Essence stepped outside Mageriaâs room, closing the door gently behind her. Her eyes were locked onto the floor, lost in thought temporarily although she did notice Luke standing opposite against the wall. Ess wasnât sure what style she would be looking for, for her disguise. Male..female....flashy...subtle...some skin...a lot of skin. A slight smile curled her lips as she muttered, âI donât suppose youâre going to want me to model my ideas for you? Course...I would like to take a hot bath first.â Ess paused licking her lips teasingly as she passed Luckas, her arm brushing his ever so slightly. â...And well, I feel you would have to wait outside this time for that.â Ess was a tease, and she wasnât sure if all of it was instinct and subtle humor, or the fact that maybe she did find Luckas attractive and she was trying to hide the awkward feeling inside her stomach. Course, she had a talent for that, which was how she was always able to pretend to be another person to satisfy someoneâs fantasy. She was a great actress.
âIn the mean time Luckas, should we go over a strategy? Back up plans?.....â Ess winked.. âI also have...insurance for this kind of task...â
"Lady, you shouldn't tease a man like that, especially not one who can use mind control on you." Luke snickered. "I might give that impression sometimes, but I'm no kid." He warned. "If I wasn't such a gentleman you'd be in so much trouble right now."
His tone made clear he was joking, but maybe he wasn't entirely. Luckas sometimes found himself saying things to Ess he wasn't even sure were serious or all in good fun. He still hadn't completely shaken off the odd feeling he got from her presence, and he wasn't sure if the fact that she was so determined to figure him out was comforting or annoying. He wasn't sure if he wanted her around or if he wanted her gone... If liked her better as a friend or as prey. She was tempting, that was a fact, but he'd never had a friend before.
Finally, he got to the subject at hand. "I'd love to know what you mean by insurance and we should talk some things through, yes, but first I need you to listen, and this is important: I can get too carried away with this. I mean, I might actually break the guy's mind beyond recognition before we even have the information Captain wants. So, while I'll be trying my very best to keep it to a minimum, at least until we get something out of him, I might not be able to. Now, this is the important part: If my eyes are bright red, no matter what happens, do not touch me. Not even if the guy breaks out of my hold and runs a blade clean through my chest: unless you see black, stay the hell away. Are we clear?" He asked, looking the woman right in the eyes. He really didn't want to hurt her. At least not until he chose to do it.
Essence couldnât hold back her laughter, her head falling back almost limp as her eyes rolled up in her eyelids. âI...donât believe I would ever hit on a child, my dear Luckas...nor do I fear you would be forced to resort to mind control...âShe trailed off batting her eyes, her lips pursing as she made a soft kiss like gesture into the air in his direction. A momentary slip of her composure, she used that gesture to attempt to keep his attention away from how her eyes softened a moment, a wave of mixed emotions slamming her hard before she took back control of the subtle change. She had given something away and it made her nervous at the very idea of her emotions going past the pleasantries of normal business. Never, had Ess given herself the opportunity to consider anything else beyond how she would aquire her next bit of coin. She always felt that path would make her weak, vulnerable and she refused to let herself fall apart, losing herself like she had once before. Never did she wish to relive that moment. A painful memory flashed through her mind, quickly disappearing:
[13 years ago]âPlease donât let it be him...âEss prayed frantically to herself. Her violet orbs fell upon the names, her brows narrowing in anger as she screamed out in defiance at the stones. Falling to her knees, her fists began pounding against the earth, finding their way to the tombstone. With several cracks she had broken her hand, yet she ignored the physical pain as it was nothing compared to the realization of her loss. Ess disappeared in her blind rage, cursing the Twins, herself, and even her friend. Her wails of despair echoed into the city, carried off by the storm in a haunting mockery of her pain. She had met her breaking point that she had tried so hard to keep away from; she had fallen off her precipice disappearing into the abyss of sorrow. With a soft sigh she brushed the feelings aside as if they never prodded her mind.
Clearing her throat, her painted smile faded as she focused on Luckas. Nodding at the appropriate times she knew he was correct in warning her about his gift, that she needed to be mindful of her casual demeanor and not touch him. The way he stared into her, gave her a spine shivering tingle that fluttered throughout her entire body. It was not a bad feeling, only the nervousness came back, this time she kept it well hidden. He was strange, Luckas. She saw something inside he was battling with, but couldnât decipher it just yet. He was letting her accompany him on something most private, giving fair warning to protect herself while he had expressed conflicting concerns between his dark side and something else. The general concern for some random children who mainly meant nothing to him personally and then to shift into plans of torture and demise of foes...It reminded her, of well, herself. Sometimes feeling like she was split down the middle, and she knew Luckas had no idea how deep the split actually went inside Essence, even if he did take a peek into her soul.
Finally she spoke, âSo...no skin on skin then?â The smile creeped back into view. âI get it Luckas. Only....does this mean I canât lasso you with a rope to move you?â Ess was curious if he only meant direct contact, or if random objects acted like a conduit between him and another and would not save one from his fury.
Luckas watched Ess carefully. There was definitely something about her; something special, and he couldn't quite tell how exactly it affected him, but he couldn't deny it did. It was odd, being affected by someone, he couldn't remember the last time that happened, that if it ever actually did. Lena was someone he feared and respected, and someone he could learn a lot from, Captain was someone that simply fascinated him for what she had managed to live through, in a few moments he'd even thought he felt admiration for her, but either way he didn't have interest in them personally. They weren't people he would ever let this close, not matter how close Lena had gotten, it was never as close as this... And maybe it was way too close for both their sake. "Absolutely no skin on skin." He stated. "You could try and lasso me, tie me up, wear gloves, whatever else, but odds are I'll fight you. I wouldn't take that chance if I were you; I'll be blind, def and void of any reason, and the slightest touch is all it takes" He warned. Then he relaxed a bit and shrugged slightly, adding: "There is also the possibility that I'll pass out afterwards, but I think I can trust you not to take advantage of me, right?" He asked raising an eyebrow and giving her a fake suspecting glance, before turning it into a wicked grin. "Because I'd much rather be awake for that." He said, winking playfully as he began walking.
"There's this tower I like to hide in and no one usually goes there, so that is a good place to lure him into, it's secluded enough; I'll show you where it is. Unless you'd rather lead him out of the Castle, but that might be a little harder to pull off, I mean... You may be a talented actress, as I'm sure you are, but the guy probably won't be that stupid."
Essence walked beside Luckas, holding back a fit of giggles at his comment of tying him up. She decided to leave that one alone. A sweet, calm like smile remained on her lips, her eyes flickered in a subtle glow with her emotions as Luckas mentioned him trusting her. She remembered their first meeting..well second meeting, almost like a battle of wits discussing manâs flaws and how trust was one of those things that was fragile and could be shattered easily. Ess agreed with much he had said, and couldnât ignore the fact that he was giving her a shot in the dark. He most likely was similar to her, in that she built a wall around herself to prevent any permanent damage from seeping in, if that trust was broken.
âI think Iâd rather you be awake for that as well...so no passing out. Iâd take that as a personal insult.â She teased. Quirking an eyebrow, she scrunched up her nose , still smiling as she answered his offer of trust in her own way, âIâll mind the red eyes Luckas, but I donât leave people behind.â
Rolling her eyes, Ess muttered under her breath, âWhat is it with boys and their forts?â Then again, as she thought about it, she was like the cool girl allowed into the âBoyâs Onlyâ Club. A bit louder she asked, âLet me guess Luckas, this tower of yours is scattered with human skulls?â With a chuckle she turned to face him, âStupid people are not a challenge, so I hope heâs got more brains than a rock.â Ess began thinking of how she would lure the Warlord to this said tower, and depending on what information Luke and her found out, depended on her main strategy.
âGenerally speaking hun, I see this going into the direction of me leading the Warlord to you...maybe having a bit of fun myself...and incapacitating him..at least temporarily so you can have your fun, without worrying about a sword through the chest.â Ess would show Luckas what she meant later in association with her back up plan and âInsurance Policy.â
Ess rolled her shoulders, as if they were sore. âIn the mean time..I need to relax if I am to have enough strength to play...which means for me...to go visit the tavern for a drink. You are welcome to join.â She stated to Luckas, reaching by her hip she retrieved a single gold coin which she tossed lightly in his direction. âYou can buy me a drink.â She slowly winked.
Luckas sighed softly when she said she didn't leave people behind; that was cute, but it just gave him something to worry about. He didn't say anything more though, the last thing he needed right now was to admit that he worried; that would be a whole other concern all in itself and he wanted a clear mind. Going back to the teasing was the best way he found to keep that out of his head. "Well, whenever you want to take advantage of me I'll be wide awake, believe me."
When she asked if the tower had human skulls in it, Luke laughed out again. "What? No, silly woman." He choked on laughter. "First: I don't play with dead stuff. Second: It's just a bell tower, nothing much." He said with a shrug. "And how do you plan to incapacitate him? I need him awake and sober for this, so no drugs." He told her. "Even if they ware off quick, they might cause some side-effects with my enlightenment."
Catching the gold coin in the air, Luke quickly slipped into his pocket with an amused grin. "Tell you what, pretty lady... Assuming you now know how the get out of the castle by yourself, why don't you go ahead and I'll meet you there in a few minutes? I have a little ritual of my own I'd like get done before we have our fun." That said, he began to walk towards the 'noble area' of the castle, waving playfully over his shoulder. "Don't have too much fun without me."
Ess shrugged and added, âWhat if he is awake and sober...but canât move?â She was thinking to herself about the many different...toys and products she acquired over the years to satisfy such a purpose. Raising her left hand up a bit she spoke softly, âI promise..on pain of death...not to ruin your fun Luckas, or interfere...â Her smile faded into her serious persona, nodding as she did understand his complexities of his enlightenment, at least from what he mentioned. She was exceptionally excited to see exactly what he was capable of, since she honestly couldnât remember everything from their first encounter, but she was still left impressed.
Again, he complimented her oh so subtly, her expression questioning yet she kept her lips silent.
Rolling her eyes slightly she sighed, âOk, but donât take too long. Iâll keep a seat warm for you.â Placing a kiss on her hand she blew it towards him as she spun around back the way they had come, remembering an exit they had passed that would lead her back towards the gate. âI canât make you any promises that Iâll behave while youâre away.â
Essence made her way to the Inn fairly quickly, sitting at an empty table by the door. Nodding to the woman behind the bar, she held up two fingers, hinting that she wanted a double. The woman nodded, knowing Essâs usual choice of hard alcohol. As the glass was set down before her she quickly downed the liquid, letting the burning sensation coat he stomach before motioning for another. Sipping the second drink, she handed the woman a few coins, leaning back in her chair, heels upon the table. Half the day was just about over and so much had already happened. Tossing around some ideas in her mind, she contemplated what she would see from Luckas and what she would reveal to him in turn. In a half smile, she sipped her drink again, violet eyes fluttering about the room from patron to patron. As she lost herself deep in thought, she began to remember one of the first times she had engaged in such a pre-meditated action...
[NewHaven about 10 years ago...]Essence sauntered forward, heels clicking against the stone floor of the courtyard, as her hips swayed side to side in a hypnotizing desire. Dressed from head to toe in a dark, red-like purple satin, the cloth hugging her curves, dragging along the floor, was sleeveless. Her thick curls fell messy and loose down past her shoulders, encasing her soft pale skin from the nightâs chill. Carrying no visible weapons, her fingers fiddled with a small pouch that hung from her left hip. Two curious rings decorated her left and right middle fingers. One was simple, a plain silver band with a curious hook like claw that extended across her palm towards he wrist; the other was a white gold, topped with a metallic purple sapphire. Ess had applied only a hint of color to her lips and eyes, earthy tones that embellished her violet gaze and drew attention away from her tattoo like scar beneath her left eye. Breath taking was an understatement, yet she wasnât completely conspicuous, managing to blend with the crowd to attract only the occasional stare which could of been credited to her perfume. The scent was enticingly sweet; a mix of lavender, honey, and vanilla.
The night was alive with entertainment, music and plenty of drink. Torch light surrounded the main gathering in a particular circle, the shadows dancing across her face. Ess looked around, looking up at the castle from afar, absently wondering about what it looked like inside. Everything seemed to slow down as her eyes locked upon her target, she temporarily fell deaf as she honed onto Devon Fields, pushing out the tired music that haunted her ears. Devon was tall, blond, green eyed son of a noble whose charms got him almost anything or anyone and his peers simply turned a blind eye. âWeak and pathetic,â Ess thought to herself with an attractive smile. She would not approach him directly, but found her harmless lurking would eventually draw his attention as she mingled with the men and women of the party, calling herself Talena Lumin.
For a moment, she felt she was being watched and when she glanced around with a nieve expression, Devon and her locked eyes for a second before she turned away with a slight yawn. Turning slowly she disappeared into a circle of men and women, temporarily losing Devonâs gaze. Keeping her attention on him, she saw how he looked away only to double take her figure , his eyes flashing quickly from person to person as he tried to pick her out of the party. It worked out wonderfully when the crowd parted around her, displayed perfectly for the noble, wine glass in hand. Pretending to not notice him as she finished off her drink, she didnât have to fake her bored expression as he dropped his current conversation to approach her.
The next few moments were typical; they introduced themselves, Devon giving the facade of knowing âTalenaâsâ family because she played herself off as a cousin of a noble family and Talena, in turn, indulging the man to a dance. Her violet orbs kept to their dim contrast, her mind void of any emotion as she inspected the weasel and his obvious fake persona. Smiling sweetly as he boasted and lied about his adventures and conquests, she was light on her feet as she was twirled left then right, heels seeming to not touch the ground. Politely she kept her attention on him, all the while the wheels inside her brain twisted and turned remembering the rumors, only to see for herself what darkness he left upon the women from her side of town. Ess was getting better and better at discovering the demons hidden away inside the souls of men, and it wasnât hard at all to see the familiar sick glimmer in his green eyes as he complimented her again and again.
âYou honor me, Mâlord.â She whispered softly, her gaze luring him closer to her as the dance completed.
âMay I get you another drink, Mâlady Lumin?â Devon bowed politely giving a devilish smile.
Ess nodded knowingly as he went to retrieve them both another glass of wine. Quickly she thought about how to switch the glasses, remembering how the noble drugged each girl before he had his way with them, never much for the fight as he seemed to like to take his time with his docile playmates.
When Devon had returned, she automatically reached for the furthest glass from herself, knowing he would pull away. Ironically he was taken back a bit, the glass slipping for the stone floor with a small shatter.
âOh, I am terribly sorry MâLord. That was my fault.â She apologized, taking the glass presented to her. âLet me grab another for you.â With another sweet smile she carried her glass with her as she pretended to sip it, leaving a noticeable lip smear to show she had held onto her own drink as she retrieved another for him. With her back to him, she poured the wine into another glass, walking back pretending to finish off the entire contents in one breath. Stumbling a bit she handed Devon the drink.
âPerhaps, I have had too much tonight. Would you escort a Lady back to her home?â Ess willed her cheeks to glow with a pink tone, giving the illusion she had indeed over-indulged that night. Devon smiled, quirking a brow at how she inhaled the drink and nodded as he repeated her action in response. âWhat kind of gentleman would I be if I refused?â
Stabbing Westward-Darkest Days
Once they made their way away from the crowd, Ess stumbled a bit more, her hand touching her head as if she was dizzy. âDevon...I feel....sick...â She lied, her legs giving out from under her, yet she never hit the cold ground. Devon had caught her as she âfaded from consciousnessâ and without a word he lifted her into his arms, turning into another direction of his home.
Ess remained limp, listening to the sounds around her, feeling Devonâs body tense and his heart race in excitement. She almost thought she heard him laugh to himself, but she was never sure. Before she knew it, they had entered a room somewhere, and she was carelessly tossed onto the soft surface of a bed. Essence noted the sound of Devon unbuckling his belt, letting clothing fall to the floor, soon after he gripped her ankles, dragging her forward, her legs falling like a rag doll on either side of his hips. She let her mind drift as his rough fingers slid over her skin, tugging at the lace of her gown here and there, fumbling with the hooks of her corset. Keeping her composure and illusion that she was passed out, she simply waited.
Ess was happy that the drug had managed to kick in before Devon defiled her. Peeking with one eye, she saw his body grow limp and with a confused grunt he slid off her onto the floor. Slowly she lifted her head questioningly, opening both eyes as she wondered if he would move. Minutes went by before finally standing quickly, she dressed herself. With much effort she managed to yank the naked man onto the bed, using the sheets from the bed to tie him down. She wasnât sure how long he would be out for, but she sat in a nearby chair to watch.
An hour passed before the man stirred, Essâs eyes snapping to attention she rocked forward to stand over Devon, her curls teasingly tickling his bare chest. A wild glow in her stare emanated from her form, a devious smile curling her lips while her fingers playfully trailed along his chest and along his inner thighs. âWakey wakey..â She sang, placing a kiss on his cheek.
As he opened his blurry eyes, his confusion was great causing her to giggle quietly. He moved to speak but was cut off as she backhanded him hard across the face, the jewel of her ring imprinting along his cheekbone. Now he was awake, twitching about as he attempted to break loose. Eyes wide, he glared at Ess, âTricky Bitch you-â She cut him off again, shaking her head disapprovingly to keep silent as she slapped him harder this time across the other cheek, her ring slicing a superficial cut down across his lip.
âIâm sorry...you were saying?â She muttered mockingly before stuffing a rag into his mouth. âWhat? I canât hear you?â Crawling over Devonâs nakedness she straddled his hips still fully clothed herself, her fingers inattentively playing with the ring on her right hand. With a twist she turned the claw like point around as if it was an additional fingernail. âYou almost made it too easy, sugar..Tell me...do you like how this feels..â She teased as she grinded herself into his hips, her tiny silver claw finding its way towards his chest, she slowly pressed and dragged it across both pecks simultaneously. The blood trickled down onto the bed as he thrashed, attempting to knock Ess off of him, yet she tightened her thighs, bucking wildly as if she were riding a stallion yet to be broken.
With his muffled screams she wanted to take her time, but knew she had to get to the point before someone heard him. When she looked into his eyes, she only saw memories of her own defilement and torture. Her vision taken over by one memory in particularâŠ
BlackPond over 15 years ago...
Tye was revealed Ess's gift after his nightly visit with her. He was almost as bad as Jasper with his repeated abuse, so as much as Ess tried to hide her fear, it manifested in her Enlightenment. He was startled into thinking she was a boy as she took the shape and form of her lost, older brother. He liked the idea at first and tried his damndest to teach her to use that gift at will for his own pleasures. When she refused, he made a deep, vertical cut underneath her left eye.
She fought through the pain as she whispered, âI know you didn't mean it.â Smiling sweetly as blood poured down her cheek, she reached between his legs with one hand, the other reaching for his short sword left lazily on the floor. She leaned in slowly to kiss Tye deeply and as he bit her lip, she thrusted the blade between his ribs, twisting hard.
"You like boys so much...", she teased, "âŠI thought you wanted to know how it felt to be stuck like a pig!"
As soon as she retracted the blade, Tye's personal guards came rushing in and knocked a hilt of a sword into her head and all went black. When she had awoken, she was lying naked in a dark, cold room. Heavy breathy creeping from each corner as rough hands grabbed her and spat in her ear, "" âThis will take the fight out of you....""â Repeatedly beaten, raped, they had cut her so bad she would never know the joys of being a motherâŠ
She started with his face, leaving raw gashes that would normally heal into an ugly scar but she didnât plan on letting him live that long. They seemed fitting to match the damage he had done to the other women, almost ritualistic. Putting much emphasis on the sharp tool, letting it linger before the manâs eyes, she gradually inserted the blade into his ear canal, causing his eyes to roll up into his head. Grabbing a pillow she shoved it over his face trying to silence his screams. Only when they softened did she pull the pillow back. Sliding her body down along his, she began jabbing her toy along his stomach, similar to the way a fork cut into an under easy egg, slowly a thick substance leaked out from the many holes. By the time she reached between his legs, the man was in tears, blood raining down onto the bed. Pausing a moment, she reached for the ring on her left hand, giving a twirl of the jewel, it opened, revealing a curious black liquid. Dipping the end of her claw into the muck, she closed back up the ring, watching as the goo coated the silver tool.
âThis, wonât hurt much...â She frowned, a bit disappointed at that aspect as she impaled his male organ with the weapon, knowing the poison would soon numb him completely. Devonâs body lurched forward, only to be knocked back from the restraints, he spat the rag partially out in his despair, only to have it shoved deeper into his throat.
âItâs almost over, fortunately for you darlinâ.â Essence growled as she crawled off the man, using the loose sheets from his restraints to wipe at the blood along her arms and chest. In the time it took her to gather herself, blowing out some candles to darken the room, the last thing she saw was his naked skin turning black as his wails softened. She knew the pain was going away as the skin darkened quickly. She took one last candle and brought it over to the man, gently lifting his head to look down at himself.
âDo you see Devon? Itâs going to fall off before the toxin reaches your heart...â She stated happily, slightly lying but it still got the rise out of him she wanted. He was indeed weaker now, but he had head butted her in the forehead as she spoke. With a curse, she put out the candle on his nipple, digging the hot wax into his flesh.
In the darkness she laughed, muttering incoherent rants about the women he had tortured and raped. She remembered as many names as she could before she spat on him, leaving for the door. Ess knew he would be dead within the hour, with or without help. With a sigh she peeked out the door and slipped away into the night.---------------------------------
Crys had made it to Newhaven in a decent amount of time. She didnât rush to the city as if she could stop anything, because she couldnât, but she had increased her pace after she had finished speaking to Ari. She hadnât been as far as one of the cities in almost three full years, but she had heard enough from the other assassins to know the shape of things around them both.
As she entered the Inn a bell rand above the door, announcing another customer had walked through it. A few people were inside, she could sense them, and hear their voices, but no one she knew; and definitely none of them were Wolves. There was no one behind the bar at the moment, but that was good in a way; it gave her a quiet moment to look around, so to speak.
She might have looked a bit odd to whoever bothered to watch her movements as she paced slowly silently counting steps between tables and running her hand through the length of the counter, amused to find that, at least to her, the place looked exactly the same as it once was. She had to appreciate Seanâs attitude on that, at least. It almost brought back memories, even though the wooden surface of the counter was smooth and lacked the several knife wounds and scorch marks the previous one had, and the floor boards didnât make the familiar screech in response to her footsteps. The whole place was squeaky clean and impeccable in a way it had never been before. Almost familiar, but⊠Not quite. As if someone had taken an item of sentimental value and replaced it with another exactly like it; the same, but not quite.
As she finally settled down in a stool by the counter she heard a female voice speak quickly as Sheila wandered in from the backroom. âYouâre not welcome here.â
âI thought this was a neutral zone.â Crys replied, unfazed by the womanâs attitude; she was expecting that.
âItâs not neutral for you, but since youâre here I can take the opportunity to personally tell you to go straight to hell and rot there.â The woman replied.
âIâll be sure to head that way after we talk.â Crys replied, with a little laugh, turning as the woman walked past her to serve a customer at a table. âSheeeila⊠Iâm not leavingâŠâ She snickered. âItâs just easier if you tell me what I want to know.â
âIâm not telling you anything. Just crawl back to whatever rock youâve been hiding under...â She then proceeded to mutter something under her breath, it was barely audible, but enough for Crys to get.
âWhether I do or not leave him alone is none of your concern.â She replied, an angered expression forming on her face. âHe is a grown man, in case youâre not aware.â
âOh, Iâm aware.â Sheila snickered, again walking past her.
Crys now realized there was someone else by the counter, just a couple of steps away and stopped to hear the sound of one single gold coin dropping on the counter. She didnât hear what the customer had ordered, but she heard Sheilaâs response. âThatâs not enough, pretty boy.â
The young male replied by snickering softly. âYes, it isâŠ
Take it.â He didnât raise his voice above a whisper, but even though his tone was gentle, something about it caused a chill to run down Crysâ spine.
âHuh, it
is enough.â Sheila agreed suddenly, causing Crys to turn, now knowing that something was off.
âNo, itâs not.â She stated, dropping another coin on the table. âThis should do it, however.â She stated, turning towards the young man. âWhat did you do to her?â
âYou?â He mumbled absently, sounding a bit shocked before chuckling slightly. âPardon me MissâŠ? Iâm with a friend, and suppose I was trying to impress her. I only have this one coin, however, and so I made use of my gift. I honestly didnât think the Pack would miss one lousy coin all that much. I much appreciate your gesture. I will repay you one day.â
Crys frowned slightly, wondering if she knew this person, he seemed so startled to see her there for whatever reason. Still, he didnât lie when he said he meant to impress his friend, he was actually keeping his voice down enough not to be heard from where Crys could tell the only other female customer was. âRiversâŠâ She started simply, since she felt it was fine to give him at least that. â⊠Crystal Rivers. And you, MisterâŠ?â She trailed off leaving room for his name, same as he had done for her, and then moved on. âItâs clear that you like this woman enough to steal from people who can easily kill you for it⊠Who am I to stand in your way, right?â
â⊠Just Luckas...â He said. âAnd, who knows? I might just have a death wish or something.â
Crys chuckled. âAlright, Luckas⊠Believe what you will. It was nice meeting you.â
He retrieved the drinks from the counter and began to walk away without saying much more, however she caught a whisper as he walked away.
âIt was nice meeting you in person, Crys.â He whispered.
Crys tilted her head slightly, wondering what the hell that meant, however she simply let the strange man go and turned her attention back to the matter at hand. âSo, where were we?â She asked Sheila, with a fake smile.
She remembered when Sheila showed up in the Pack. Jake had run into her in Blackpond and helped her out of some trouble⊠He sent her to the camp with a letter to the leaders saying that he thought she would be a perfect recruiter; and so she was. However, the woman had never liked her for her own reasons, and after a few occasions in which she had demonstrated her dislike very clearly, the feeling became mutual.
âI said go to hell.â The woman repeated. Although this time she stopped across the counter from Crys. âWould you like a drink, since youâre here?â
âIâd love a drink, I just donât trust you not to poison it.â Crys replied. âI donât have all the time in the world, Sheila. I need to know when you last saw Jacob, and where I can find him.â
âOf course you do.â The woman said. âWhen itâs convenient, right?â
Crys stood up, her seemingly endless patience was beginning to wear out and she leaned forward on the wooden counter, her face closer to the woman. âEnough with the innuendos already⊠Just tell me what it is you think I did wrong this time so we can move on with our very separate lives.â She muttered.
âHonestly Crys, to sum it all up: I think you would have done us all a huge favor if you had just decided to stay dead. Especially Jake, the poor guy really deserves a break.â
That was it. It wasnât completely Sheilaâs fault, but the woman should have known that when someone crawls in the dirt for hours trying to catch the next breath, spends days just trying to keep her heart from failing, and consequently loses everything, all within a month, âyou should have stayed deadâ is just not something you say without causing something to snap. And something snapped inside of Crys so painfully that she didnât think twice to plant her foot on the stool she had been sitting on moments earlier and push herself up and across the counter, pulling one of her Sai and launching herself at the woman, aiming a stab at her face.
Sheila only had time to grab a metal tray to defend herself with, the Sai dagger collided with it forcefully; once, twice, three times before the impact knocked the woman over to the ground. With very little room to move behind the counter, Sheila planted both her feet against the metal tray to push Crys away, pulling out a short sword that was sheathed at her waist as she jumped to her feet. âI believe I hit a nerve.â The woman stated, slightly pleased with the fact that she had managed to get through Crysâ calm exterior.
Crys was knocked back a few steps, but kept her balance enough to not fall back. At this point the rage had subsided, but it didnât mean she was going to sheathe her weapon and walk away. Not without answers, and she didnât have time to waste. Gripping the metal tray with her free hand like a shield, she advanced towards the woman, letting her attack. Crys camly dodged the first blow, blocked the second blow with the metal tray and the third with the Sai, trapping the blade of the sword between the blade and one of the metal prongs of the weapon, pulling it down and out of the way. She then slammed the metal tray against the womanâs face, momentarily stunning her and causing her to loosen the grip on the sword, which was then knocked out of her hand.
It could have ended there, except Crys still wanted her questions answered and, admittedly, she wanted Sheila to suffer a little. The womanâs hand placed on the counter as she tried to catch her balance had provided the perfect opportunity, and Crys pulled her second Sai and stabbed right through it, pinning the womanâs hand to the wooden surface.
Sheila let out an ear-piercing scream at the pain caused by the blade. âYou⊠Psychotic⊠BitchâŠâ She muttered, as Crys held the tip of the other blade pressed against her skin at a very dangerous spot below her eye.
Crys sighed releasing the Sai that was jammed through the womanâs hand and pinned to the wooden counter and reached under the counter, feeling around the space where a few bottles and other ingredients were kept until she found a lemon. âIâm sorry Sheila, but really⊠I have somewhere else I need to be and youâre just not being helpful.â She stated, speaking softly and squeezing the lemon slightly in her hand.
Sheila tried to slowly reach for the Sai, to release her hand, but the hand holding the blade to her face stiffened only slightly and she reconsidered. âIâm going to get you for this one day⊠I swear I will!â She muttered.
âFine, as you wish. Until then, youâll answer my questions and tell me ANYTHING else that might be useful to me. You have ten seconds to start talking.â She told the woman, pressing the lemon against the blade of the Sai that was pinning her hand, threatening to slice it open and let the acidic juice flow onto her wounded hand. âTen⊠NineâŠâ
âYouâre bluff-âThe woman didnât finish the sentence, Crys had sliced the lemon open and the liquid had run down the blade of the dagger, causing her to scream in agony. âOn the Twins⊠Iâll kill youâŠâ She muttered.
âI donât bluff: Now talk.â Crys stated, threatening to squeezing more juice out of the fruit.
âJake was here, the day before the Festival. He told me to inform Sean that he was with the Black Knights and something else about a woman from Blackpond meeting with the Queen and mentioning the Pack. Three of our people walked in not soon after and confronted Jake, thatâs when this woman came inside to help him. They didnât seem to know each other well, but he was friendly with her; they casually mentioned the fact that she had followed him and mentioned âthe othersâ at one point of the conversation, so I assume she was one of the Blacks, or a part of the Guard. They knocked our guys down, and I didnât catch much more of their conversation since I went to the back, but there was this other man here and by the time I came back there were other people on the floor and Jake and his friend were leaving. I havenât seen him since, so⊠Well⊠A little while ago he mentioned going to Blackpond; he seemed to feel strongly about the situation there for some reason. If heâs not with the Blacks I assume thatâs where heâll be.â The woman informed. âThatâs all I know.â
Crys sighed softly, placing the split lemon on the counter and lowering the Sai that was pressed to Sheilaâs face. The tip of the weapon hadnât even left a mark on the womanâs skin; despite the steadiness of the wielding hand, the touch of the blade had been gentle enough to leave it intact. Sheathing the dagger, Crys picked a cloth and a bottle of rum. âThis will sting, but donât move or you might make it worse.â She informed, soaking the cloth and wrapping it around the blade, using it to press Sheilaâs hand against the surface of the counter as she gripped the Sai by the hilt and yanked it out with one steady pull. As she sheathed the bloody weapon, she kept pressing the wounded hand against the counter. Sheilaâs breathing was unsteady from the pain, but she didnât as much as move a muscle. Crys took the time to take the womanâs hand and wrap the rum-soaked cloth around it, binding it tightly, before leaving the establishment without another word exchanged; the bottle of rum still in her hands.
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Luckas spent a good few minutes 'interviewing' the servants who cleaned the dirt in Xypher's chamber, cooked his meals, and overheard his conversations. He was very disappointed; the man was as boring as one can be. It seemed the old man only had one woman in his life, and that was his dead wife. They couldn't get him that way, but Luke had an idea of what might work. It would probably be the most entertaining part of the whole thing. Xypher wouldn't make a good kill for him, but in a way that was good; if they had to end him nicely and quickly he wouldn't be at a loss.
Walking out of the castle and onto the courtyard, Luckas shivered, realizing he hadn't been outside since the previous day; he'd forgotten how cold it usually was this time of year, but he simply brushed it off, putting two hands in his pockets and forgetting the cold after only a few steps.
There were several Inns in the city and Luke hadn't asked Ess which one she would be going to, which was dumb, but he was lucky to find her in the first place he looked. He waved the gold coin she had tossed at him earlier and headed straight for the counter before even walking over. The barmaid wasn't there yet, so he leaned casually against the counter of the bar, waiting.
Someone walked in a minute or two after Luke, but he didn't turn to look. Whoever it was didn't seem to acknowledge him either, better this way. The newly arrived customer was a redheaded woman and an odd one as it seemed. She seemed to be walking aimlessly through the entire place mumbling something under her breath. That went on for a little while, until she settled down in a stool by the counter, sitting with her right elbow leaned on the counter and her back was turned to him. The barmaid came from the backroom of the bar and said something to the woman about her not being welcome, and they exchanged words here and there. Luckas was getting the odd sensation of knowing that redhead from some place and it just made his stomach twist painfully; how many of those was he going to get?
Finally the barmaid addressed him. "What are you having, hun?"
"Two of what the pretty lady over there is having."He said, discretely indicating Ess with a nod and dropping the gold coin on the counter, fully aware of the fact that it wasn't enough.
"Thatâs not enough, pretty boy." The barmaid told him, crossing her arms over her chest.
Luke leaned forward, whispering softly. "Yes, it is...
Take it."Huh, it
is enough" She replied, beginning to pour the drinks.
"No, itâs not." The redhead spoke suddenly, dropping another coin on the table. She had turned to face Luke and now he knew where he had seen her before. "This should do it, however." She continued, facing him and asking in a severe tone: "What did you do to her?"
"You..." Luke mumbled, a little shocked that he'd just stumble into her this way. It felt like seeing someone come to life out of a dream. It was odd and amusing. Quickly he came up with an explanation for what he was doing, taking the chance to maybe introduce himself. "Pardon me MissâŠ? Iâm with a friend, and suppose I was trying to impress her. I only have this one coin, however, and so I made use of my gift. I honestly didnât think the Pack would miss one lousy coin all that much. I much appreciate your gesture. I will repay you one day."
She was suspicious of him for his shock in seeing her, probably wondering, like he had, if they knew each other. Apparently she brushed it off, because she replied giving just the opening he needed. "RiversâŠ" She started simply, but Luke already knew that. "⊠Crystal Rivers. And you, MisterâŠ?" She gave him room to introduce himself, perfect. "Itâs clear that you like this woman enough to steal from people who can easily kill you for it⊠Who am I to stand in your way, right?"
Luke flinched slightly at the last words she spoke, but just brushed it aside as her having bought into his talk, playing with it instead of showing it had bothered him slightly. " ...Just Luckas...â He said. âAnd, who knows? I might just have a death wish or something.â
She chuckled as if she didn't believe him. âAlright, Luckas⊠Believe what you will. It was nice meeting you."
Luke didn't respond this time, he simply took the drinks from the counter and walked to join Ess at the table, a slight frown crossing his features as he whispered to himself. "It was nice meeting you in person, Crys." He would have to tell Jakey about this, he was sure the man would be
delighted to know Luke had met his 'better half'.
With this thought still in mind, as Luke sat down across from Ess sliding one drink across the table to her, he had a strange grin on his face; the one reserved for annoying good old Jakey. This would be good...
Snapping out of it, he shook his head slightly and spoke. "So, did you have time to misbehave or was I quick enough?" He played. "Xypher. Well... The man is practically an eunuch." He stated, still shooting glances towards the counter. "Captain was right, someone familiar he would want to converse with might be our best bet. Say, do you think you've spent enough time with her? I think he'd believe that she wants to face her accuser." Luke suggested.
Essence finished off her drink, a curious smile leaving her lips as the memory faded. The bell rang in the door a few times here and there but she kept her eyes down most of the time, until she noted Luckas entering, passing her with a smile he headed straight for the bar. She nodded and winked, thinking to herself how that boy looked like he should eat something; that they both should most likely if they were to have their strength up for later.
As she waited, a moment later another patron entered the Inn. Ess didnât pay much attention until she noted out of the corner of her eye how the woman walked about curiously, as if she were memorizing where things were. Ess quirked a brow, not quite understanding at first why the woman lacked direct focus on her surroundings and then it clicked. There was much overcompensation with the red-headâs sense of touch while she seemed to pause and listen to her surroundings. âMust be something off with her vision.â She thought to herself, unsure exactly.
Ess retracted her gaze, reaching for her wrist she retrieved one of her small daggers, twirling it between her fingers. Slipping her hand along the smooth surface of the table, Ess dragged the tip of the blade deeply through the edge as she carved her name into the wood. She looked up as Luckas sat across from her, sliding her drink within her grasp.
âWhatâs that look for?â She inquired, watching Luckas closely, half hearing the red head and the woman behind the bar arguing softly in the background. ââGo to hell...ââ...Was mostly what she got out of the conversation as she focused on Luckas.
âAh...I managed to keep to myself...decided that I didnât want you to miss out.â Ess shrugged casually, her tone was careless remaining upbeat. As Luckas spoke about Xypher she sighed, âOk so you were productive, good to see. I impersonated Mageria while we sparred before you and I ran into each other in the practice grounds, so I know itâs feasible.â Ess paused, leaning in closer towards Luckas, she slid her arm across the table, hiding the blade beneath her sleeve. âI can mimic the Captain, but I would need some practice to impersonate her voice...then thereâs the blue eyes I canât do..â Raising her glass she sipped her drink, her cheeks giving a gentle red glow as the heat of the liquor spread across her face. Some people found drinking was over all bad for the blood, but in Essâ case, while it thinned out her blood, it held back any potential bleeds since it promoted better circulation for her.
âLuckas...â Her eyes brightened with an idea. âYou have many memories of the captain Iâm sure...are you able to...pass those on to me? It would make the process quicker, to know more of her speech patterns and how she tal-â Ess was interrupted by a sudden commotion of metal against metal, snapping her attention away from Luckas towards the women at the bar. Apparently they were not on very good terms and seemed to be battling it out on the bar counter itself, amidst curses and threats. An amused grin took over her expression, her teeth peeking through as she watched the women argue; about what she wasnât sure. Ess glanced over at Luke as she drank heavily from her glass, giving a curious almost questioning look. âIs that your fault or something?â She joked.
"Whatever do you mean?" Luke asked with a mischievous grin as Ess asked about the look in his eyes. With a small chuckle, he added: "One secret at a time. I'd hate to see you lose interest in me."
In the back he could hear the barmaid and Crys talking, but he really paid them no mind, keeping his focus on Ess as she mentioned the difficulties in passing off as Mageria. Luke listened intently, leaning back in his chair and absently thinking of the best ways to get around those details. When she suddenly asked if he could pass his memories onto her he sat up straight. he never tried that before, he wondered if he could though... His memory manipulation skills were similar to Lena's, so it was likely. He only had two full conversations with Mageria though, one of them happened three years ago when she thought he was a vision.
As he heard the sounds of metal clashing he jumped to his feet to get a better look at what was going on at the bar as he replied. "Oh, I wish." He snickered, when Ess asked if he had anything to do with that. However he continued on with their conversation as if there had been no interruption. "In theory, I could, but we've only actually had two full conversations in three years. Although, I'm not sure the one when she thought I was a ghost counts as a full conversation. If it helps... We can try..." He laughed out, as a high-pitched scream echoed through the room. "Assassins are so incredibly fun." He said absently as the barmaid stood with her hand impaled and pinned to the counter by a Sai dagger, its twin touching her face menacingly. Turning his attention back to Ess, rising his voice slightly as the woman screamed again, he continued. "We can try that, but we'd need a more private place..." He stopped talking as the screaming stopped. "... Because neither of us will be able to see a thing of our surroundings while we do it." The sounds of the bell above the door announced that Crys was leaving the Inn.
Luckas sat back down and finally reached for his glass, drinking from it and leaving it half-empty, or have-full maybe, depending on one's opinion. He glanced towards the door and an amused grin appeared in his face. "Do you know who that was, by any chance?" He asked Ess, with a snicker that said he had incredibly good gossip to share.
Ess smiled, thinking how ironic it was that he commented on her losing interest in him. âHmm, good to know I still have yours.â She couldnât remember how long it had been since she spent so much time with a man, noting that half the day was already gone and she still had her clothes on. It was quite a different experience, the nervousness creeping back inside her stomach, lingering with a dull pain. The change was exciting but it was something she was not very familiar with, and she knew that the fault could only be credited to herself.
âWell..â Her voice grew louder over the womenâs curses and screams as she watched the one with the Sai dagger release lemon juice upon the other womanâs wound. âUs redheads can get away with just about anything.â She smiled up at Luckas as she answered his notion to go somewhere private. âI was wondering how long it was going to take you to suggest that.â Leaning back in her chair she downed the rest of her drink, relaxing.
âSeriously though...âShe looked over Luckas with a perplexed gaze. âWhen was the last time you ate boy? Come on...Iâll heat you up something at my house and we can see if my idea works. Thereâs much to prepare for.â
She shook her head curiously. âAm I suppose to know who that was? Iâve never seen her before. Course I usually donât talk to women..â Ess chuckled. âToo complicated, and always fighting over a man in one way or another.â
Luke raised an eyebrow when Ess asked when was the last time he ate. It was just so unexpectedly thoughtful. "I... Uh... Yesterday." He admitted, scratching the back of his head. "In my defense, you distracted me." He added, crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his head. "And... Boy?" He asked. "Haven't we had this conversation already?" He asked with a grin, emptying his glass and taking a few glances around before saying. "That blind redhead who left just now... Was the leader of the Wolfpack until three years ago. Word out there, officially, is that she was killed by the current Alpha. She hasn't been seen anywhere in three years." He shrugged. "Makes me wonder why she's here, now of all times."
Standing up, he added. "I wouldn't advise you to fight her over any man." He nodded towards the woman behind the counter. "Something tells me that was friendly conversation." He shrugged lightly. "Not that you would have to fight her over me... There's plenty to go around." He told her playfully, snickering softly as he stomach emitted a rather loud growl. "And thanks for reminding me I'm hungry." He laughed. "Can we go? I might bite you otherwise."