Idon Metel's Story

Adriana stared absent mindedly at the door of her grandparents shop, playing with a lock of her golden hair. Tables covered in dainty white table cloths were pushed against two of the wall parallel to each other while at the back was a counter and a shelf that was stuffed with fabric. Beneath the counter were several pouches to keep money that they earned from the jewels located in a glass case that, like her, was behind the counter. Off to the side was a small room that held a few cleaning supplies and the cramped stairs that looked as if they had been added as an afterthought.

Overall the place was pretty shabby and boring. Adriana hated the job of shop keeper mainly because of the lack of fun but also because she couldn't bare to see things in the shop be traded away. It wasn't that she was emotionally attached to any of the objects, but that,as an elf, she loved to keep everything for her own. Still she was good at the job, being very persuasive.

The door suddenly opened revealing a young woman with long blue hair. The girl was extremely attractive and Adriana recognized her immediately as a recurring customer and her best friend. "Ella!" Adriana cried in her slightly Elvish accent. Her friend blinked waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dim light in the shop before speaking. Many customers had to do this when they stepped into the room since the sun was much brighter than the light source in the shop.

"Aww your behind the counter today? I thought we'd be able to get together. Ah, well I suppose I can stay with you and look after this place." She complained in a playful voice her small, yet full, lips curling down. Then her delicate face broke into a grin and she shoved a handful of coins onto the counter. "The usual?" Adriana was already reaching for the silk in the shelf above. "Yes, in blue." Was the ringing answer. With a flourish Adriana brought the fabric down into the waiting hands of Ella. Being a siren, Ella was a frequent customer for cloths and the only one who was allowed to pay in coins. Everyone else had to trade things which was a strange policy indeed.

After collecting the money Adriana drew a seat for Ella to sit. "Guess your stuck with me," she joked. Then her eyes flew to the motion of Ella's hand fluttering a over her chest and below her collar bone. The thin fingers were messing with a broken crystal attached to a silver chain. The smile vanished from Adriana's face. If it was broken that signified her friend had killed another. "Who was it?" She asked in a horrified whisper.

Ella clearly cringed when she heard the tone of Adriana's voice. She had hoped her friend wouldn't notice the broken necklace that was slowly growing back and reforming into a whole crystal. Her voice was small and meek when she spoke. "He was insignificant. A lower being. His family won't miss him." "Family!" Adriana's voice cracked on the second syllable. At the rising of her voice Ella's hands clenched tight around the silk she had just purchased. "He had FAMILY and you drowned him?" Tears pricked in the corner of Ella's eyes. Usually she welcomed water. This form, however, was shut out.

Forcing the tears back she straightened her back. "It was only an accident." She braced waiting for the disapproving voice to hit her. It didn't come as the conversation was interrupted by the opening of a door. A young boy had rushed in, paused for a bit, and darted under a mahogany table. Speechless both girls stared at the table cloth that was still fluttering from the boys entrance.

<( * . * )> ------------------------------------------------> (0. 0) Meanwhile............

Idon watched silently from the sidelines as the young man was brought to the king. His pleads echoed through the room interrupting the thoughts Idon currently stored in his mind. The king of course dismissed the man with a wave of his hand and the guards dragged the new prisoner into the dungeon. Idon hoped Cain would let him torched the later. The screaming had been entertaining but not enough. He needed more. So much screaming that it would haunt him well into the night. And the visuals. The visuals would need to be gruesome and bloody. Yes lots of blood would be needed. A shudder of pleasure went through him. To get the stain of red on the floor he would need lots of rule breakers to kill. Plastering an innocent smile of a child on his face he set out into town.

Ellanor Frill
Ella wondered what the boy was doing. He crawled out from under the wide table on all fours with a triumphant smile on his face, directed at the door. Then he turned towards the two girls with an even bigger smile, before actually seeing them. His eyes quickly cast over Adriana who still didn’t seem to be able to relieve herself of shock. Then his gaze turned to Ella. The prism on the necklace glowed ever so faintly and Ella noticed it had now grown back to its original size. Great! Now she could restrain herself from seducing anyone else. Even as she thought this the boy stuttered out and introduction and then requested her as a play mate, while flushing.
Ella smiled sweetly at him and then, she couldn’t help it, tilted her head slightly, a move which entranced most that viewed her. “I’m Ella.” She almost sang it out. This was natural for a siren when she encountered one of the opposite gender. “I’d love to play with you,” She continued. A clearing of the throat stopped her from going any further. A hand grabbed her arm. “WE’D love to play with you,” Adriana said coldly. Ella frowned at her friend. She knew that she shouldn’t be messing with this boy. It could end horribly wrong, with a child’s corpse at the bottom of the ocean. But then again, Adriana knew that Ella wouldn’t kill him on the first day. It took three to four days in a row. Still, she supposed it was good to take precautions.
“Yes,” she said “We’d be happy to play with you, as long as,” she paused to glance at Adriana “As long as it doesn’t involve water.” Ella hoped that would make up for killing the other man. If she could sho restraint with this boy then perhaps her friend would relax.
Idon Metel
Idon watched the strange new comer. He looked like a bruised homeless man and, were it his past life, Idon would have reached out and helped him in any way he could. But there was something strange about him. Did his skin really move in that strange way? The man was talking to a red head in the market. She had a kindly face. It was a possibility that one of them could slip up and he’d be able to lead them away to the dungeons. He was currently disappointed since fellow soldiers had informed him that just moments before he arrived there had been a strange occurrence. The zap kid had played one of his stupid pranks. He had managed to trick an elderly familiar into admitting that she hated the king. He had charged her for treason, although that was a bit high.
The red head and the bruised man had started walking towards a bear in the distance. That probably meant at least one of them was a familiar. Pushing himself off the wall he was about to follow when a small women hovered in air, right in his face. Great, a Fay had to bother him now. He put on his childish mask before the fairy asked how the king was doing. Obviously he knew she was a Soldier. She also knew his name was Idon. The innocent smile dropped off his face. He didn’t need it if she knew what he was. Instead of answering her question, however, he wondered aloud. “Would you be a good meal for my birds? Perhaps a chickadee would like you. Or a raven.” He ran his fingers through his black hair as if he was seriously thinking about calling a bird to eat her.

Sandra's smile left her lips quickly. She grew a tad suspicious when that innocent smile dropped off his face. She quietly listened to him as he spoke. Her eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance now as she looked at Idon. A smirk formed on her lips. She slowly licked her lips.

"Would I make a good meal for your birds? I wonder, how fast would a chickadee or raven die from poison? Would they make a good meal for me? I would be quiet a deadly meal for any of your birds. I would also be very tricky to catch. I know tons of hiding places too," she stated.

She pursed lips. "Hmm, it would be a shame if a bird precious to you ended up dead, wouldn't it now?" she questioned; not expecting an answer. She slowly began to fly backwards. She was pretty much done speaking with this Soldier. Sandra could never really stand Soldiers.

"Now, good day sir. I would hate for this conversation to become even more unpleasant Idon. Also, I wouldn't want anything to happen to any bird you may send after me. I do like animals quite a bit, hurting one would be a shame," she said. Then she quickly dart off deeper into the market.

Idon Metel
Idon smirked when he saw the Fay get mad, just like he’d expect. “It’d be a shame if one of your birds ended up dead, wouldn’t it now?” She said, fluttering around a bit now instead of hovering in his face. She said her goodbye and darted into the market, quickly disappearing into the vast sea of bodies. Idon’s smile went up again, this time with a hint of triumph at having made the Fay go away.
A strange pang suddenly hit him as he remembered a small fluttering thing talking to him as a child. He blinked and it was gone. The consequences of being altered to a Soldier were vast, so anything could happen. In his case he had lost his memories. For a second he was dazed before he shook it off.
By now he couldn’t see the newcomer or the redhead. The smile was still painted perfectly on his face but it had lost the victory from before. He pushed his way through the mass of bodies looking for them.
Perhaps, he thought, it’s time to return to the castle.
Ellanor Frill
“The King?” Adriana said in a slightly shrill voice. Ella rolled her eyes. Her friend was always one to exaggerate things. But going to the palace to play did seem extreme. After all, the king was royalty. Ella didn’t think they would be allowed inside the castle. She glanced up at the poster with the king’s portrait on it above the door. In her own home she had created a fabric with the king’s face on it. It had taken a while but it was better than a poster that would easily tear. She could already see the worn marks on Adriana’s poster. She glanced over at the girl to find her nervously playing with the lights in the shop. On and off they flickered. Of course they didn’t turn off all the way, Adriana was afraid of the dark. Even if they had, however, there would be light from the windows.
Finally Ella decided to speak. They weren’t going to get anywhere if they just stood in silence. She smiled again at the boy, called Zapper, and spoke, “I’m not sure if we’ll actually be allowed entry but I suppose we could walk to the palace and see what happens.” She tossed a lock of blue hair from her face as Adriana agreed and then bustled around to close up the shop. “I’m ready,” she announced. They both looked at Zapper for his reaction.

Idon Metel
Idon had been watching the pair of Soldiers from afar. He was always doing that; just watching. He knew the girl’s name, Alys, but he was unfamiliar with the man who stood beside her. They were shooting birds from the tree that they perched in. As a bird familiar Idon should have been concerned but no emotion was stirred inside him. He could see none of the few bird’s he was fond of in the branches so he didn’t see why he should deprive the two of their fun and call attention to himself while doing it.

Still even though he did not care for the death of the birds, the sport did not appease to Idon. He did not understand the entertainment of killing a simple minded creature. Sure they squawked and made some noise but it wasn’t as pleasant as watching a human twist in pain. Sometimes Idon wished he was a wizard. He had seen the magic electricity run through an elf’s body once. The elf had shook and jerked around like a puppet before lying on the ground and twitching. All the while it, as Idon called the elf, had been screaming. Then the pleading and begging had come. What would it be like to have that extreme power? His hands shivered in pleasure at the thought.

By now the king, himself, had come out. Idon was out of hearing range but saw the royal man disappear and the two others leaving the court yard. He considered following them but decided on just going inside. He wandered around not sure what to do. Perhaps he should have appeared when the king had assigned Alys and the other man jobs. At one point Idon stopped to peer out a window. A faint reflection stared back at him. His eyes stood out against his pale face and his black hair did not help the combination. Wryly he thought of an old story about a girl named Raven who looked as Idon did. Many called Raven “Snow White” because of her skin.

In the story the girl was portrayed as a sweet princess who never did anyone harm. But Idon thought of Raven as a sorceress or maybe a siren. Everyone loved Raven at the first sight of her. All but the supposedly jealous queen. Raven had most likely used her innocent looks to capture that hearts of others and make her way to the throne, Idon concluded. Satisfied with the new details of the story, Idon turned away. The halls were silent. While much preferring the dungeon’s moans and creaks, the quiet was strange but not unbearable.

He found himself at the Kings’ Grave. The two soldiers we at the base of a massive tree looking as if they were planning to climb it. Idon slipped passed them not caring if they saw him or not. He scanned the tree tops for a glimpse of a bird. The grove was a favorite spot for doves and with nothing else to do Idon figured he could at least talk to a bird. He saw nothing but leaves.

She snorted softly at him when he said he would frighten the women and she knew that he would intend to do as he said. He casually gave her a maybe to the supper invitation and she shrugged not all that offended. Maybe she would find someone else to bring home and when they broke the rules she would get them for it. Now that she thought about it, that seemed like the better idea and she almost half hoped that Blake wouldn't attend.

Alys also noticed the new comer and she inclined her head to him "Idon." She spoke his name, "I don't suppose you've met Blake." She gestured to blake who had taken a run at the tree and was now up in a branch, Blake was testing her by offering his hand and she rolled her eyes at him and shoved his hand away. "I can do it myself." She muttered.

She took a few steps back and looked over at Idon "I don't suppose you want to help us, we're completing a task for the king. You can help hand out this months Masquerade invitations." She looked back at the tree and ran towards it and jumped at the last possible second. Her feet hit the trunk hard and she grunted and she propelled herself up and caught a branch. She hoisted herself up and moved so she was crouching on the branch. Blake was already halfway up the tree and she climbed up after him and began to inspect the leaves. She wasn't exactly sure what the king needed so she tried to pick the bigger ones. She gathered a few into a leather pouch at her side and she was careful not to bend the leaves as she moved around.

Idon Metel
“Idon. I don’t suppose you’ve met Blake?” Alys’ hand waved slightly at the man sitting in the branches of the tree. Idon tilted his head at him and gave what was an outline of a vague smile; barely moving his mouth or changing his expression at all. “…completing a task for the king. You can help hand out this month’s Masquerade invitations.” Ah, that’s right, Idon mused, there’s a ball coming up, isn’t there? He watched as the Alys swung herself up so that she was finally resting next to Blake. She then began picking leaves. “You’re collecting leaves for the king.” It wasn’t really a question, just a simple statement. “I could help with the invites.” He continued. He glanced up at the man in the tree. Perhaps I should smile, Idon thought absently. He usually did upon meeting newcomers but right now he was surprisingly tired.
Adriana Aura
When the boy didn’t reply immediately, Adriana came to her senses. Was she just to waltz out of the store with this random kid and possibly get him killed? It would technically be her fault, knowing of the curse over Ella and yet letting her do whatever she pleased. “On second thought,” She began, clearing her throat and trying to keep a steady and straight forward voice “We change our minds.” “Wha-“ Ella was startled so Adriana took advantaged and grabbed her friend, running out of the shop. Even with the loud protests behind her, she kept running. She had to get far away from the Zapper kid. It was best if Ella was kept away from them.
Besides, going to the palace was dangerous. She knew of Cain’s evil but what was she to do about him? She wouldn’t tell Ella though. Ella already had enough problems on her mind.
(Sorry for the short post and long intervals between posts! I have exam’s coming up. )

Alys got her collection of leaves and she hopped down and looked back up a Blake. Idon offered to help hand out the invites and she gave him a light punch to the shoulder "that's the spirit." she said. "we are greatful for your assistance." she told him in an after thought. Officer training had taught her always to be kind and appreciative to her fellow soldiers as they were all working towards a just cause and there was no need for fighting amongst them when there was a far better enemy to be fought. She glanced back up the tree and cupped her hand up and shouted up to Blake "don't pluck the whole bloody tree! We only need a few! Come on down then." she gestured to the ground and looked ver at Idon "we can start on the south side of Home and work our way through. Sound good?" she asked him.

Gideon

Gideon was out and about helping himself to a nice breakfast he had made at home. It consisted of a small slice of bread and some meat he had roasted over the fire. He was munching in his small meal quite happily heading towards work. He was a merchant in a general store just outside of the large market. They sold all kinds of things there like fabrics, everyday food and more. He enjoyed his job, he got to meet all kinds of interesting people. He smiled at a few people on the street and then when he came across a small pond of to the side in the corner and he pulled out a small flower from his pocket that had seen better days and he went up to the water and dropped the flower in. He waited for the mermaid he had been flirting with these past few days to appear but instead he received a large splash of water to the face instead. Clearly his mermaid was still not happy with him for flirting with another.

He shrugged and wiped away the water from his face and checked to make sure his bag was still dry. It held his sketch book and he was relieved to see it was still dry. He glanced up just in time to see two girls plow right into him. He let out a soft grunt as he was knocked back into a pile it took him a moment to come to his senses and when he lifted his head to check to see who had run into him he saw two lovely women and smiled "well hello." he said not sounding angry at all.

Ella Frill

Ella saw the object coming up, although it was unknown to what it was; that is, until they plowed right into it and it grunted. A small gasp escaped her lips as she tried to catch herself. Adriana had no such luck, however, and fell straight down, into a small mud puddle. She was up on her feet though, almost as quickly as she had fallen. Ella looked at the man that had been in our way. She tilted her head in a way that made her hair fall back charmingly to reveal her slender face. But she wasn't trying to attract the man, she was merely confused. She had a strange feeling of recognition when the man, who had regained his wits, said a greeting. He didn't sound angry or confused, in fact it was almost as if he was flirting, but what kind of person didn't get mad about being run over? Instead of returning the greeting Ella looked at him for a moment longer before blurting, " Do I know you?" A flush rose over her face but she forced it down. The feeling of being familiar with this man bugged her.

Idon Metel

The man, no, Blake introduced himself and then asked if they were ready. He was smiling but it wasn't a true friendly smile. Idon looked at him studiously before returning the grin. He was almost always amused when a fellow soldier saw his transformation from a tall skinny man to a young boy, and just with a small upward motion in his mouth. But perhaps Blake was different. Maybe he would take it as a challenge or maybe nothing at all. "Yes," Idon began with the same cold and indifferent tone as always, "Let us start the rounds."

Gideon

Gideon watched her tilt her head this way and that and he thought it incredibly endearing. He offered her a smile and got to his feet and brushed the dust of his arms and then reached over to do the same for Ella but was stopped when she suddenly blurted asking if he knew her. Gideon blinked a few time and he looked over her and thought for a moment and then it came to him suddenly. He broke into an easy grin and said "I remember you now." He bent to brush the dust off his pants taking his time before he told her where he knew her from. Once he was standing straight again he pointed to a little pub down the road "I tried most unsuccessfully to pick you up from that bar." He told her "I was drunk at the time so its understandable why a lovely girl like yourself turned me down but I can promise you I'm not drunk now." He smiled at her and turned to the other woman "Are you alright, sorry I didn't see the both of you there other wise I would have moved out of the way." He told them honestly.

Alys

She watched Idon carefully, he was always one to keep to himself but she knew him to be a good soldier and worthy of the term. She walked with the men to the south side of Home and then began to hand out invitations. She put on her best smile for the unaware citizens but kept her eyes out for any trouble. She was hoping for something to distracted the from the mediocre job but nothing occurred. The citizens were all happy about the ball and she caught some girls eyeing Blake and Idon from afar and giggling. She couldn't help but grin. She walked them through part of he city and they soon drew nearer to the market.

Alys

Alys watched Blake move away and she shrugged, she wasnt his mother, though she was a bit saddened as Blake was far more interesting to talk to than Idon but she would make do. She glanced over at Idon and then handed out another invitation and said softly to Idon "Want to play a game?" She liked games, always did, challenges to make herself better and to prove herself worthy over others. She wasn't a sore looser however and even enjoyed the games when she lost. "Tell you what, who ever can hand their entire bag out first gets a drink from the looser." She looked over at him and asked "Deal?"

Reagan

Reagan was busy sewing away at a new pelt when a customer walked in. She took a moment to notice how handsome he was and she wondered how he kept his hair so perfect. She forced the silly thought away and offered him a bright smile and stood up to greet him. He handed her the invitation to this months ball and a fish. Reagan was humbled by the gift and she felt her cheeks redden slightly, hardly anyone brought anything for Benny as they thought him big, mean and scary. She took the invitation and watched At Benjamin got up like it was the most difficult thing in the world and he lumbered over to the newcomer his snout moving as he sniffed the lovely fish. He looked up at the man grunted softly as if to say thank you and then nipped the fish out of his hands delicately. He bent his head so that he might eat it better.

"We both say thanks." Reagan interpreted for Benjamin and she listened to his request for Rabbit meat and pelts and she nodded as he ran his hand through his hair and she once again marvelled at its perfection. "Sheesh." she laughed a little and then said "I've got some fresh rabbit caught this morning." She turned and went into a large chest and brought out a twine of rabbits tied together. "I havent quite skinned them yet but I could if you like me to." she offered. "It's nice to meet you Blake." she set the rabbits down and wiped her hands on her pants before offering her own hand, "I'm Reagan and that big guy there is Benjamin." she gestured to Ben who was still munching happily.