Hey everyone! Kitti here! Guess what? We updated! Woot! So sorry it's been so long, but with me in college and Aiko in High school, things get difficult. But We have this and now you get it too! Enjoy, okay!!
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Lucivar opened Aiden's and Aalinar's door without knocking, a look enough to light the lamps around the room. "Boys, day's bright and shiny on the other side of the realm."
Aalinar snarled. "Wha' the fuck s'that supposed ta mean?"
"It means its still dark, and entirely too early in the morning to be waking up." Aiden grumped flopping over against the wall and burying his face in his pillow.
"D'you ever sleep? Night, people are supposed t'be stupid when they wake up."
"You're stupid all the time, I've guess I was the one burdened with balancing you."
"The both of you up. Aiden, wake up Kallisto and Onyx."
"Fine." Aiden rolled out of bed, pausing in mid-motion when it suddenly occurred to him to ask why they were waking up before the sun. "Isn't it a little early to be getting ready for the Offerings?"
"We're moving the offering to the keep. Whispers are telling us the Light Realm has an inkling of the young queen, and we don't want any surprises."
Aiden nodded and slipped out of the room. Slipping into the girl's room, he left the door open, and crossed to Onyx's bed, the one closer to the door. He bent down to shake her gently. She grumbled, and rolled over, yanking her blankets over her head. Aiden chuckled softly, and moved his hands down to the ticklish areas of her waist and stomach. She came up with a snarl, tightly curled fist pummeling into his chest. He reeled back, coughing. "Mother Night, girl, that hurt."
"It was supposed to." Onyx grumped. "What?"
"Get ready for the Offerings, we're doing them at the Keep." Onyx didn't ask questions, just nodded and rolled out of bed as Aiden crossed over to Kallisto. He poked her. "Kallisto, wake up." She threw a punch at him with a sleepy grumble, which he avoided- barely. "Kallisto, seriously, get up." Nothing. He reached to pull off the blankets, and let out a startled yell. "OW! Dammit." He retracted his hand, shaking it furiously.
"What?" Onyx asked, sounding slightly more awake, and more than a little amused.
Aiden showed her his hand, and the red, deep impressions of teeth on the stretch of skin between thumb and pointer finger.
"You're not supposed to do that." She said idly, returning to pack her own bags.
"Would you like to wake her, then?"
"Nope, I'm perfectly content with watching someone else do it this once." Onyx snipped, nose in the air.
Aiden made a face and turned back to the young Queen. A sudden glint of wickedness entered his eyes, and he summoned a bucket and, with precision, threw water all over the sleeping girl. An inhuman shriek filled the air, and the next thing Onyx was aware of were the two bursts of air as Kallisto pursued the furiously fleeing Aiden. Lucivar poked his head in the door a couple of moments later, a look of puzzlement on his features.
"What happened?"
"He threw water on her."
Lucivar snickered. "Idiot. When you're ready, meet Daemon and Jaenelle at the Landing Spot in the Family Gardens."
Onyx nodded, and turned back to her packing. If this was the start to the day of their Offerings, she wasn't sure how she felt. Then she smiled. The look on Aiden's face!
Onyx knelt before the dark alter, placed a handful of steps to the left of the large, ebony doors of the sanctioned rooms of the keep. She wore the dark, voluminous robes of a Child of the Darkness, her raven's-wing hair braided neatly and tightly at the back of her bowed head. Her mouth moved over the phrases she had learned from the cradle- as all blood children had- and as she said them, she sent them on the sapphire thread.
"I offer myself to the Darkness, from whence we are born, and to whence we go when life is no longer with us. I offer my power to the darkness; for all that it is worth. I have come to this Sanctuary in hopes of serving the Laws of the Blood as they are perceived in Blood's Protocol…"
As she spoke on, she envisioned silken threads weaving in accordance to her vows, fashioning a web that was as much her as any thing else. The thread that held the words "I offer myself" thrummed with her thoughts and believes, and the strand of "I offer my power" shined of sapphire, dancing as if caught in a brisk, playful breeze. Her views of justice and morality hissed as she threaded it into place. She had just completed her imagined web when there came a tap on her shoulder. She bowed to the Alter, took the proffered knife, and sliced the pad of her left ring finger. Three drops of blood splattered before the Alter, and she stood, moving to the now-open doors. Darkness spiraled before her, beckoning her forward. She strode in, and the doors closed, leaving her in total darkness.
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Kallisto strolled to the Alter, trying not to trip in her over-sized robes. They were a dark purple color and trailed down a good two feet across the floor. That plus the dimly lit room proved to be a bit of a hazard for her. Her long white blonde hair fell all around her shoulders and back, swaying lightly with every careful step she took. Night vision was not her strong suit, so she had to squint to make out the large wooden doors to her left and a dark mass in front of her. As she approached what she hoped was the Alter, she had to resist the urge to smile at the attending priestesses. She walked up the stone steps, kneeling on her right knee, grasping her green jewel in her hands for comfort.
"I offer myself to the Darkness, from whence we are born, and to whence we go when life is no longer with us. I offer my power to the darkness; for all that it is worth. I have come to this Sanctuary in hopes of serving the Laws of the Blood as they are perceived in Blood's Protocol." she paused, thinking, "I come in hopes of gaining the power I need to help my people and protect my friends, family and…lover." She blushed before scolding herself, I have to be serious. This is important.
Kallisto went on through the line of traditionals until came the tap on her shoulder. She stared for a moment, and then took the knife. She hissed as she slashed her fingers, and allowed three drops of her blood to splash on the Alter. Silently, she sent her personal vows to where ever the mind-link went during the offering. She breathed out as she turned to face the dark doors, now open to reveal swirling darkness within. She walked towards them, hiding her crossed fingers in her robes. She paused once more, before grinning and entering the black abyss.
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Onyx stiffened as suddenly there was another presence in the darkness. It was strangely familiar- Kallisto?
Onyx? Is that you? came a strangled reply, Where are you?
In the dark. Onyx said humorlessly.
No duh!! she said mockingly, Where are we?
I have no earthly idea. Onyx peered around. So... we're in the dark... there's no calling, no spot of light, no pathways, and no written instructions. What are we supposed to do, sit on our asses until some little goblin comes and whisks our jewels away, leaving our new ones in their place? For twelve ours? You've got to be shitting me...
Kallisto rolled her jewel in her hands, feeling the jagged edges. She prided herself on having an uncut jewel. Were they really going to take it away? I don't want to lose my jewel...she said, almost on the brink of tears.
You're not losing it, you're offering it. With a free heart. Onyx whispered quietly. An unwilling gift is a worthless gift, Kallisto.
I'm not unwilling!! She sighed, I'm just really nervous. I have to come out of here with enough power to save Terrielle. What if I don't get it?
We deal with that when it comes, Kallisto. One step at a time.
Step? Where? I'm afraid to go anywhere for fear of tripping on these damned robes!!
You are two of the mosst noissy Offerss I've had in centuriess. Onyx and Kallisto jumped a foot at the amused and disembodied masculine voice. Onyx frowned. She'd heard a voice similar before.
What was that!! Kallisto screeched
Onyx turned in a slow circle, awareness out and searching for the presence. Never mind she couldn't even feel Kallisto's presence, which was beside the point. Who are you?
Sstand in for the Darknesss. The voice was still amused. Asss I have been ssince the beginning of the Blood.
Do you normally talk to those making the Offering? I think we would have heard of you if you did. Onyx said, still searching.
I do not. The two of you, however, are special cassess. Your Blood Craft iss sso intertwined with that of your elemental magic, I'm having a difficult time finding you a Jewel.
Onyx came to a stop, cocking her head to the side. There are many Elementals. She said, confused.
Not among the Blood. The Earth choossess her children wissely. The Blood already have a commitment to the Earth, why add another? Indeed.
Why do I get the feeling he's hungry? She sent to Kallisto, not knowing if private communication was possible in the Sanctuary. A sharp jab of male humor filled the air. Apparently not.
Onyx! Help me! Kallisto said frantically, I have my light on full blast but I'm still blind!!
Light doess not touch thiss place. You sstill retain your ssight.
Then what am I supposed to do!? she asked, a little less afraid and a bit more brazen.
Nothing. For the moment.
Nothing? We just sit here? she asked incredulously
For now.
How boring...
Onyx chuckled at Kallisto's characteristic response. Then what's going to happen?
Now, I've a dilemma... I could give you your penchant jewelsss, onesss you would get without the Elemental, but you've already managed to blend your birthright jewelsss and elemental magic; doing ssso would ssset you back at leassst a year in training.
Is there anyway around that problem? Kallisto asked calmly
Now that you've asssked... Yesss... that would do nicely. Your Offering beginsss now.
The presence was gone, and so was Kallisto's link in Onyx's mind. She didn't have time to panic, for as soon as she realized the absence, a wind shot to life, shoving her several feet back before she grounded her feet. The expanse of darkness began to fill with the tinge of power, dark and deep. Another scent twisted through the power smell, and this one was of a storm, heavy. A strike hit the ground a few feet in front of her, a color so dark in was almost indiscernible from the Darkness. She recognized the Ebon-Grey strength around her now. Another bolt of Craft-Lightning formed, and struck her. The power drained into her, filling her core. It was richer and more powerful than she'd ever tasted before.
And filled her entirely too fast. Stop! She was on her knees, hands clenched in her lap, gasping for air. The power rush faded, and she looked up once more. Ok. She sent, and was relieved when the power began to pour into her once more, as strongly and quickly as before. She called it to a halt once more, waited until the power high faded, then called it again. This was what took so long, what filled the twelve hours of the Offering. Her barriers had to stretch and adjust, her body had to get used to the amount and strength of the Ebon-Grey. She could do this.
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Kallisto began to panic. Her connection with Onyx and the other being was gone. The only thing left was the feeling of power growing somewhere near her. She spun around, still blind in the darkness, only aware of the surges coming from...below her. Just as she was about to run, the power flared to life, crashing into her with enough force to knock her to the ground. As she began to pick herself up, she realized she was glowing. Not her normal light in the hand trick, but full out lit up, as if someone had put little lights under her skin. She yelped, trying to move to no avail. The power kept pouring into her filling her to the brim with raw force.
She shrieked louder when gray mist began to swirl around her body, wrapping her up and sealing the power within. Her whole being rejected the new forces being plunged into her. She was choking. NO! Enough! The power waned for a moment, letting her breath before coming back at full strength. She felt the Grey flow in her, through her, warming her entire being. She almost enjoyed it, save for she couldn't breath. Then the power receded a moment to let her catch her breath, before beginning to stretch her inner barriers again. Geez, how many hours of this? She thought before screaming as the power tore through her mind again.
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"I always hate this part..." Lucivar grumbled, staring at the four decorated doors in front of them.
Daemon paced behind the couch, his wife twitching at the annoyance lately.
"I think you men need to calm down..." Marian said, poking Lucivar in the ribs.
Karla snorted. "Sure, like that's gonna happen."
"It's not like they can't do this. The kids will be fine." Marian glared when Lucivar huffed, "Just sit down!"
Saetan grabbed Daemon on his next go turn and led him to the couch. "Sit, before I'm forced to whack your ass."
Daemon scoffed. "I'd like to see that, father."
"Shut up, Daemon," Lucivar said, leaning against the couch, "Don't rile the old man up."
"The both of you shut up." Jaenelle said tartly. "You're both incorrigible..."
"No kidding." Karla said. "At least those sons of yours are going to be strong enough to take all that extra time off your hands." Daemon froze, Saetan turn his head to stare at her, and Lucivar let out a startled curse.
"Oh, you know you're proud." Marian said leaning back.
The males exchanged glances. "Those two are going to be cocky as hell..." Lucivar muttered.
"Wonder where they get it..." mumbled Karla.
"Certainly not from these two." Marian said sarcastically.
"You know," Lucivar said, leaning close to them, "I could have sworn I saw a fountain outside that only had slushy ice in it..."
"You wouldn't dare." Jaenelle snapped.
"I wasn't talking to you, was I Cat?"
"Prick."
"So nice to be among the surly." Karla said, sighing blissfully.
Silence ensued for the next few minutes. "How much longer do you think?" Marian asked.
"It's nearly dawn." Jaenelle said, shifting to put her back against the arm of the couch. Daemon grunted when she dumped her feet in his lap.
"You know," Karla started, "I remember when we used to pull all nighters all the time and never get tired..." she yawned, "What the hell happened to us?"
"You must have gotten old." Lucivar quipped. "I'm wide awake."
Marian leaned over, "He's just being showy. He's not as young as he used to be...trust me when I say that." she sighed.
Daemon snorted.
"Woman..." Lucivar said menacingly
"Oh hush! You know it's true." She turned to Jaenelle, "I think it's because we became parents..."
"So, that just brought to mind a new question, Lucivar." Karla said. "Does age affect your wingspan? If it affects your wingspan, does it affect your-" She glanced at his crotch, smiling wickedly. "You know."
Lucivar growled at her, "You really don't want to go there..."
Karla was about to respond when they heard one of the doors creak.
The door furthest to the left fell open as Aalinar stumbled out into the room. Lucivar and Daemon ran forward to catch him. "That was a blast...never make me do that again..." Aalinar mumbled as they set him on the couch.
"Sweetie, I hope you did it right, 'cause you never get another chance." Karla said, smirking. Aalinar flipped her off tiredly. Another set of doors creaked, and first door swung open. Aiden collapsed before anyone could reach him, slumping against the door with a tired smile.
"That couldn't have been worse. We do only get the pleasure of doing that once, right?"
Marian laughed, "Right, only once. Now come sit down"
He grunted, then looked at them sheepishly. "My muscles aren't working like they should." His uncle and father had just gotten him to the couch when the third set of doors squeaked.
The doors inched open, and the curtains around the room twitched, then swayed, then billowed outward as the door blast opened and a wind rushed out. Onyx staggered out, wobbled, and clung to the door, stray snatches of breezes playing with her oversized garb. Her eyes darted around the room, wide with wonder. "That's new." She said, more to herself than anyone else. "Did you know the breezes had color?"
Lucivar snorted, recovering first. "Sure. Could you cut the wind play?" He asked, the flapping curtains becoming a nuisance.
Onyx closed her eyes, then frowned. "No. He blended my Elemental magic with Craft, It's gonna take some getting used to before I can control them again... I'd forgotten how excited they get." She gathered herself up and made it halfway across the room before Daemon had the sense to help her.
Aalinar shook his head, trying not to pass out, "Are you ok?"
"I feel like I've eaten far too much, stretched thin. Does it take long before we get used to all of this power?"
"You get a lot of little surprises for the next few weeks." Karla said helpfully.
Onyx grunted. "Oh, joy in the morning. I hate surprises."
Aalinar laughed, "Especially war cries...So, what did you get?"
"Uncut Ebon-gray. Is it supposed to swirl?"
"Swirl?" Jaenelle said at once, getting to her feet and crossing to where Onyx had propped herself up against Aiden. "Let me see."
She frowned at the jewel, turning it over in her hands. "I've never seen anything like this, like the patterns in the sand, carved by all those winds. You said a 'he'-" but the fourth, and final, door creaked, and they turned in anticipation to see.
Light shown under the edges of the door a few seconds before it burst open. Everyone cried out as a brilliant light engulfed them all, before dying down to reveal one glowing being at the entrance. They all watched as Kallisto walked out, skin glowing a bright white. She paused for a moment, looking at the gathered crowd. Her eyes, nothing but light, scanned the room, as little glowing orbs gathered around her.
"Onyx, it's kinda windy in here." Kallisto said, her voice tired, but content.
"You're glowing. I think we're even." Onyx retorted, smiling.
Aalinar snorted, "Even, she says..."
"I'm what?" Kallisto looked at her hands, then to the orbs around her, "Whatdaya know…''
"Sit down before you hurt yourself." Lucivar muttered, shaking his head.
"Why? I feel fine!!" she chirped.
Saetan spoke for the first time that night. "Each time I think I've reached the point in age I've seen it all, something happens to say differently. Sit down, girl."
"No! I can't!! I've got too much energy!!" She began jumping to prove her point.
"You two need to sleep as much as you can between now and tonight." Daemon said, once again comfortably sprawled beside his wife.
Kallisto stopped bouncing, "Tonight?"
"Your Virgin Night Ceremony."
Kallisto 'erked', "Would it do any good if I told you the guy in there said no sex for twenty-four hours?" She smiled sweetly.
"What guy?" Jaenelle and Saetan asked.
"The guy who gave me this..." she held out her glowing Grey jewel.
"Is it supposed to glow like that?" Aalinar asked, watching the white light emit from the uncut jewel.
"It must be her light elemental. Onyx said the guy-who-I-can't-get-an-answer-about blended them. Now tell me what guy!" Jaenelle said again
"The funny disembodied voice." Kallisto said, a look of confusion on her face. "Didn't he talk to you?"
No one answered, but they did stare. Onyx looked at each face before throwing up her hands in exasperation. "Mother Night, Hell's Fire, and May the Darkness Be Merciful. Can't we do anything normally?"
"Guess not..." Kallisto said, batting one of the orbs away from her face, "What in the blue blazes are these things!?"
"Your magic. You've never had it go out of control on you before?" Onyx asked curiously.
"No. These bloody things have a mind of their own!!"
"You have to tame them." Onyx said, smirking. "I had to do it once. When my parents were still alive, I went out of control and stayed in my room for a full week because it was the only secure enough place. I knocked over the crystal and other breakables if I left the room."
She laughed, "That sucks...But..." she looked at the rest of them, "That...guy never talked to you? Even you Lady Jaenelle?"
"I don't know." Jaenelle said peevishly. "If I told you how many disembodied voices I've heard over the years, I'd be in bed rest until I could convince these overbearing featherheads I was fine." She said, with a pointed glare towards Lucivar, then Daemon, then her father. Karla's giggle told the girls this had probably already occurred.
"Well...It was deep and growly. And he hissed his S's." Kallisto said helpfully.
"He was old." Onyx said. "Said he was Darkness' stand in."
"Lorn." Jaenelle said suddenly. "That was Lorn! What in the Hell?"
"Lorn?" Kallisto cocked her head to the side, "Who is that?"
"Prince of the Darkness? The legend? Dragon queen's consort?" Onyx deadpanned, staring at Kallisto.
"Who?"
"Are you joking?"
"No I'm not." she glared at Onyx, "Stop looking at me like I'm stupid!"
"Kallisto- not stupid- but, he's legend. Everyone and their dog know about Lorn."
"How was I supposed to know? I'm sheltered."
Onyx sighed. "I'm sorry."
"S'ok...So, Lorn gave us these then?" she asked Jaenelle.
"Looks like it." Jaenelle said.
"What did you boys get?"
"Un-cut Ebon-Grey" said Aalinar
"Un-cut Black" Aiden said
"Wow guys!!" Kallisto squealed, "That's awesome!"
"Yeah...wonderful. Two more incredibly powerful Warlord Princes walking the halls..." muttered Lucivar.
"Don't forget a Light bearing, Gray-Jeweled Queen and an Ebon-Gray Black Widow with enough wind power to knock you into the sea."
"I know, right!? So coo-" she stopped suddenly, the light draining from her body. Saetan, being the closest, grabbed her as she fell.
"Kalli!" Aalinar yelled, trying to move to her.
Onyx grabbed his shoulder (for what little good it did) and tried to hold him down. "Sit down, idiot, the best you could do is make a pile on the floor."
"A girl after my own heart." Karla muttered, her ice-blue eyes amused.
"I'm fine... Just dizzy..." Kallisto mumbled, leaning against Saetan, "And for the billionth time, don't call me Kalli!"
"Sorry darling," he grinned from the couch, "I'm a creature of habit."
She grunted, sliding to the floor. "I'll kill you for that one day...all of you if you keep that name up..." she glared at her friends.
Onyx smiled down at her. "First you're gonna have to get off the floor."
"Yeah?" she smirked, "You better hope I don't, cause it looks like you're stuck on the couch. Whatcha gonna do then?"
"I'll poof you. Just see if I don't."
Aiden groaned, tipping his head back against the couch.
"This is going to be unbearable..." Lucivar groaned
Aiden looked at him, then back to Onyx with a sudden inspiration. "If you poofed her right now, your control might just lift her off her feet." He said, desperately hoping to avert the little wind and light competition he felt was in the making here.
Onyx turned to him blankly for a moment, then bared her teethe. "How about I try it on you, first?"
Aalinar was muttering again. "Phwa. A fart in the wrong direction would lift her off her feet, the way she eats."
Aiden stared at his cousin, as did his father, grandfather and uncle. Didn't the fool know how to diffuse a situation? Why must he always egg it on?
No one had the chance to laugh because in the next moment the blonde Queen's hand whipped out towards him and a large light beam shot him square in the chest. His breath came out in a whoosh before he doubled over. He gasped, looking up only to see Kallisto standing over him, her metal claws pointed at his throat. She straddled him, pushing the sharp tips in neck. She glared daggers at him.
Lucivar leaned back against the armrest of his wife's chair. "I knew he'd made a good choice." He muttered to Daemon, who grunted. Onyx bit back a chuckle as Aiden slipped his arm around her shoulders.
"Say you're sorry." she said sweetly, still glaring at him.
He smirked at her. She raised an eyebrow at him right before he knocked her claws out of the way, grabbed the back of her neck, and pulled her down for a kiss. He pulled away after a second, "I'm sorry..."
Aiden muttered "idiot." as the rest of the room relaxed slightly. Onyx elbowed him sharply, still grinning. "Don't think it's over yet." She whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
He smiled lazily at her, holding her in place on top of him. "Forgive me?" he asked.
Her answer was a bop on the head. "What's the matter with you!? Your parents, the head mistress, the Sadist, and the High Lord of Hell are in the same fucking room! And you kiss me!" Her face turned a bright shade of red, light gleaming dimly behind her skin.
"Ow! You bitch! What the Hell? I'm trying to be nice!"
"Oops." Karla canted in satisfaction.
Before anything else was said, Jaenelle intervened, "Ok, kids. Enough."
"Damn." Onyx muttered, disappointed. She looked plaintively at the woman. "Headmistress, couldn't you have allowed her to take him down a notch or two?"
Jaenelle shook her head, jerking a thumb at the now smirking Lucivar. "No, like father, like son, it probably would have only made him more smug. The lot of them are insane."
A unanimous 'Hey' by the males followed
Onyx swiveled to meet Aiden's eyes. "Yes you're insane, and no, I'm not taking it back. I will say you're not near as loony as that cousin of yours, but, hey."
"Give me a break..." Aalinar said with a bit of a snarl, "You need to hang around our dad's more. I promise they're worse than us."
"He may be." Daemon said flippantly, waving a hand in Lucivar's direction. "I, on the other hand, am perfectly sane." Jaenelle gave a cough that sounded like "bullshit."
"You married Cat. I hardly call that sane." Lucivar said smirking, at them both.
Twin snarls were thrown at him, and the parentals continued to bicker, unaware of the youngsters settling to watch. This is better than a show. Onyx said, sending the message to Aiden, Kallisto, and Aalinar. I wonder who the first one to pull a weapon will be.
Uncle Lucivar. A gold piece on it. Aiden said, propping his feet up on the coffee table.
Kallisto giggled, "I love your family, did you know that?" she looked at the boys.
Ssshhh! You're going to interrupt the fight! Onyx hissed. Me too, by the way.
"I figured, since you stuck around." Aalinar said smiling.
Damn and blast, you two! Distract them at your own peril! Onyx said, twisting to glare at them. You've got the thread links for a reason! She huffed and turned back towards the adults, propping a leg over Aiden's while using him as a pillow.
"I was perfectly in control, dammit! I already knew walking on air by then. Do you think, if I was going to plummet to my death from jumping off a tower, I would have said something?! Mother night, you males are so thick."
"I would have done the same thing Prothvar did." Lucivar snapped back.
"Which just proves you're an idiot!" Jaenelle screeched.
This is wonderful...Kallisto mused.
Studying up, Kallisto? Aiden teased lightly.
Onyx poked him in the ribs.
Bite me, bitch...Kallisto replied in a sing-song voice, leaning to snarl at him.
He's my bitch, so back off. Onyx said, tossing a grin to Kallisto.
Aalinar gwuaffed noisily, trying to hold in the laughter. Bitch? Ha!
Kallisto made a noise over the thread that sounded a bit like a whip popping.
Onyx's and Aiden's silent laughter filled the length. Hop too it, lover boy. Onyx crowed gleefully.
"Karla, don't you dare!" Jaenelle shrieked suddenly, breaking into their silent banter.
Karla grinned unrepentantly. "Jaenelle! It's such a great story though."
The headmistress' eyes narrowed to a thin line. "Karla, I forbid you to tell that tale." Karla pouted.
What story? Onyx asked.
Aiden shrugged. We don't know. Karla's held that one over Mom's head since we were first able to understand what the hell they were talking about.
Oooooh...we're serious now...Kallisto said, holding back laughter.
I'll take that bet now. Two gold on your mom pulling the weapon first. Onyx smirked. Anyone else for the pot?
No thank you...I'm good...Kallisto said, cuddling to Aalinar.
Aalinar?
He didn't say anything, only wrapped his wings around himself and Kallisto.
Fine, fine. If you haven't the balls to bet... Onyx said dismissively.
He ignored her, opting to hold Kallisto tighter as Saetan got in on the fight. "All of you stop. What are you fighting about now?"
Jaenelle continued to glare sullenly at Karla, both of which seemed to be having a rather deadly silent conversation going on.
"Nothing." Karla said sweetly, after a pause long enough to make them sweat. "Nonsense on my part."
Saetan snorted. "One would assume, Karla, the years that have passed between now and your adolescence would have made a mark of some sort."
"One would hope." Jaenelle grumbled as Karla tossed her head flippantly.
"Oh, but it has, Uncle Saetan. My fame as the ultimate terror grows yearly."
I dunno...She might have rivals this year... Aalinar sent to Aiden only.
Aiden groaned, resting his head on Onyx's shoulder. She blinked in confusion, but reached up to comb her fingers through his hair. Aiden? He shook his head slightly against her shoulder. There was no way he was going to repeat his cousin's comment. Not a way.
Kallisto noticed Aalinar's smirk at his cousin, What are you doing?
Nothing at all, love...He smiled at her.
She eyed him a moment before turning back to the fight at hand. She missed the portion before this but now it was something involving the males.
"I don't remember that!" Lucivar shouted at Daemon, who was grinning like a cat.
"Oh? Don't you? Because I'd be glad to show you all over again." His grin turned evil.
"I believe Daemon," Marian said from the couch, "We all know you're not sensible when you're drunk. It's entirely possible..."
"Don't help him, wife..." Lucivar growled.
"I remember now..." Karla said idly, "But I also remember you in the same state of mind and dress..." She said, smirking at Daemon.
Are they ever going to get to the point? Onyx grumbled to her friends.
Jaenelle put her hand over her eyes, "We're dropping this now..." she sighed, "We have other matters to attend to at the moment..."
Damn...Guess not. Kallisto sighed
Onyx sighed in frustration.
Fear gripped them both as all the adults turned towards them. "Yes?" Kallisto asked sweetly when nothing was said.
Onyx wondered briefly what it would be like to ride into battle with this friend of hers. With her Eyrien-like willingness to step onto any battlefield presented.
Jaenelle sighed. "Your virgin nights will take place here. All four of you need sleep, immediately- as much as you can manage."
"Geez, blunt much? Way to kill the light-hearted mood..." Kallisto said, paling a bit.
"You asked, short stuff." Karla said, stretching blissfully. "Bedtime, I'm all for it."
"Bar time is more like it..." Kallisto grumbled.
Onyx blinked. "I'm exhausted." She said, her voice quiet with it, as well as nerves. "Our rooms are where?"
Don't agree!! Kallisto hissed at her.
Kallisto, I need sleep, you need sleep. I don't care if they have to brew us something to knock us out, I am not going to do the thing that could screw our lives 7 ways to hell tired out because I was too busy arguing for the hell of it, with people who have centuries more experience than I.
Kallisto blinked at her. "I...fine." she resigned herself, turning to Jaenelle, "Where are our rooms?"
Jaenelle began to answer, but another answered before she had the chance. "I will sshow you." The sibilant voice was strikingly familiar to Kallisto, and it took her a few moments before she could place the voice. When she did, her eyes shot open and she jerked herself around.
"Shit...I know that voice..." She looked at the new woman in the room, "I heard you in my...in my dreams."
Onyx sat bolt upright, her exhaustion forgotten. Her eyes latched on the woman in the doorway, and her breath caught. Colors danced around her, the air moving in consent to form the illusion of great wings folded behind the woman. She shook her head and cleared the surprise away. That dream had nearly killed Kallisto; she would concentrate on that now.
"The landss' need wass great, and your coming woke me. I did not bring you into that dream, only explained it."
"Never said you did," Kallisto said, standing taller, "But that same dream could have killed that little girl and myself. How did that happen?"
"The messsage was not for me, little Queen. That ansswer you will have to come to yoursself. Now come, the both of you." The woman turned stiffly away, but Jaenelle forestalled her, if only for a moment.
"A moment." She said politely, then turned to the girls. "This is Draca, she cares for this place, has cared for it, longer than anyone can remember. Treat her with respect. You may go now."
Kallisto stared at Jaenelle for a moment, before bowing and standing next to Onyx. "Ready?"
"Of course." Onyx said, giving her a smile. As if they had a choice. "Shall we?"
"Do we go?" Aalinar cut in, "Or are our rooms located away from theirs?"
"You come with us, boyos." Lucivar said, as he and Daemon stood. "Last minute details, you know."
"Oh boy..." Aalinar said sarcastically as the girls left the room.
Onyx was fascinated by the air currents around the woman, as much as she tried to keep her mind clear of them. The wings were as stiff and unmovable as the woman herself, hardly shifting an inch. She knew it was her elemental magic that gave her the sight, and that the things could not be part of the woman in the physical world, but they had not the substance of the illusion. They were so much a part of the woman that when she creaked her ancient head around to look at them, one of the wings shifted out of the way. Fascinating.
"So...what are you exactly?" Kallisto asked, cocking her head to the side.
The woman gave a dry little laugh. "You newer generationss are getting ssharper. It took Ssaetan a near millennia to realize I was not ssome ancient Blood human of a race long gone from the landss. Jaenelle wass the firsst to know me. Tell me, little light witch, what iss it you see?"
Kallisto stopped walking to look at her. The longer she looked, the more confused she got. "I see your wings, but not in a physical sense. More than that, there is a...light? But it's dark, like a jewel's power."
Draca nodded, unsurprised, and turned to Onyx. "And you, Wind Walker? What iss it you ssee?"
"Wings like those depicted in ancient legends, draconic and powerful. They are dark and leathery, much like an Eyriens, but vast. I cannot dismiss them for an illusion, because they hold too much of you to be anything else..." Onyx peered at her questioningly. "The air traces a pattern around you, large and spiraling. It seems... drawn to the Jewels we wear, almost similar in aura..."
"Oh! I see them, too!" Kallisto peered harder, then turned around to stare at the closed doorways where Jaenelle, Karla, and Marian still resided. She turned back with a formulating expression before looking to Draca. "So... The Dragon Queen took a human form?" Onyx jumped, then stared. It hadn't even occurred to her- but, mother night, it was almost obvious!
"Sshe did." Draca turned and continued down the hallway.
Onyx felt the stirrings of excitement growing in her. "Then you know what will happen, what we have to do! You can tell us what the dream meant, and how she was able to walk it!"
Draca's voice drifted over her shoulder with an air of infinite patience. "I do not, and I can not. The gift of the Weaver wass my daughter'ss, which sshe passsed onto the Golden Aracna. It hass morphed over the yearss, and now iss ssomething entirely different from what it began. Ass are all my giftss. You two are an example of that, once before hass Lorn blended the powerss, and in that only within the Jewel rankingss: Jaenelle'ss Twilight Jewel. Now another power alien to that of the Jewel'ss sstrength hass been blended. I cut the Blood loosse the moment I gave them my sscaless. I do not know the ansswerss to your quesstionss."
Kallisto sighed loudly, "Well fuck..."
"Thesse are your roomss." Draca motioned to the two across the hall from one another. "Learn quickly your talents, Ladiess. The tidess will not wait for you." With that she turned and was gone.
Kallisto looked at Onyx, "I totally didn't think this could get any sucky-er..."
"It could be worse..." Onyx said mildly. "You could have both arms cut off and be incapable of wiping your own ass..."
"And on that crude note," She turned to the closest door, "I'm gonna go take a nap."
Onyx smiled. "Oh, Kallisto?"
"Yeah?" she turned to look at her.
"You're glowing like a firefly. Do you think that's a turn on for your boyo?"
She looked down at her hands, turning them over. "I don't know. I wish I could turn it off..." She smiled slyly at Onyx, "You think Aiden will like the currents blowing around him? Cuz they're kinda cold..."
Onyx smirked. "'Tis a brisk breeze which frisks.'" She intoned snippily. "Maybe the glow will have lessened once you wake up."
"Hope so. Don't know if I can sleep with this light..."
"Then I'd work on fixing it. Remember what I told you the first day? Magic is Will."
"Ugh...I'll will it later. I'm tired." She opened the door and strode in, "Night night." She said before the door shut.
Onyx stood before her door a couple of moments, smiling softly at the air currents around her, shifting and sliding colors in her vision. All of these were pleasantly dark; heavy with the power of the place. Then she opened the door and slipped silently in, fully intending a few hours of sleep before the ordeal of the night.
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Aiden and Aalinar were still in the same room as before, only they were alone with the older males now, all three of which were sitting opposite of them. Aalinar cleared his throat, "Shouldn't we be sleeping or something?"
The older males exchanged glances, first the brothers, then the father and son glances. Daemon and Saetan turned near identical gazes onto Lucivar, who shifted, rustling his wings irritably. "Hell, no. This is one of the most important things they're going to hear on the subject. I'm. Not. Doing. It. One of you silver tongued bastards do it."
"Well?" Aiden said into the silence, as father and mirror battled it out in a stare down.
"I'm tired. Play rock, paper, scissors, I don't care. But I really want to get out of here." The Eyrien boy leaned his head back.
Daemon snarled finally. "Night Blast it! Why me?"
Saetan snorted. "Because I outstrip you in years and your brother's a blunt, clumsy-tongued ass."
"Never thought I'd be glad about it either..." Lucivar mumbled.
"Shut up, Prick." Daemon snapped, and then closed his eyes, as if steeling himself for an exceedingly difficult task. Moments later his eyes opened, regarding first son, then nephew with unyielding golden gaze. "I am going to sum up what Saetan has told you over the week. Tonight- whether you succeed or not- it will all be about intent. If you intend to plow the girl until she can not take it any longer, on this night, that is what will happen. If you get lost in the feel of the girl, you will lose. If your intent is to protect her, love her, carry her, then there is nothing you can do wrong tonight, so long as that intent stays to the fore of your mind."
"You really have nothing to worry about, Uncle. That is first on our minds no matter what we are doing." Aalinar said.
"As long as you know your asses are on the line if you screw this up, I don't think we have a problem." Lucivar said lazily. Saetan cuffed him.
"Hmph...whatever." Aalinar yawned.
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Onyx drifted aimlessly through air, exploring the colors and strengths it held, soaring like a falcon in clear skies. The smell was pleasant, she could see for miles, endless miles. The sweet rushing of wind was the only sound she heard other than the soft, feather wmphing of her wings; a music only she could hear as she danced patterns into the colored sky.
And then, another music began to come, at first unnoticeable in its softness, and then growing stronger, somehow catching her attention through the dream. The colors wavered, shifted, melded back to reveal another scene. Onyx stood on two legs, dressed in her normal garb, sitting at a table as Kallisto hummed a quiet tune. And suddenly she was alert, still within the dream, but conscious of the comings and goings; it was very similar to weaving a web at the edge of the Twisted Kingdom.
"Kallisto?"
"Onyx? How did you get here?"
"Your singing disturbed me." She said, dryly. "I think we're in a Waking Dream."
Kallisto froze, eyes widening, "You mean...like before? With the battle?"
"I don't know... maybe, or maybe just a vision we both have to see..."
She stood, turning on her heel towards the darkness, "Nuh-uh! No way! I'm outta here!!"
"If you can." Onyx said quietly. "Waking Dreams don't let us go until we've seen what it wants..."
"I don't want to see it!! Not again!"
Onyx hugged her. "I'm sorry, Kallisto. We're going to have to see this through. I'm here, though, and I won't let anything happen to you."
Kallisto huffed, "Well, okay, lets' get it over with..." She looked around, "So we just sit here?" She paused, "Deja vu..."
Onyx opened her mouth to reply, but was cut short by the sound sweeping into the room, unidentifiable and wild. They turned their heads towards it just as it hurtled into a gale of raw, throbbing noise. Screams tore through walls, wails shattered windows. The howls literally blew the house away from them, and with a jerk, they stumbled onto sticky, wet ground.
"Ack! What the-" Kallisto looked wildly around. She looked at the floor and screamed.
Onyx stood, eyes wide in shock, staring at the bodies of the gruesome dead. The lump in front of her started to take shape, but then her mind blanked out, and she turned away from it, trying to keep it a lump. A bloody, slimy, fleshy, womanish lump. But everywhere she looked there was other carnage, a child's head stared at her with unseeing eyes, so young its sex was unidentifiable due to the lack of body. She gave a little strangled gasp, trying to breathe.
The air was putrid, smelling of shit, blood, and bile. The smell of a massacre. The only males she saw were old or very young. There were only a few of the Blood among the dead. She recognized the ruins of a village now, the houses alight with fire or smoldering to an end, logs crashing when the fire ate through enough of the support. A Landen village, defenseless.
Kallisto backpedaled, running to an open spot before falling to her knees. She convulsed, losing her stomach in the process.
Onyx stumbled after her, numbly.
"What-" She retched again, "What h-happened? Who would do this?"
Onyx just shook her head. "This is Terrielle. Lady Jaenelle would have known if this had happened in Kaeleer."
"But that doesn't answer who did this!" She screamed, anger glinting like lightning in her violet orbs as she scanned the remnants of the bloodbath.
"Hey, lookie here. Look's like we missed a couple." Onyx jerked around at the leering, ugly voice. A group of ten Blood Males stood behind them, everyone of them a Warlord.
The young Queen rose slowly on unsteady legs, "Did you do this?" She asked them quietly
"Oh, we've got a Queenie here." One cackled, and the others grinned. They all shifted to fan out around them.
Kallisto growled low in her throat, "I take that as a yes."
Onyx moved up beside her, a strange calm smoothing away her shock.
"And if we did?" The one who seemed the leader of the group.
Onyx sneered. The Warlord was nothing more than Yellow Jeweled.
"Then you die." She said quietly, and snapped her magic out as she would her whip. The man fell, sliced in searing pieces.
"I'll kill you all, you bastards!" Kallisto screamed. Light engulfed her body, slowly getting brighter. Onyx shivered as she felt power growing, gathering in the light around her small friend. The light witch screamed, sending raw power on her light streams towards the men. Five fell at her feet, burnt to a cinder.
The remaining four stood dumbly, staring at them and the absence of their cohorts. Onyx saw the fear in their eyes, dawning in the shock; she felt a smile grow, and knew it wasn't a nice one. "I don't know if this is all just a dream, or you are truly real, but it does not matter. One of you will walk away from this encounter. One of you, to warn whomever with you that a Queen is coming to this land." She sliced out with her power again, and three fell. The remaining one struggled against his bonds. "And I'll make a personal vow. When I see you low, rotting bastards, I will remember this carnage. We will return home now to learn how to make you suffer, and suffer greatly for this offense to Blood duty and custom. Remember that, because I will find you, and when that happens, you will die."
The man blindly ran away, screaming the entire time. Kallisto turned, looking at the mess of bodies. She froze.
"Kallisto?"
Kallisto stumbled forward, dropping to her knees, "No..." she picked something up, something small. Onyx moved up beside her, freezing when she saw the bundle in Kallisto's arms.
"Why? She was just a little girl…" Kallisto cried, holding the body of the same little girl, Cyril, she saved before. "WHY!?" she screamed at Onyx.
Onyx knelt beside her, tears slipping down her face. "Because this is where we need to be." She said quietly. "The land's been calling loudly, its people screaming, and we've heard none of it. We can't have a do over, but we can start preparing for our travels this summer." They sat in silence for a while, Kallisto rocking the small body, her own frame shaking with silent sobs.
Kallisto felt a jerking on her body. "Not yet..." she whispered, "Please wait!" But it was too late. They hit their own bodies hard, waking them.
The only thing Onyx heard was a loud anguished scream from across the hall.