up so that they could bugger off after stabbing me now where is Morgan.” Amaranth squirmed in the grip, her eyes darting to the side only to widen in surprise when she saw the drained husk of a felguard by a trapdoor and a pool of blood, its skin stretched over its bones like paper.
“I-I don’t know.” Amaranth squeaked out, internally berating herself for such a weak front she was putting up in defence. Her mind was racing with incoherent thoughts as she felt the fingers tighten around her throat.
“Then what good are you to me?” Darius demanded fiercely before his face contorted in pain and he coughed loudly, small droplets of blood flying onto Amaranth though she felt the dirtying of her cloak was likely the least of her worries as contrary to the picture of weakness she had just been shown by the coughing the hand had only tightened even more through the episode. Darius opened his eyes and regarded her once again though this time shrewdly as though the coughing had eliminated the brief bout of confusion in him.
“I suppose I could drain you as well and rid myself of this accursed cough but I would still be too weak to pursue...” Amaranth gulped painfully when the red eyes sparked in malice right before the warlocks unoccupied hand dove into her midsection eliciting a gasp of pain. “But you could be of far greater use than mere fuel.” He wheezed with a cruel smile. Amaranth opened her mouth in a silent scream as burning pain travelled from her chest to spread throughout her body, her eyes rolling back as pure agony raced through her veins.
All at once the pain ceased and Amaranth felt the fingers fall from her throat as Darius leant against the opposing wall as though what he had just done pained himself more than her. Amaranth shot a hand to her chest, her eyes wide with a silent question even as she turned her gaze to her unmarred flesh beneath her hand.
“Wh-what did you do?” She demanded of the warlock with a hint of anger making its way into her voice. A slight tilting of the hood her only clue that Darius heard her question since the green glow of his hand had faded leaving his features hidden again.
“It’s not what I did my dear but what you are going to do about it.” Darius paused and took a few rasping breaths before continuing, pointing a finger at her. “You are going to find Morgan and you are going to do one of two things. You are either going to kill him which I will not begrudge you, or you will bring back the man they had with them to me so that I can draw them in myself.” Amaranth glared at the dishevelled warlock, recalling the bound man she had met earlier in the bar and again in Morgan’s hands.
“Why should I do either of those?” Amaranth demanded suspiciously. She felt more than saw him smirk and shifted somewhat uneasily as those ruby red orbs landed on her own eyes piercingly.
“Or the Seed of Corruption I just planted within you will kill you and the demon it spawns will do the job instead.” Darius gave a cackle of absolute mirth while Amaranth stared at the man in absolute horror. Amaranth had few fears. She was a rogue, tried and tested in the fires of battle and death held little terror for her but this; this was no sword in the chest or dagger in the back. It was a disease, something that would eat away at her until there was nothing left of herself and she would be helpless but to watch as she was used as a host to a foul being of the twisting nether before she died to give it a twisted semblance of life. A horrid fate for any being.
“Wh-what! W-why me? Can’t y-you just t-track them d-down yourself?” Darius snorted caustically and grabbed his side in pain.
“Fool, I just fed off the life force of a demon. Its health alone could barely heal my wounds but it will take time and energy for me to purge its tainted residue from myself, which I will not have if I am travelling. Now leave me and return with Morgan’s head or the boy lest the demon you now play host to does so for me and, should you succeed I will remove the taint. Time is ticking.” Darius said with a mocking tone as he watched Amaranth speed along the tunnel, her black cloak flapping in her wake.
()()()
Asein threaded his fingers through his hair, worry clawing at his gut like a parasite growing larger by his pessimistic thoughts. What if the girl’s warnings rang true and there were people coming for Willow? She would soon be all he had left.
But she wasn’t yet. Asein cast his eyes back to his mother’s bed, the skeletal figure barely even making an impression through the sheets anymore. He couldn’t just leave her like this should Evelin even be believed. It was his mother! She was family! One of the few he had left. It would be cruelty of the highest order to simply abandon her now to let her breath her last in her bed, wasting away even more while helpless to aid herself without Asein to bring her sustenance and keep her company, possibly even more important than the water. What should he do?
Kill her?
Asein almost fell from his chair at the thought. His own thought? He couldn’t be sure sometimes.
It would be a greater mercy than leaving her.
Asein shook his head to banish the traitorous voice. Never, he couldn’t. It was not an option.
It could be the only one. No one would willingly take care of her; she married the demon after all. It wouldn’t even take much, and besides he was already
Numb to the world.
“N-no... don’t go in there.” Willow murmured in her sleep, her brows knitted slightly in concern for whoever she was dreaming of. Asein watched her, his hands tightening into fists of rage at his own powerlessness, his impotency.
But what if Evelin could help?
Asein paused, his hands relaxing minutely. It was a long shot, but he had few options that would not crush him beneath their weight. With a glance to ensure both females still slept Asein slid to his feet and exited his home.
Post by
Morec0
Asein wondered how far Evalin could have gotten on her feet, of course that was if she was traveling by foot. If she had come here on a saber or any other kind of mount it would be difficult to find here. He was not sure what she had meant when she had said Willow was in danger, but he did know why; their father. The demon’s blood and magic that had tainted him had more than just a lasting effect on their family’s name, it seemed. Clearly, it had tainted his children's blood as well.
But, if he could ask Evalin more about what was going on then he could think more clearly. He figure out his own solution for whatever it was that was coming for-.
He stopped dead in his tracks, his ears twitching as he heard something past the trees. He snuck up to the tree line, peering past it into the nearby clearing. He gasp; Evalin was there, her neck in the grips of a tall, dark-armored figure; human by the looks of his build. It may have been a trick of the light, but the female kaldorei seemed to be getting thinner as each second passed. He listened carefully, there was a conversation going on. He inched closer to listen to it.
“-once more; where is the girl?” the human said, his voice devoid of any emotion but contempt and having a slight echoing characteristic. “Where is the girl? I know you came here looking for her, so tell me where you were going?” The man tightened his grip, Evalin gasped for breath.
“I… I’ll never tell you,” she said, struggling to get free of his grasp. “I was sent here to make sure she did not fall into the hands of your kind, and if I have to die to see to that, then so be it.”
“Foolish elf,” the dark figure said with what sounded like a chuckle. “Do you really think that death will be the end of the mater for you? I
will
get the information that I and my benefactor seeks.” His grip begin to tigthen further, but a snap drew his attention over to Asein.
The night elf male looked down. As he had been moving closer to hear better he had accidentally stepped on a dry twig, breaking it and drawing the figures attention to himself. He looked back up, straight into the man’s glowing, blood-red eyes. “Ahh,” he sighed, “what a fortuitous circumstance; the brother.” He threw the almost-dead Evelin to the ground and started towards Asein, who stumbled back. He tripped over his own two feet and fell to the ground, the dark man continuing to approach.
Asein tried crawling away but the other figure was too fast, he grabbed Asein by his neck and lifted him into the air effortlessly. “You are not the one I am after,” he hissed, looking into the male night elf’s eyes. “But you will be able to help me all the same. Take me to your sister and I will spare your life. Disobey and your life shall be
mine
.”
Asein struggled against the man’s grip, but founded unnaturally strong, impossible to escape from. “N-never,” he stammered, gasping for breath as the figure’s grip tightened. “I will never take you to her.”
“A pity,” the figure said, his mask and cowl hiding any expression. “Then you are of no use to me.” Asein gasped as he felt a spell run into his body and then pull out, taking with it his strength. No, not just his strength; his life. This man was draining his life force! He if he could not get out of his grasp then he would die! He attempted to pry the man’s fingers away from around his neck, but the weaker he got the stronger the dark man did.
Undeterred he tried again, once more to no avail. He tried once more, but now didn’t even have the strength to move left in him. He closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting to his sister. Elune, he silently prayed, let her be alright.
As the last of his life was beginning to seep away, the dark figure roared in pain and dropped him. Asein gasped as his strength returned – the spell not having been completed, it also slowly refunded his strength. He looked up, still too weak to move, to see the figure spin around to look in the opposite direction. He looked that way as well and saw that Evalin had managed to struggle back to her feet, a bolt of holy moonlight coming out of the palms of her hands. She threw it as the dark man, who deflected it and countered with a bolt of dark magic.
Evalin dodged the spell and called down a full blast of moonlight onto the man, who was ignited in blue flames. He growled in rage and dispelled the flames with his own magic, then turning his head and whistling. A warhorse - although Asein could clearly see it was rotted to the bone in several places - galloped into the clearing, the dark man jumping into the saddle as it passed by. He took one last look as Evalin and Asein and then rode away into the forest.
The female kaldorei rushed to Asein’s side as fast as she could, kneeling down to heal what wounds of hers that she could. “Are you alright?” she asked, clearly worried for his well-being.
“Who… what was that?” was all Asein said in reply.
“One of those I warned you about,” Evalin told him, finishing what healing she could manage. “One of those that are looking for your sister.”
The blood drained out of Asein’s face. That was one of those looking for Willow? Elune… what was he going to do. He sat up; looking in the direction that the dark figure had rode. What little blood that was still in his face also drained. The man had ridden of in the direction that he had
come
from. “My home…”
Evalin also grew pale. “Come on,” she said, “we may still be able to catch him.” Helping Asein to his feet, then hurried off in the direction of his home.
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