"Blasted Human!!" Her hand quickly grasped the woman's blouse as she thrusted her against the wall. "Dos are begging to have dos throat cut" The girl shivered at the sound of her voice. She reached into the pocket of her apron and awkwardly counted out a handful of coin, with a shaky hand she offered it to the scowling Tier'Dal. Nanarie looked into the pale opened palm and then averted her eyes to the girl, tilting her head in pure annoyance. Her hand reached for the hilt of her blade strapped to the middle of her back. Quickly, the frightened girl reached back in her pocket and pulled it out, revealing quite a few more platinum coin. Nanarie grinned evilly, obviously satisfied. "Much better" came a sadistic response as she opened the hand the bound the girls blouse letting her fall to the ground. Her other hand went from the hilt to snatch the coin from her hand as the girl fell.
With a flick of her head her minion tossed the merchant woman a bag containing her worthless findings from that days massacre.
She had been gone quite a few weeks now, only rarely visiting The Butchered Halfling to restock her food supply, providing Brakk with fresh meat from slaughtered pale skins and hairy Halflings. She didn't think many noticed her abscence. Not even 'him'. If anything, if he had noticed he was glad for it. He hadn't seemed to have any recollection of her and seemed to have no desire to learn what she had wished to share. 'My heart is a tool, nothing more.' That was his first and only reply to her continued effort to help him recall his past. The rest of his replies where complete and utter silence. It still was as upsetting in her mind as it was the very first time he said it. X'as... we will see how long it remains so once my task is complete. She thought angrily as she slipped through Neriak.
She had left no note, no explanation to why she had to leave. It was temporary but she wasn't sure how long it would take. She had alot she wished to do. One, she felt more important than the other... to find all she could of Vladdik's past and his parent's death. She hired the help of Ebon mask to use their talents in her quest. She told him all she knew of his parents, which wasn't much, to aid in their own investigation. In the mean time, since it had been days since her last contact with them, she went about her own journey... to find her own parents. She knew her mother still lived. She had inquired about her whereabouts from her mother's old gossiping friends. They had been no help. All they told her was that she was still alive, and happy with a family. As much as their lack of willingness to help angered her, she refused to show just how persuasive she could be. What would be the point in harming a few women over a mother who abandoned her first born. She had no recollection of who her father was so she had no idea if he was even alive. The women had been no help there either. They just turned up their noses and walked away, muttering about how her mother was promiscuous in her young years. That angered her but thought better of letting that rage overwhelm her better judgment. It had been so many years since she had been with her mother that the memories were slowly fading. She wanted to know who her father had been before her whole past was gone.
Her footsteps halted in front of an abandoned house... her old home. Years before she had boarded up the front door in hopes of keeping the mischievous youth, much like her and Vladdik in their young years, out of her home. Now the boards and the shattered remnants of her front door lay in sharp pieces on the ground. Annoyed at the invasion of her past she kicked the fragments from her path , letting her minion rush in before her, a rusty scimitar in his bony hand.
Fresh footsteps littered the dust covered floor as she entered the main living room. Broken cob webs gave more evidence that someone had been here since her last visit many many days ago. She knelt down and examined where the intruder's feet lifted the dust and dirt, leaving behind their mark. Now she could see a separate trail, one to match the bony feet of a minion. At first she thought it was from her last visit but the condition of her front door said otherwise. Even the fact that the first trail was that of a slightly bigger Tier'Dal... possibly male. A faint smell lingered here ... almost recognizable to her. She followed the path to the stairwell and up the winding stairs to the second floor, as if they knew where they wished to go. With every step, the familiar scent teased her nose, urging her closer and closer to her room, and with every scent she began to believe she knew who had come here.
The door to her room had been left ajar, leaving fresh marks where it had scraped against the floor, wiping away the thin film of dust. The smell lingered a bit stronger as she stopped in the hall, just before her room. Her mind raced with questions she had no way to answer. Why had he come here? She was certain he cared nothing of what they were when he was Vladdik. Or was it her mind playing another cruel trick, making her think and believe it had been him? Shaking her head in disbelief and in a unsuccessful attempt to rid herself of the questions she stepped through the doorway. Shock took over her as a scent so strong, so recognizable it made her falter in her steps ...... it had been 'him'
====================================================
{poApokolipz ~ what happened in his visit}
*The Apokolipz slowly made his way through the cloak room and into the main living quarters of the abandoned house. In the darkness, his teir'dal eyes could easily see the room's layout; two doors, a boarded up window, and a few tables and chairs, which had fallen into disrepair over the years. Even though there were nicknacks and such laying about, it was obvious no one had been here for a very long time.
A slight scurry of small feet sounded in the silence from near the sheet-covered couch and the necromancers skeletal minion rushed in to slay the poor, unsuspecting rat.*
The Apokolipz smiled evily at his minion's actions. "Luckily, you didn't disturb anything else," he commented to the undead slave as it returned to his side. The skeleton's glowing green eyes only stared back him unemotionally. The Apokolipz gave it a smirk and went into the nearby hallway.
*Cobwebs hung on the walls and from the ceiling, apparently also left unattented for a very long time. Faded paintings also hung on the walls, a testament to the long lifespans of his brethren. The floor was covered in a fine dust, which was only ever seen in areas of Neriak that have gone unused for many years; a reddish black dust caused by the minute shiftings of the earth and stone that the city was carved out of. The layer of dust seemed to have been diturbed mostly by small rodent feet, although there were faint traces of the soft steps of teir'dal feet. The hallway continued on ahead and into the dining room, but the necromancer moved towards the stairway winding up to the second floor, where the trail of footsteps led to and came from. Silently, he stepped onto the first step, his minion's bones clicking behind him as it followed it's master.*
----Quietly, the young teir'dal crept up the stairs, his hand running along the polished wooden railing as he went. He could hear the soft breathing of someone in the silence, coming from upstairs. As he stepped into the short upstairs hallway, his eyes darted to the closed door to his right, even though he knew that the "lady" of the house had left some time ago. Smiling to himself, he went to the door to his right, which was slightly ajar. Dim light poured through the opening, and, as he neared, he could tell that it came from an everburning candle on the bedside stand.
Reaching out, he slowly opened the door to allow him access to the bechambers, a waft of pleasant scents washing over him as he did so; lavender, smoke, and... her...
She lay in the large bed, under the silken sheets imported from... somewhere. Her skin radiated in the candlelight, her hair reflecting its light like fine strands of silver. He could see the gentle rise and fall of her breathing, her body curled up in her sleep. He looked to the envelope in his hand. Slowly, he made his way to her bedside, between the bed and the half-opened window, and slowly placed it on the bed beside her... just as she rolled towards him, her hand actually grasping the envelope before he released it. He froze, his gaze locked onto her lovely face as she slept peacefully. Gingerly, he released his hold on the envelope and stepped back towards the window, knowing full well that she would awaken any moment, yet his heart did not want to end the moment...----
*The Apokolipz staggered on the top step, kicking up a small cloud of dust from the floor. His eyes were closed tightly and his hand gripped the cracked and dried railing for support. His undead guardian moved as if to defend its master from some assailant, but it could detect none*
'...now...'
'...leave now...'
*The whispers began to drown out the memories in thier overlapping hissing, mostly incoherant. The Apokolipz only scowled in response, his cold eyes opening as slits. Slowly, he righted himself, his eyes drifting to the closed door to his left. Quietly, he stepped towards the door, his minion still searching for some unseen threat.
Reaching out, he slowly opened the aged door and it creaked loudly in protest, obviously in need of oil. His senses caught the ghostly scent of lavender and smoke... and her...*
======{Pt. 2 to Apok's story}=======================
*The room was not how he remembered it, yet was also not how he expected it to be. The furniture was still all in place, from the dark wood bureau and small tables to the large and lavish bed, but everything was covered in the same thin layer of dust that covered everything else in the house... well, almost everything. It became quickly obvious that the dust had been disturbed recently. The light footsteps to and from the door and the almost rippling look to the dust around the bed itself. The necromancer slowly pulled the loose locks of bone-white hair that covered his face behind his ear, his ice-blue eyes searching the floor. Judging by the footsteps, whoever the visitor was had gone to the bureau and the closet at times, but mostly dealt with the bed...
The Apokolipz froze, his eyes staring at the bed. The covering blanket was clean of dust, as were the pillows and sheets; all of which were tussled and looked as if someone had recently slept there. But, that was not what had caught his attention. Laid out on the bed, as if tossed aside, was a gown of the deepest blue trimmed in silver...
...Nanarie's gown.*
--- The soft, melodic sound of childlike giggling greeted his ears. Smiling, he turned to his accomplice, who rounded the alley's corner and stopped beside him, catching her breath. Her face was lit up in the joy of the moment.
"Talinth udos inbal noamuth nina?" ((Think we have lost them?)) she asked through gasps of air. Her hands rested on her knees as she continued to catch her breath.
He continued smiling at her, catching his own wind. "Xas, nindyn waelen ilxas naut ragar ninta rath-suulen," ((Yes, those fools could not find their asses,)) he responded, causing them both to laugh harder. "Harven nina olplynen whol op'elgin dossta ssin'urn ofil'nisha, ussta ssinssrigg," ((Serves them thieves for stealing your beautiful clothes, my love,)) he added, handing her the small bundle of clothing he was carrying. Anyone who would break into an orphaned girl's house to steal her items deserved far worse than being covered by a bucket's worth of troll dung.
Nanarie's crystal white eyes lit up at the parcel, as she took it from his outstretched hands. Then, she let our a squeal of pleasure and pounced on him, embracing him in her arms. ---
*The Apokolipz staggered again, slightly. His eyes refocused and looked back to the gown laying on the bed. Slowly, he made his way towards it, his gaze never leaving. As he approached, his minion entered the room behind him.*
"Guard," came the command, and the skeletal slave stoped in its tracks, searching about for enemies to slay. The necromancer turned his attention back to the recently disturbed bed.
Now that he was closer, he could tell that someone had certainly slept in it recently, maybe a week ago at most. The impressions left and lack of dust validated this. The gown itself seemed different to him. Upon closer inspection, he could tell that the sleeves were ripped along the seams. "...odd..." he commented absently, and then he remembered the last time he saw Nanarie. Her physique seemed a lot more muscular than the phantom memories had led him to believe. HIs lips curved into a grin as he pictured the shadow knight trying to wear this gown, her muscled arms ripping the sleeves open.
'...thisss iss not where you musst be, Apokolipz..'
'...leave here...'
His grin disappeared, as he attepted to block out the whispered voices. What were they trying to hide from him? The Teir'Dal scowled to towards the direction he heard the last one come from, his eyes becoming cold and calous once again. "Shut up, spirits," he commanded them, and thier hissing whisperes became incoherant again.
Turning back to the gown, he gently lifted it from the bed in his runed gloved hands. As he did, his face became wistful... that smell... the one that had existed since he opened the door... she had been here...
Lost in thought, he lifted the gown to his face, burying himself in it, and took a deep breath...
--- He lay on his back in the darkened room, in her embrace. Her bright eyes glowing like stars mere inches from his face. His mind was overwhelmed by the moment; her scent, the touch of her skin against him, the heat of her body.
"Xas, ussta ssinssrigg, vel'drav udos phuul vellupala," she whispered to him in her sweet, soft voice...---
The Apokolipz collapsed, the image an echoing memory in his overly strained mind...
..."Yes, my love..." her words haunted him as he slipped unconscious. "...when we are wed..."
============={poApok Pt.3}==========================
The smell of decaying flesh mixed with dust and smoke filled the dimly lit room. The dark stone walls were barely visible in the candlelight of the study. Stone writing tables and bookshelves were laden with ancient tomes of necromantic magics.
"Lor a ussa vel'drav F'sarn haska ulu dos!" (("Look at me when I'm talking to you!")) shouted the master necromancer, obviously upset that his pupil's attention kept drifting to the tomes of knowledge. The elder seemed to sigh, "Nindol ul'hyrr d'ssinssrigg wun dosst karliik orn p'obon dosst streea." (("This idea of love in your head will mark your death."))
The young man had heard this lecture before. Love and kindness were tools for those too ignorant to know what they want or too cowardly to do what is necessary to obtain it. It was written in the books, the Will of Innoruuk, but he had always viewed them as words, not ideals. Now, he knew what love was...
"Yaith ptau'al!" (("Pay attention!")) came another shout from the elder necromancer, snapping his pupil from his daydream. "Nindol draeval dos spend xuil nindel ligrr orn elgg dos!" ((This time you spend with that girl will destroy you!"))
He listened to the elder as he always did, the powerful voice becoming a blur of ranting, but he did not truly listen. How could he? Whenever the old Teir'Dal even mentioned the name of his true love, she was all he could think about. Her silver hair, her crystal white eyes, her soft, pliable skin, her musical laugh and childish giggle, even her smell. She was the reason he breathed, she was the one thing he looked forward to at any given moment she was not at his side. Obviously his masters did not truly know of what they spoke. Love was not a tool, not an object used to manipulate another object. Love was the true fiber of his life, the mere thought of it tugged at every nerve in his body. Love was Nanarie...
Darkness...
'...rise, Apokolipz...'
'...you musst leave...'
The Apokolipz opened his eyes. A dark red glass bottle lay on its side on the floor, partially under the bed. A soft hiss of air was drawn into his lungs, and he coughed slightly from the intake of dust. Reaching out slowly, he grasped the empty wine bottle. "...pet..." came his whispered call, and a commotion was heard as the skeletal minion that still stood in the room's doorway moved to its master's side and helped him off of the floor. Regaining his feet, his other hand went to his head, holding the silken gown that was Nanarie's, as his undead slave retrieved his staff from the floor. The necromancer blinked a few times, ignoring the whipers of the spirits. Yes. He was still in her room. He looked at the gown and then the empty bottle. Raising the bottle to his nose, he could smell the wine it once held, and then he tipped it upsidedown to pour out the last few drops... Fresh. The wine bottle had been opened recently. He placed the bottle on the bureau, and looked down at the opened drawer. It was empty, aside from a light film of dust, not the thick layer that covered almost everything else in the house. Looking closer, her could see that something had been in the drawer, due to the rectangular patch that was clean. His eyebrows pinched in thought at his new findings. "...yes, she has been here..." he whispered aloud. He turned to see his minion looking at something on the bed. He followed its eyeless gaze to see some sort of parchment sticking out from under one of the plump pillows. He sat on the soft bed, laying the gown beside him, and retrieved the parchment. The parchment still had a wetness to it, and it was crumpled, as if held in a person's hand too long... her hand. He could smell her sweat on it as he slowly opened it up so it could be read. Pausing, he looked around the room again, and his eyes then searched the bed he sat on. She must have slept here, not more than two days ago. His hand gently swept over the sheet, feeling for warmth, and then the pillow. There, he found a cold spot. His hand went over it again, and then lifted it from the bed to his face. Her scent was strong on it, intoxicating, and he touched it to his face.
Her words came back to him.
The necromancer opened his ice-blue eyes, which were once again cold and dead, replacing the pillow and retrieving the parchment. He folded the paper neatly in half and rose from the bed. His pet handed him his staff as he passed it, on his way to the door. His eyes were cold, his posture stiff. He went to the stairs and descended them with ease to the first floor. Moving towards the front door, he paused, his eyes locked onto another empty bottle, which was evidently discarded, tossed to the corner where it now lay. A moment's thought, and his eyes searched the room. Too many footsteps, his trail, his pet's, hers, he couldn't make out a specific path in them now. The rat's corpse still lay where his undead minion had left it near the fireplace...
Several moments passed until the Apokolipz blinked again, lost in thought once more. His gaze was lost and distant, even 'soft'. "...soon, my love.." he whispered distantly. Turning, he made his way towards the door again, stopping in the doorway among the remnants that still hung there. He placed the neatly folded parchment and the tattered silk gown into his magical pouch. "...soon..."
Posted by goth2/squeezy
at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: Monday, August 7, 2006 7:47 PM EDT
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Updated: Monday, August 7, 2006 7:47 PM EDT
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