Here is the fourth and (as of right now) finally interlude. There will probably be more soon enough, however.
I doubt I will portray it properly, but this chapter involves Katarina gaining a fanatical devotion to Riven. And I do mean fanatical. If I fail to make her 'logic' clear, please leave a review or shoot me a PM with your questions, so I can try to make it clearer!
Insert Valid Author Name: First, great name ahaha. Second, no I play on NA servers, summoner name is the same as my penname.
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Interlude Four
The First Shadow
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'RIVEN!'
The psychic scream sent Riven reeling physically and mentally, and she dropped to one knee, shaking her head as it reverberated through her being, breathing heavily as her wide eyes moved back and forth erratically. Concerned, Bast dropped to her knees beside the young woman she found so fascinating. However, she flinched back almost instinctually as the girl's head came back up, irises now a burning crimson. With nary a word, The Exile vanished in a pillar of flame that actually forced Bast to shield herself with hands and magic, and left a large black crater on the ground where she had been kneeling. Groaning to herself, Bast got to her feet, shaking her head in bemused irritation as she began to use her millennia-honed tracking skills to follow the energy signature of the girl's departure. Low and behold, she was back in New York City again.
"That girl really has a problem. Always randomly disappearing and charging off without explanation." She mumbled to herself a little good-naturedly as she dove into the Duat, following the trail. Still, she thought to herself, eyes narrowing. Her eyes had changed color and been…far more than human, in that instant. Even that aside, flame travel was not exactly a common mode of transport for a child of the sea. Oh, she is so getting tied to a chair when we get back. She has a lot of explaining to do! The goddess grumbled mentally, trying hard to resist the perverted thoughts that came to her. She pouted as she failed, not wanting to start acting like Ishtar and scare the girl off. While some might think her infatuation after so short a period was nothing short of bizarre or insane, she had been alive for a long time. She knew that there was…something there, a something about the young demigod that had immediately entranced her, as cliché as that sounded. She snorted in amusement, knowing if she ever said such things out loud she would never hear the end of it.
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The group of males (one refuses to call them men, for it would demean all true men) were in the midst of a fairly heated argument over who would get to rape the now barely-lucid knife wielding psycho-bitch first, and who would have the tamer girl, when they were interrupted by a burst of heat and light from amongst them. Another girl, inhumanly beautiful with bronzed skin and silvery-white hair appeared kneeling beside the two downed young women. Though caught off guard and somewhat disturbed by this strange turn of events, the fairly inebriated (on drink and drug) group of males decided en masse that this simply provided a new, exotic outlet.
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"Riven, you came." Rachel Elizabeth Dare whispered, bruised face and bloody lips hurting as they pulled up into a small smile, the largest she could manage in her battered condition. While Katarina and herself had tried to fight off their attackers, Katarina had been handicapped trying to protect them both, and been overwhelmed. Several minutes of a punishing beat-down followed immediately afterwards, which led to this moment.
"Rachel Elizabeth Dare." Riven's voice was soft and her words were somewhat teasing, but her burning eyes and the iron wrath in the depths of her voice made her true emotions clear. "You know, if you wanted to see me again, all you had to do was send a letter or something. And we really need to have a discussion about how you know that name."
"Heh…hnngh, don't make me laugh, damnit." The rich girl laughed a little breathily, grimacing and curling up around her bruised torso somewhat out of instinct. Riven's eyes grew angrier as she evaluated Rachel, before looking to her companion. Noticing her gaze, Rachel explained. "Katarina, a vigilante that targets rapists or gropers. We…ran into eachother, then got ambushed by these guys on our way out of the park. She tried to fight, but…"
But, indeed. Riven thought to herself, examining the heavily battered red-head. Her eyes, though darkened with pain and fear, were sharp and intelligent, and Riven shuffled over to her and placed a hand on her cheek, instinctively using her patron's power to heal some of the graver wounds on both girls, though mostly Katarina, before looking at them both.
"You've done a good thing, Katarina, trying to protect my friend, and those other innocent women in the past." She said softly to the downed vigilante, whose eyes met her own as she talked. "After I deal with these…scum, I would like to have a discussion with both of you about your plans for the future. I have a…proposal to put to you."
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Katarina watched as the woman Rachel had identified as 'Riven' rose lithely to her feet, turning those terrifying yet fascinating crimson eyes on the gang of males surrounding them. She recognized in this woman a predator far more dangerous than herself, in the graceful and measured steps of her stride, the balance and confidence of her bearing, and the evenness of her tone as she spoke.
"I want you to know that I am going to kill you, and if you have any desire to beg for mercy, I would do so now. You won't get it, but I would hate for you to die with regrets." The utter lack of threat in her tone made it clear that her words were no boasting or bluff, but a certainty. A promise. As did the way she seemed to be limbering herself up for a fight.
"I'd like to see a little bitch like you…" the leader started, but he was cut off, literally, a blazing leg removed his head from his shoulders. Hands and fists wreathed in the sacred flames of Hestia, Riven quickly dispatched the remaining gang-members with punishing and fatal blows that ended their lives in a single, searing moment.
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A goddess, surely. Katarina thought to herself, eyes glued to the awe-inspiring sight of the woman Rachel had called Riven dismantling the gang with fists and feet wreathed in fire. Only a goddess could be so beautiful, so graceful. So deadly.
Plus, there was that whole appeared-in-a-pillar-of-fire thing, and Kat was pretty sure the goddess had healed both her own injuries, and Rachel's, because she felt a hell of a lot better than she did a few minutes ago, and it wasn't just due to the knowledge that she wasn't about to be gang-raped and murdered.
After living alone on the streets of New York for so long, Katarina wasn't exactly what one would call sane anymore. While she was hardly a psychopath, society and some of its ideals had gradually lost meaning to her, as well as her ability to read social cues and follow social norms. Her already damaged mind, rendered vulnerable and desperate by the second near-rape experience of her life, latched onto the title she had instinctively bestowed upon the other woman, and suddenly the rest of the world didn't matter. She lived only for her goddess, and would do whatever She commanded. Hopefully She would let Kat continue to hunt rapists…
When She finished with Her prey, Katarina sluggishly mover herself upright and paid Her homage, inclining her head in awe-filled respect, getting confused looks from both her goddess and Rachel. She knew why, though. Her goddess didn't know that she saw Her for what She really was, and she spoke softly.
"How may I serve you, Burning One?" her voice was reverent, and She blinked at her slowly, as if trying to decide what to say in return, but Katarina knew She was simply not one to act without thought.
"Are you able to stand?" she said finally, and Katarina nodded. Even if she was unable, she would stand, for She desired it. Fortunately, however, Her healing had been effective, and other than a feeling of soreness, she was more or less well. Katarina was graced with a small smile that warmed her face and soul, before She offered Rachel Her hand in getting up. Another flash drew Katarina's attention as a dusky skinned, Arab-looking woman appeared from nowhere, and Katarina's eyes locked onto the two long, wicked-looking daggers on her hips as the strange woman approached Her from behind. A quick flick of her wrists later and a half-dozen throwing knives were slicing through the air in a textbook perfect spread, headed for the interloper. Her eyes widened as said interloper seemed to blur, hands darting out in quick and precise movements to pluck every blade from the air with an ease that was as impressive and baffling as it was frightening. She swiftly drew another salvo, holding them between her fingers tightly as she prepared to attack once more.
"Katarina, stop." Her voice halted the red-head in her tracks, arms drawn across her chest, hands raised high to throw the knives. True to Her command, Katarina didn't move an inch, waiting with baited breath either for chastisement or further command. She continued in a softer tone. "This is Bast, one of my allies. She's not a threat. You can relax."
Katarina eyed the now-named Bast with a fair bit of suspicion, but heeded Her command and sheathed her blades immediately, drawing an curious look from Bast, which she steadfastly ignored in favor of focusing on Her.
"Rachel, how did you know my new name? Or what I looked like, for that matter?" She asked, and Rachel frowned slightly in thought as she considered the question.
"The same way I knew I would meet Katarina here in this park. I just know things. I know that you used to be a boy with black hair and green eyes, that I met at the Hoover Dam." Her frown deepened. "But I can't remember your name, no matter how hard I try. And even my memory of what you used to look like is fading."
"It's because that person no longer exists." Bast said quietly from the side, and all three mortals looked at her in confusion, so she elaborated. "When Artemis intervened to save your existence, Riven, the Fate's erased the very fabric of your former self. People know a Child of the Sea existed, but what he looked like, his name, everything relevant to who he was has been wiped away. Soon, they'll remember only you, and nothing else."
"Clarify." Was all She said, and Bast hummed in thought for a moment before speaking again.
"As of right now, the Greeks remember that a male child of Poseidon rescued Artemis from the titan Atlas. By the time we return from the Isle of the Stars, they will remember the bronze-skinned, white-silver haired woman named Riven, who saved Artemis from Atlas. Only the gods will have any sort of recollection of you, or those that you were close to and remind personally." she revealed, and Riven appeared visibly off-balance.
"Well, then. That is…well." Was all She said, before changing the subject. "So, what are we going to do with these bodies? I could torch them, but…"
"I have a solution, if I may speak?" Katarina offered hesitantly, and when She gestured in acceptance, the red-haired knife-wielder continued with somewhat more confidence. "Rachel and I met a female cop tonight, decent sort." She went on to explain the events of less than an hour ago, and knew that her goddess was as intrigued by 'Caitlyn's' attitude as she herself was. "I think if we tell her something along the lines of what happened she could handle things."
"Okay." Riven nodded, taking her words for it with a promptness that was rather flattering in Katarina's opinion. She glanced at the Egyptian diety beside her and continued. "Bast, change the bodies so that they were killed by blades. I'll tell this Caitlyn what happened, and that I killed them personally. I need you to lead us to her home when you finish."
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Caitlyn Piltover was sound asleep, cuddled safely in post-coitus bliss with her girlfriend of five years and fellow cop, Victoria Zaun (although calling her anything other than Vi was to take your life into your hands) when her finely honed instincts discerned something Was Different, and she snapped awake, pulling her pistol out from under her pillow as she pointed it towards the window, and the shadowed pair that stood there. Her movment jolted Vi awake, who copied her, and the lead figure held up their hands placatingly.
"Calmly, Officers, calmly." Her voice was soft and soothing, enough so that the two considered lowering their weapons, before remembering that she had broken not only into their home, but their bedroom.
"Who the fuck 're you, how the fuck did you get in here, and why the hell shouldn't I pump you full of lead?" Vi snarled, furious at the potential threat to the love of her life, and to the violation of their privacy, and the second figure shifted uncomfortably, fingers flexing anxiously as the first responded.
"I came to speak with your lover, Officer Caitlyn." she said, apparent gaze on the brunette cop, who blinked slightly in confusion. "I understand that you treated my 'Sinister Blade, as they call her, well after your sting tonight. I wanted to thank you for that."
"She your lover or something?" Vi asked, lowering her gun slightly at the reference to the vigilante her Caitlyn had mentioned frequently, most recent of which was barely a few hours ago.
"No, not at this time. She is my…subordinate, of sorts." The woman replied, and both cops raised their eyebrows. A vigilante having a superior, a leader? Was it some sort of organization, then?
"And who the hell are you?" Vi said bluntly, and Caitlyn gave her a chastising look as the second figure, most likely the 'Sinister Blade', shifted again, this time more aggressively, though she stopped as her boss raised a hand slightly.
"You may call me Riven Exilia, the Exile." She introduced herself, and both cops knew immediately that the second name, at least, was false. It was far to outlandish and similar to her apparent title to be anything else. "As I said, I came to thank you for your kind words to her, and for getting scum of the streets. It is this second thing that I wish to talk a little more about."
"How so?" Caitlyn asked. Her voice, while clipped, cool, and professional, was still more polite than her partners, and a flash of white teeth emerged from the shadows as Riven grinned at her.
"Simply enough, Katarina and a friend of hers were ambushed tonight after you and your comrades left. I can only imagine that their attackers were attempting to take advantage of the lax security between your sting ended and usual patrols resumed."
"Are the pair of them all right?" Caitlyn asked quickly, and was rewarded with another, warmer smile as Riven nodded, her head moving into the barest amount of light long enough for the bedded pair to see her silver hair.
"They are healing from minor wounds, and that is why I must talk to you. I confess that when I arrived to find my subordinate and a mutual friend lying beaten on the ground, and a group of males arguing who would rape who and when, I may have…lost my temper." The Exile informed her, not sounding embarrassed or apologetic in the least. "The point is, a dozen or so recently deceased thugs in various pieces have made a rather bloody mess near the western entrance to the park. I thought it only right to inform you, lest you think it was the result of a gang war or some equally problematic event."
"And a single woman massacring a dozen men single handed, and then casually showing up in my bloody bedroom of all places, isn't problematic?" Caitlyn bit out, her more refined accent coming out as it usually did in times of stress.
"Not as problematic as a shooting war starting because their friends think a rival gang did it." Riven told her bluntly, and Caitlyn grimaced as she was forced to conceded that the other woman did, in fact, have a point. "Now, I want to accept full responsibility. In your press release on the events of tonight tomorrow, inform the media that The Exile and the Sinister Blade, one of her subordinates, took it upon themselves to eliminate the gang. Feel free to release a description of the pair of us, if only to keep the gangs and solo criminals busy looking out for us."
"I know what Katarina looks like, but I've never seen you." Caitlyn pointed out with a frown, wondering if she really wanted to give out the descriptions of the two women. Despite herself, the thought that she and Vi could get along well with these people ran heavily through her mind, not to mention the danger the pair would be in if the gangs caught up to them.
The Exile's response was to step out of the shadows and into the moonlight, and the two officers felt their eyebrows raise and mouths drop open.
She was just a kid, probably in her late teens, with bronzed skin, silver hair, and a physique that even the well-muscled Vi was jealous of. Her eyes were even more interesting, burning like hot coals in the semi-dark, and she smiled at them genuinely.
"Now you have." She said simply, withdrawing into the shadows again. "Don't worry about us, we'll be fine. Stay safe officers, and if you ever need help, I will give it."
The two figures vanished, and Vi hastily turned their bedroom lamp on, to reveal an empty room, with no sign anyone else had been there. The window to the fire escape was still locked and untouched, and they hadn't heard their locked bedroom door open or shut.
"How would we get touch with her anyway? Put out an ad in the paper? 'Help Wanted From Sexy Silver Haired Exile and her Blood-Loving Friend?'" Vi grumbled, only to give an out of character yelp of shock and fear as Riven's voice, soft yet strong, filled the room.
"Call out for my help, and I will appear. Goodbye, Officers, and good luck."
Then it was gone again, and the pair exchanged loaded looks as they tried to figure out what the hell had just happened. In the end, they spent several hours talking and decided to release vaguely accurate descriptions of the two women the next morning, but nothing accurate enough to get them killed.
That decision made, they slipped into an uneasy sleep, unaware that such a short conversation would drastically change their lives in less than two years' time.
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There is the last interlude from this string! Whether Caitlyn and Vi get involved romantically with Riven and CO. or not, I have yet to decide. Obviously, they are also League of Legends champs, who I ship hard as hell, just like I ship Katarina and Riven (amongst others, for both). It should be clear, however, that Riven is deliberately trying to expand her resources beyond the limited scope of her hidden world. We also saw a taste of the power Riven will develop and master as Hestia's Champion.
