|
|
Post by Christopher Saunders on Aug 19, 2010 23:34:41 GMT -8
“M’lord,” The woman nearly broke down sobbing on the spot, latching onto his arm and pulling herself closer, almost as though to beseech forgiveness even before she spoke. Tiny droplets of liquid silver shown in the corners of her eyes to perfectly match the rest of her ‘white’ complexion.
“Perenelle.” Christopher’s face clouded, unreadable. “Whatever is the matter?” Her shoulders heaved; eyes fast turning blood shot, angry red against the whites of her eyes. She coughed and sputtered, unable to get the words out. Christopher ran his tongue over his lips, pinching her quivering lower lip between his thumb and forefinger gently. “What’s the matter?” He repeated, his voice cast in seriousness.
“I- She- Serena-” Perenelle broke down crying.
“What is wrong with Serena?” Christopher’s eyes turned hard. Between her cries, he managed to distinguish a few hastily spoken words. “She left us.”
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on Aug 19, 2010 23:38:12 GMT -8
"Uh, yeah," he managed, coming to with Anshel's firm demand. He took her by the hand, hauling her up off the bed and into the bathroom, quietly depositing her in front of Anshel. He still looked away, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the counter with a sigh.
He prayed Anshel made this quick, cause he sure as hell knew it wasn't going to be painless, not with how the demon spoke of it beforehand.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on Aug 19, 2010 23:44:47 GMT -8
Melora allowed herself to be led into the bathroom. She looked up at Anshel, serious expression, waiting for him to give her instructions. It was awkward to be in such a serious moment with the two of them. Admittedly she had been very fond of the times that they had all almost seemed like friends, laughing and joking with eachother, but she was realistic in the fact that it wouldn't be likely to happen that way again. "I am ready when you are, Anshel. Let's get this over with, and hope that this moment passes more quickly than expected." She gave him a nod, one that passed her respect to him, full well knowing that just as she had placed her life in Azura's hands, she was doing the same with Anshel now.
|
|
|
|
Post by Doctor on Aug 19, 2010 23:50:45 GMT -8
He surveyed Melora and shook his head. Anshel would always be amazed by her ability to look composed and determined come Hell or high water. She was very mature despite her stupidity, he thought.
"Go sit in the tub," he instructed, terse, heavy-hearted, before addressing Azura.
"I think it would be best if you waited outside," Anshel stated simply.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on Aug 19, 2010 23:54:42 GMT -8
Azura's head snapped up, intense golden eyes holding his for a matter of seconds before he parted his lips to speak.
"No."
He had to stifle the growl that wanted to come out with that single syllable and instead settled for a severe stare. There was no way he was leaving Melora in here by herself. He was going to be there, and he wasn't going to budge. If the Judge was going to force him to do so, then this wasn't going to happen. Period.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on Aug 19, 2010 23:59:45 GMT -8
Melora did as Anshel instructed, watching the two of them. She barely felt the cold of the water against her skin as she slid into the tub. It was only slightly colder than her own body. Still, she shivered, not from the temperature change, but instead from the icy chill left in the air by Azura's defiance. He had been protective of her before, but this was more than he had been previously. Between telling Anshel she was a Gallu and refusing to leave her side during her exorcism, Melora wondered what had happen to change her from that annoying hunter bitch to someone Azura felt was worthy of his loyalty. She waited, watching to see if Anshel would insist, or if he would let it go and continue on.
|
|
|
|
Post by Christopher Saunders on Aug 20, 2010 0:02:46 GMT -8
Christopher caught her shoulders, giving her a shake. “What did you just say?!” He looked ill, like he was about to vomit.
By now, Perenelle had managed to somewhat compose herself. “She left.”
“Where?” Christopher practically snarled, having to remind himself not her hurt her in his haste for information. His hands, now clawed, fell away, tightening into blood fists, his knuckles paled.
“We don’t know! Things settled in for the night and she disappeared!” She pleaded, tossing her hair from her face. Despite the white hue, her appearance otherwise was maybe twenty, perhaps younger.
“When was this?” His thoughts raced. Where'd she gone? Serena had a sense of priority. Why had she run off?
|
|
|
|
Post by Doctor on Aug 20, 2010 0:11:16 GMT -8
Anshel sighed. Now was not the time to be fighting over this, he thought, beginning to feel his resentment towards Azura compound into something substantial and unignorable.
"I'm not asking for her; she will be fine. I'm asking for me," he forced patience and calm into his words. "You're compromised," Anshel looked at the vampire knowingly. "You know it. You made her, she's of your blood. From threats real and imagined, whether in your right mind or not, you will feel compelled to protect her. From me." He shook his head again, "I don't want to take that risk."
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on Aug 20, 2010 0:16:14 GMT -8
This time Azura did growl, flashing his fangs at the Judge. Compromised? And just what the fuck was wrong with protecting his prop- Oh shit. Yeah, maybe he was a little mentally cuckoo where Melora was concerned.
Ignoring Anshel, he went straight to Mel. "Will you be alright on your own?" His eyes bore into hers, wanting a definite answer from her. If she wanted him to go, he would go. If she wanted him to stay, he'd plant his ass right there and not budge, regardless of Anshel's smooth sugar-coated words.
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on Aug 20, 2010 0:23:19 GMT -8
"Azura, I want you to stay." She glanced up at Anshel. "But if Anshel feels it would be best for you to go, he may be right. I'm scared," She would admit that much, even if it was an understatement, "But I feel I can still trust Anshel with my life." Melora raised a hand, shaking the water off of it, and put it on his shoulder. "I look forward to seeing you when I don't smell like Hell itself. I'm sure you would appreciate that." She was trying to comfort him, and herself, by offering him something to be less concerned about, and possibly look forward to.
|
|
|
|
Post by Doctor on Aug 20, 2010 0:32:45 GMT -8
Anshel grit his teeth. She could still trust him with her life? He was the one in danger from her potential psychotic breakdown and the overreactions of her master.. She was the one who betrayed their clan, harbored ill will, and calculated subversion. She's the one who turned herself behind his back. He'd keep her safe, though. He'd leave this castle and her with it, safe, and never look back.
"Yes, well," he began, standing next to the door ready to usher Azura out. "It'll be a few minutes." Leading the way out with his hand, he was ready for Azura to be gone. They didn't have much time and he wanted a solid door and lock between them.
|
|
|
|
Post by AzuraGallu on Aug 20, 2010 0:41:41 GMT -8
Melora's words didn't make him feel any better. In fact, they made him feel worse, but he stood anyway, taking one last assessing look at her before giving a slight nod. "Alright." His feet remained planted in place for a moment before he finally forced himself to move.
Anshel standing at the door, however, made him want to bite him, and not in the 'lets have a go' sort of way. It was more of a 'if you fuck this up I'll eat you for breakfast,' sort of way.
Still, his glare smoothed once he came within striking distance of the judge and he walked out without causing a scene, doing what he was told. He shuffled over to the bed, dropping on it with a limp thud as he blew out a puff of air from between his lips.
"Sttuuuuuupppiiiiddd!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Doctor on Aug 20, 2010 1:11:28 GMT -8
Anshel shut the door behind Azura, immediately twisting the lock in place, and stalked towards the tub, swiping the dagger from the sink as he went.
"Azura will be your best protection from others and from yourself," he said as he knelt on the terry cloth stretched alongside the bath's edge. He wasn't sure how well Azura would take to him mentoring his prodigy, so best to do it now that they were alone. Melora hadn't lost her faculties yet. She had time. And as much as he hated her, there wasn't a way to rid himself of this twisted attachment completely. He hoped she would make the most of what she had left.
"Eat often. You'll go into fewer blood rages if you stay full. Carry around some sustenance with you if you can. Start physical training immediately. Learn your boundaries." He listed off everything he could think of that would help.
With the dagger in one hand, Anshel slit open his palm and dragged it across the lip of the tub, letting a smear of blood catch on the surface before the wound sealed shut.
"And keep a journal," he continued. "If you start blacking out, or if things become odd - memories go missing, disturbing dreams, changes in your perception, anything at all - write it down. As soon as you can. Be aware of what's going on in your head and tell Azura so he can be prepared to guide you."
He studied her, the ends of her hair damp and clinging to the pale mold of her shoulders. As it always was, her fear was hidden behind a mask of determined stoicism. Did she really trust him? Anshel frowned. Either way, it didn't really matter anymore, did it?
He reached over to cup her chin lightly between his forefinger and thumb. "You'll be fine," he whispered, projecting assurance as their eyes locked, blue and green meeting for the first time on a level they never had before. "You'll be fine." There wasn't anything else he could offer.
Swiping his finger against the lip of the bath, Anshel gathered the blood he had spilled. Reaching across one more time, he let the tip of it rest against Melora's sternum, feeling the bone of her tiny frame. "This is going to feel very heavy on your chest," he explained as he drew a dark red symbol across her heart, letting the power sink in through her skin. "It's okay to struggle, but you won't be able to pull yourself up no matter how hard you try."
Anshel gripped her shoulders firmly, ready to place her under. "Ready?"
|
|
|
|
Post by MeloraBelikov on Aug 20, 2010 12:42:16 GMT -8
Melora nodded at what Anshel told her, noting every word. Azura would be her mentor now, he was right. A twinge of guilt raced through her mind. It wasn't likely that Azura wanted to be tied to Melora in this way, and he had much more important things to take care of aside from her and her homicidal daddy drama.
When the man took her by the chin, her guilt doubled. Anshel hadn't wanted to be bound to her either, and here he was, forced to be because he had saved her life. "I'll be fine," She repeated, looking in his eyes. "I am ready." She held her breath, waiting for Anshel to dunk her into the cold water. The blood he had placed on her skin did indeed feel heavy on her chest. In the interest of testing the limits, she attempted to move and found herself unable to, save for the tiniest bit. It was then that she panicked, in her own Melora way. Fear spread across her face as her former companion took her by the shoulders. It was coming close, the time of the pain. She'd already endured so much, she wondered if her body would fall apart just to spite her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Doctor on Aug 20, 2010 14:35:03 GMT -8
Now. Anshel pushed Melora down until her shoulders settled against the bottom of the porcelain, his grip keeping her in place, the incantation on her chest anchoring her chest below the surface. He began to mutter in tongues, staring into her eyes from above the ripples of water, seeing them alive with panic. Vetis would escape and he'd feel the heat in his palms. Seconds wound down as Melora's contract realized.
|
|
