Unmentionables
Unmentionables
Disclaimer: I do not own the magnificence that is Fable. I only respectfully borrow them. I do wish to let you know now that there are some mild spoilers therein for those of you who are early in the game and more to come as the story progresses. Rated M for mature for language, violence and upcoming adult content.
I feel them getting closer
Their howls are sending chills down my spine
And time is running out now,
They're coming down the hills from behind
After releasing a tortured howl of pain to the star speckled night sky, the final balverine crumpled to the blood soaked soil in a heap of flesh and white fur. A curved silver blade protruding from its chest with a large golden balverine figurehead at the hilt denoting the wielders proficiency at treasure hunting was ripped out from its place with ease. A lithe swordswoman quickly side stepped the gurgling rush of red ichor that sprayed from the wound and with a short decisive swing of her sword, removed any remaining blood from it. Her mist grey eyes inspect it for a moment before sheathing it, satisfied with the way the now blade gleamed in the moonlight.
"Well thats that I suppose..." She said, and turned to face the opposite way on the cobblestone path. About a mile off she could see several torchlights shining their soft amber hue on the rest of the nature worn road and she breathed a sigh of relief. With any luck the rest of her journey would be free of any more of those damned balverines. Bloody things are a menace, She mused to herself. A soft woof at her feet brought a smile to her face as she looked down at her most faithful companion. Regal stared up at her, head cocked to the side, tongue lolling out and tail wagging furiously as if to say "I'm glad your alright". Reaching down she gave him a good scratch behind his right ear, his favorite spot.
"Alright boy, lets get going. Don't want to keep Benjamina waiting too long, would we now?." Regal gave another soft woof, which she took as his agreement.
Wiping away a tiny bead of sweat that had formed on her brow with the back of her hand, Nix the Hero of Brightwall, made off for the posh hamlet of Millfields where many of Albions nobles resided. As she left behind four beastly corpses, each step through the moon dappled woodland caused a slow tendril of dread to knot around her heart.
Two days prior, Ben Finn and herself had been downing a pint of ale together in the Cock in the Crown tavern in Bowerstone market. The outing was supposed to have been for discussing the resistance's next step, but mainly it had consisted of the two rebels staring sullenly into their tankards. Ben was a total mess after seeing his superior and friend Major Swift shot down in front of so many people like some kind of carnival side show, and Nix couldn't stop the raging tide of guilt she felt that another life had ended because of Logan's tyrannical madness. Because of her and this rebellion she was trying to lead. Other than a few half-hearted mumblings to one another in weak attempts to dispel their forlorn emotions, they spoke of one pressing matter in low tones.
"Aurora. You will find friend's in Aurora, see I'm with Page on that one. I thought it was just a no man's land all this time." He'd said, emptying his tankard of the last dregs of ale.
"But if Ol' Swiftie thought that bit of information was important enough to risk his life for, then I'll gladly go." He'd slammed his cup to the scarred wooden table. Several other patron's cast a curious glance there way, and the usually good tempered soldier with his scruffy five o'clock shadow had shot them a dark look. Only when they'd looked away, curiosity thoroughly quelled, did he continue.
"Look, Page told me that after some snooping in Industrial, she found out that a ship or two that's sea worthy enough to get us to Aurora will be making port soon. Said that it could be like a week, if the weather permits. All's we have to do is wait for 'em, and we can hijack one."
"Really think we can pull that off? Logan's had a tight handle on the docks and who goes in and out of them for years now." She'd asked.
"Ah, nothing a little flashy distraction can fix. We'll be fine don't you worry, Page and Walter are working out the details as we speak."
Little else was said that night, and before they'd parted ways Nix had felt compelled to pull him into a sudden consoling embrace of heartfelt grief. Under normal circumstances she wouldn't have given the shameless flirt a hug, but the sorrow she saw in his deep blue eyes that night had tore at her heartstrings. The moment of silent comfort and camaraderie went unspoiled by any flirtatious remarks. Pulling away a little awkwardly, Ben had cleared his throat softly as his eyes darted away for a second. In the dark of the night and weak lamplight she could have sworn she saw a blush on the soldier's ruggedly good looking face.
"Alright, I'll be in touch as soon as its go time." And with a small shadowed smile he'd left in the direction of Bowerstones Industrial quarter. The small secret flame she held for him seemed to grow a little as she thought about how good his arms had felt around her. Nix had returned to inside the tavern, making her way to the stairs where her rented room for the night lay, when she'd heard some talk of a young woman just outside the market walls who was looking for help with some sort of quest. If she'd only known what she'd been getting into before agreeing to the young woman's request, whose name had been Benjamina, she wouldn't have even gone looking for her. But after seeing how ecstatic the crazed fan had become, she dared not disappoint her, strange as her tastes might be.
Cresting the gentle slopping of the final hill, Nix came to a stop by the first lamp. Cozily nestled down before was Millfields and at its furtherest reaches lay the beautiful three story mansion that was her destination. Willfully she shook off the unnecessary dread that had been growing for the last few miles now. Well its a good sign all the lights are out, she reasoned. Its owner having fled post haste to safer accommodations after the resistance leader Page and herself had crashed his devious little secret society masquerade ball. Pit against all manner of foul enemies, both beast and man alike, it had been a horrible night that she preferred not to dwell on.
Regal whined, sensing his mistress's anxiety.
"Its fine, boy. Come on."
The two made their way down the hill, passing several long banners dancing gently in the warm night breeze. Two giant R's, one forward and one rear facing, their spines connected by a large Spire shaped image. A large cog wheel encircling the gold motif emblazoned on the red material. Soon she found herself facing the black wrought iron gates, the same logo worked meticulously into the metal. Closed and locked tight, there was no getting it.
For any normal person, that is. She placed a slender hand inches away from the middle of the gate where undoubtedly the lock was on the other side. Wishing to avoid loud noises so as not to announce her presence, she opted for a small Fireball over Force Push. Summoning her Will power, she felt the warmth of the element well up within her. Channeled by the special gauntlets encasing her arms, a flame sputtered into life at her palm, miniature but white hot none the less. It took what seemed to be a small eternity for it to melt the metal until it was bright orange and soft, but she was grateful when it did.
With a smile of triumph, she took a step back and admired her work before pushing up one side of the gates, the soft ore simply giving way. From the start, after placing the gauntlets on her arms and traversing the catacombs with Walter and Jasper that fateful night, she'd proven to be quite skillful at using fire. She did find it ironic however that it took twice as much concentration to bring a small controlled flame to life than to let loose a roaring inferno.
Passing a small pond of water to her right and a rather obscenely tall white statue at which she'd rather not look, she hurried along only to stop just at the bottom of the stairs leading to the front doors. Tucking a silky red tinged brunette tress behind her ear, she glanced warily up at the light cream orange colored house. Its pretty white window frames and long strings of lovely dark green ivy creeping up over the walls did nothing to ease the niggling, irrational worry she felt.
"Damn...me and my big mouth. Alright, I can do this! Just got to run in, grab the..unmentionables, and get the hell out. Nothing I can't handle." Nix muttered to herself before ascending the charming stairs to hell.
Authors note: Lyrics above are also respectfully borrow from the very talented Within Temptation, song is called "The Howling"(I thought it rather fitting for the opening of the chapter ^_^ ) I apologize for the short chapter its really more of an and review and all that jazz, new to writing fanfic's so I need to know if you like it or not!