*BEGIN: CHAPTER 20*
//SET LOCATION: THE ACHERUS
Any time Jaqlyn moved her lips to speak she was careful to open her mouth a bit wider than necessary, revealing two rows of pearl-colored teeth. They were in the shape of little tombstones, square and almost completely flat on top from years of grinding under stress, a nasty habit.
A young Scarlet foot soldier, male, could not take his frightened eyes away from her face. The undead witch had requested a young man specifically this run, since she'd asked for middle aged women the past five, to be shackled to her wall securely by the time she returned from Tirisfal Glades, and she was used to getting her way. The boy's body had been covered by her terrified underlings in some black fur he did not recognize—for it is cold at such altitudes, and what good is cold meat?—all according to code.
"I don't want you to think I will go unpunished for your death," Jaqlyn spoke softly, a breathy cloud exhausting from her lips at every uttered syllable. "It's really very inconvenient—I don't seem to process my meals correctly, so that I am always hungry—a curse in itself."
The youth swallowed, watching the tongue work over her teeth in the normal ways of speech, motions not unlike chewing. His mistress was lacking a set of functioning eyeteeth, and his destiny was to have his flesh crushed and ground between the enamel slowly until she could work it free, bit by bit, while he was still alive. "M- Miss," he finally managed in a pathetic, choking yelp—the sounds of a man grieving his own death.
A demanding, brutal pounding at the dead hag's chamber door stalled the proceedings. With a slick smile, Jaqlyn placed a bony finger in the air, signaling her guest to wait a moment, before striding across the room and answering the door.
As soon as the portal cracked, Abby thrust her hand inside, heaving the entry open powerfully. "I found her," she snarled, "now hold your end of the deal."
"Abby! Come in, come in," Jaqlyn gushed acid-sweet, sidestepping gracefully with welcoming gestures.
Abby grunted irately and obliged, stepping heavy and impatient into the necromancer's bedchambers. "I found her in Quel'Thalas on Angelina's advice," she growled, eager to finish her business with this woman.
The shackled soldier watched Abby enter, a snarl forming across his lips as anger replaced fear. "You! Traitor! Bitch!" he howled, struggling against his shackles. "What happened to her ribbon, wench? Did it find your conscience!?"
Jaqlyn, always more interested in trivial gossip before serious business, appeared delighted. "Abby! My meal likes you," she giggled elegantly. "Tell me, sweet food, and I may let you go—what is your history with this woman?"
"That unsightly whore led a prison revolt that spilled out into my village. She cut my infant sister's head for a ribbon around her neck!" he growled hatefully. An entire life spent begging for an opportunity to meet this woman again had finally seen its purpose—unfortunately, it did not appear to include revenge.
Jaqlyn was giddy—Avarett had told her this story before his untimely murder, and she hadn't believed it then. "Was it red? That's Abby's favorite color, you know! Oh, Abby is her name. Lucky boy, it must be a comfort for you to know that before you die."
Abby stamped her foot impatiently. Abby wasn't really her name, and she slaughtered the child for its stepfather, furious with his wife's cheating heart—not the ribbon—although it was red, her favorite color. "I gave it to someone else," she answered shortly, doing her best to make the whole ordeal seem as uninteresting as possible.
"Mm, you're not interested in teasing him," Jaqlyn frowned, toying with the ends of ebony that had worked their way from her bun. "I suppose, then, you ought to remove yourself from my presence before you really piss me off. I've set you at a task; I expect it completed," she dictated with a sudden chilly sneer.
Abby returned the unpleasantries. "I just said, you can find her in Silvermoon City."
"You're a liar. Last warning," Jaqlyn hissed, pointing toward the door.
Wordlessly Abby reached into her bag, producing a bundle of human hair which she tossed to the hag, who inspected it closely, then smiled. "Ahh… so my darling made it after all."
"If you want me to go get her, you're out of luck—she's got friends in high places. Nadia?" Abby glanced wearily toward the door.
"Yes, yes, Nadia. Try Silverpine Forest," Jaqlyn smirked, eyeing the clump of hair in her hand with a satisfied smile, not bothering to watch Abby leave.
The knight shut the door rather heavily behind her, brows knitted hard together. Jaqlyn previously resided in Scholomance, but shoved her way into The Acherus to place herself closer to those knights she had, or wished to obtain, a particular power over—Abby included. Completely unaccustomed to slavery, the ordeal was beginning to wear on her nerves. Her anger built with every step as she turned the situation over in her mind. Another death knight was walking in the opposite direction, but Abby did not shift aside, taking for granted the smaller female heading right for her would move instead.
As it happened, the other female was Saiynt, and was thinking the same thing. The undeads slammed right into one another and with a chorus of angry snarls pushed back against each other with equal force so that both women fell back into the opposite walls.
Abby caught herself against the stone with a sneer, identifying the other woman as her hood fell back. "Watch it, Saiynt!" she growled hatefully, righting her stance. "Dumb tart…"
The feeling was mutual. "Check yaself, bitch! You own't wanna piss me awf."
Abby shot her rival a nasty glare and prepared to swing before remembering that Nadia was waiting, and she didn't have time for a petty fist fight.
"Whass'a'matter, Uda? Did it just a'curr to ya I'd kick your ass?" Saiynt snarled, dwarfed by Abby even on her toes.
Abby scoffed but turned away. "Cute," she grumbled sarcastically as she stalked off.
"Bitch," Saiynt repeated as she continued toward a conference with Arthas, completely unaware that the entire exchange had easily permeated Jaqlyn's bedroom door.
//SET LOCATION: STORMWIND CITY
Howls and screams erupted from a tiny house just outside of Stratholme so shrill and desperate that it was a wonder they never pierced the city itself. A quiet woman with an unsmiling face sat near the hearth, completely absorbed in the fire in hopes that its roar could drown the slams and crashes in the attic.
"Momma?" six-year old Jibreel questioned innocently, tugging her apron.
"Dinner's almost ready, sweetheart," the woman answered robotically.
"I know," Jibreel returned sheepishly then continued on with her real question, "Why are we so mean to him?"
"We're not mean, baby—we just have to keep your brother skinny."
"But other boys make fun of him for being so skinny."
The mother stirred the fire with a hot poker, smiling as if she hadn't heard the comment. "Go set the table for momma, sweetheart."
"Jibreel, you're dozing a bit," Ex frowned, shaking the curvaceous paladin gently.
She lifted her head off of Ex's shoulder. She was a bit startled to find herself resting on a park bench—she didn't even remember sitting down. "Sorry. I didn't sleep well last night, I…"
"You don't need to excuse yourself. You're more than welcome to fall asleep, but we should get to an inn first," he offered, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to rub her back. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Mmhm. I think I was starting to have a dream," she answered, ignoring all physical contact.
Ex nodded his head with sympathy, trying to think of something comforting to say to an orphan with no past. Instead, he was distracted by the presence of a gruff-looking warrior across the way. "Ugh! It's my cousin," he grumbled, but regretted it immediately after.
"Huh? Your--?" Jibreel scanned the area herself hazily, before her own eyes fell on the warrior. "Oh, Light, it's Leland!" she squealed, her eyes widening and lighting to burn with twice the intensity of the sun. Before Ex could utter a plea to reconsider, she jumped to her feet and rocket across the busy stone path to nearly collide with the man himself. "Leland! Leland!"
Leland did not so much as flinch, but stood just as he had before, even as the woman stopped fractions of an inch from his side. "Oh, it's you two," he muttered uninterestedly, face skyward.
"Leland!" Jibreel repeated, jumping once with a broad smile. "Wanna join the Scarlet Crusade!?"
He laughed humorlessly, never removing his eyes from the green foliage above. "No."
"Oh hell, why did I even open my mouth?" Ex grumbled, joining Jibreel in his own time.
"Awwh! But don't you care about the fate of your homeland?" Jibreel questioned, then knitted her brows together. "What are you staring at?"
"Angel ran off and climbed up this tree in a fit of bratty rage," Leland answered simply, drawing a flask out of his jacket. "I don't know if she's stuck or just ignoring me."
Ex lifted his eyebrows. "Angel?"
On cue a tiny half-elfin head popped up from between branches, her small, pudgy face distorted with anger. "I'm not coming down until you give me answers, mister!" she shouted.
"Oh! A mutt," Jibreel gasped, surprised. "Leland… you're not this girl's father, are you?"
"Light, Leland. What did you do now?" Ex grumbled.
"Yeah! Are you my dad?" the tiny girl demanded.
Leland took a swig, covering a heavy sigh. "Oh hell, why does everyone jump there? No, kiddo, I ain't your fuckin' dad. I'm just watchin' you until I can find somewhere else to put you."
"Who would trust you with their child?" Ex asked, clearly concerned.
A vein pulsed softly above Leland's left eyebrow. "Can you not see that I'm a little lightdamn busy right now!?"
"I'll get her down!" Jibreel offered spritely. She set her shield against the base of the tree and grasped the lowest branch, lifting her feet to test its strength before hoisting herself atop. Once secure, she repeated the process.
Leland paused mid-drink to crane his neck. "Damn, she's got the ass and the tits, ain't she?"
"Ugh. You're such a prickhole," Ex sighed. "But I can lecture you later. I've got a couple serious questions for you while you're around, so pay attention," the mage demanded, snatching the warrior's flask—a surefire way to hold his attention at least temporarily. "How old are you?"
"Are you leading me into some joke about immaturity?" Leland snarled, foiling Ex's plot by producing an identical flask from his boot.
Angel's wide, doe-like eyes expanded even more so as Jibreel settled right beside her within the tree. "Woooow… this branch is stroooong."
"Gee, thanks," Jibreel frowned, but shook the comment off quickly. "Angel, is it? Wanna tell me how you ended up with Leland?"
Ex rolled his eyes. "No, nothing that petty. Just answer the question."
"Thirty-one," Leland returned gruffly.
"Then you're old enough to remember…" Ex rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Jibreel's been wondering where she came from lately. Do you know anything?"
"She's not related to you." Leland polished off the flask, then ripped the other away from Ex.
"Well, that's comforting, but not what I was looking for."
Angel crossed her arms, pouting. "That's why I'm up here! He just took me from this orphanage, where this really nice lady was fussing over me, and I really liked it there, and I was doin' just fine, but then he showed up, and he just threw me at a bed in an inn and said go to sleep and wouldn't tell me anything, and I'm not coming down until he tells me who he is and why he stole me from my friends!"
Jibreel scratched the back of her neck, taking a moment to digest the long rant. "Oh, okay, uhh… Well, you're awful hard to talk to up here, don't you think? Tell you what, I'm not really sure myself what he's doing with you… but what if I tell you what I know about him? Will you come down then? And we can demand answers together. I'm an orphan too, you know."
Angel appeared skeptical, but the woman made a logical point, so she nodded.
"Okay, where to start? Humm… Well, when I was little I was passed around a few times, but eventually I ended up with a man named Avarett Crysys, who's kind of one of my heroes," she blushed, scratching the back of her head sheepishly. "Leland is actually my mentor's grandson—and he looks just like him, except always angry. He's also Ex's second cousin or something… ah, Ex is my friend, the blonde down there, see? The point is, I used to see him all the time," as she spoke, her voice became more level, more serious, more like herself, "actually, if it weren't for Leland and his brother, I'd probably be roaming around Lordaeron as a zombie right now… Leland's a good person, and I think he'll take good care of you if you let him."
"He said I was ugly and calls me 'mutt,'" Angel returned, frowning.
Leland replaced the flask in his jacket, pausing for a thoughtful moment before speaking. "...She came out of a lot of scandal. There's really no reason for her to remember it."
"Hey, that's not fair," Ex frowned. "If you know something, she wouldn't want you to protect her from it. Besides, how awful can her blood family be?"
"I didn't say they were awful… but it ain't none'a my damn business anyway." Leland grunted.
Jibreel hopped out of the tree, holding the small half-elf in her arms. "Leland, you owe this girl an explanation, don't you think?"
//SET LOCATION: BOOTY BAY
Chord Voidbreaker held her short sundress down with one hand and held her sunhat with the other, protecting her modesty and her complexion from the cool sea breeze and contrasting warm sun. She'd only visited this town once before and fell in love with it then, with its cultural mixings and clear waters and goblins with their funny mannerisms. Sadly, her entire experience was dampened heavily by a bout of sickness that had seized her unexpectedly, but it remained vivid enough that she did not want to leave. Trying to appear as well as possible she swung her sandaled feet gently and carefully maintained a bubbly aura, even as her husband's back was to her while he conversed with a human boy.
"No, I haven't seen anyone like that… I wish I could be more helpful," the boy answered, in a language Chord didn't recognize but assumed was Common.
"Not at all. I appreciate your time." Cevian answered politely. "Now go practice, or you'll forget how."
The boy chuckled and took a polite bow, "Thank you, instructor!" Then he turned away with a wave.
Cevian returned the gesture politely as he returned to perch beside his wife. "Sorry, sweetheart, he hasn't seen her either. Sending messages across factions is difficult, and it wouldn't surprise me if we don't see her at all today."
"I'm not worried about it, I like it here," she answered lazily with a soft wave of her hand. "Honey, why is it that any time we run into someone you used to know, they call you instructor or something like that?" She asked with a soft tilt of her head.
Cevian watched Chord for several moments, doubting the seriousness of the question, before answering almost cautiously. "That's because I was a teacher, dear—you knew that."
The tiny woman's eyes light up with realization. "Ohhh! That makes sense, heehee! I never really put that together before," she giggled, covering her mouth daintily.
Cevian laughed, too; her bright disposition never failed to make him smile. "Oh, honey," he chuckled, patting her head gently, "it's such a virtue that you're cute, isn't it?"
She nodded her head in agreement, though she knew not what to, and this small gesture alone was nearly enough to throw her tiny frame off a precarious balance atop the wooden box. There was a burning in her ears since they left Stormwind so strong that she didn't even notice she was about to fall until her husband seized her shoulders quite suddenly and righted her position.
"Chord, are you all right?" His voice took a serious note and he kept his hands on her as if he expected a repeat performance as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
The contact closed Chord's eyes briefly. She didn't like to stretch the truth, but she didn't like to worry him either. The latter anxiety won quickly, and she carefully shook her head. "No, I'm just a bit sleepy. Oh! Oh look! There she is!"
Cevian lifted his head to watch a small, spritely redheaded blood elf walk casually down the gangplank of The Maiden's Fancy, the ferry between Ratchet and Booty Bay. Daynha had spotted them first and wore an ear-to-ear smile as she approached the pair just off the dock.
"Daynha!" Chord jumped up so quickly she nearly threw herself off balance.
"Yes, yes, it's so good to see you again!" Daynha wrapped her arms around the other woman in a tight but brief hug. "You look cute as always."
Chord flushed lightly with a broad smile. "Aw shucks! I bought something for you earlier… humn, where'd it go?" She turned her head to the right and to the left, searching the wooden dock.
"You left it at the inn," Cevian advised, gesturing up the dock. "Do you remember the room?"
"I do! I'll be right back, okay?" Chord beamed at Daynha as she turned to rush up the dock.
"Careful! Don't get lost!" Cevian cautioned, watching his tiny wife trot away.
Daynha snickered and leaned forward, speaking barely above a whisper, "Run along, little Chord! The adults are talking now," she mocked with a good-natured smile.
Cevian turned and flashed his eyes at the holy warrior, though he was not really angry. It was in the woman's playful nature to tease, and she brought a valid point. "Honestly, now, she's older than you are."
"Barely!" Daynha cackled, her devilish smile only spreading. "She's—what—six years older than your son? You could have adopted her!"
Cevian's irritated expression broke for one of realization. "Ahhh, now that sounds kinky. Do you think I still could?"
Daynha erupted into giggles, steadying herself with a hand on his shoulder. "You're a dirty old man, Cevian… but I take it you didn't really call me here to chat?"
"My wife has missed you sorely," Cevian answered, lifting his eyebrows at Daynha, but he could tell by her expression she wasn't buying it. Always the businessman, he did indeed have an ulterior motive."…But if you could run an errand for me, I would be in your debt."
She exhaled her last giggles, shaking away the humor and trading it for a sudden rush of seriousness. "You're kidding, right?" she asked, taking a step to look directly up into his face. "I am forever in your debt! Light, if it weren't for you, I'd have been forced to give up my son… And I mean that!"
Cevian scoffed, even though he knew she was probably right. "Don't be ridiculous. Anyhow, it's a small favor. That man you… associate with… Ugh, his name escapes me. The brute, always drunk."
"You mean Vaschel," Daynha shook her head with a smile.
"It sounds familiar," he concurred, reaching into his robes to withdraw a folded letter. "I need you to give this to him."
Almost cautiously she took the parchment into her hands, carefully unfolding it with a suspicious glance. "That's all? You wanted to meet me just for--?" once fully exposed, she found that the paper contained writing, but a language which she could not read. "I don't understand. Vaschel can barely read Thalasian; I really doubt he'll know what this is."
"That's all right, I'm certain he can locate himself a translator," Cevian answered nonchalantly.
"I hope this isn't a threat or something," Dayhna hissed suspiciously, but the man's expression did not waver, so she continued, "But I'll make sure he gets it… under one condition."
"What happened to forever in my debt?"
"Just hear me out," she took a deep breath, brushing her hair out of her face. "I want you to… to at least consider coming home." She paused, watching Cevian's expression fall, before continuing in a bit of a rush. "Listen! Listen, I know that you're tough, and that that the withdrawals don't make any difference to you, and you do make very valid points about the destructive forces of magic. But let's be honest with ourselves here! You moved Chord to Stormwind City because those lanky purple bastards keep a moonwell there," she accused albeit sympathetically. "She doesn't look well. If she suffers any time you move away from it for a few days… you're going to kill her with your stubbornness."
"I appreciate your concern," he lied stiffly, "and will take it into consideration."
//SET LOCATION: THE ACHERUS
"I said I might let you live—not live comfortably," Jaqlyn smiled, blood and thin strips of skin and muscle squeezing between her teeth and she spread her lips back. The white enamel began to stain with the warmth of his thick fluid, a permanent taint to show the world her true nature until she replaced the whole set with another from her victims.
Every time the young soldier thought he had cried away the last drop of liquid within his body, the ungodly hag took another slow bite from his left shin, crushing her teeth together over a small chunk of flesh until she could work it loose, and another wracking sob shook his shoulders.
"Kill me," he pleaded in a tiny whisper, before erupting, "killmekillmekillmekillme!" over and over until his voice could offer no more words and he fell into wails once more.
A heavy, impatient rapping to her chamber door and she released her hold on the soldier's leg, choking down the dark blood that had already pooled in her mouth. "Who is it?" she demanded impatiently. No one answered, but this lack of response was just as good as a name. She sprang from her crouch near the soldier's legs and hurried to the door, wiping her mouth on her sleeve so that only a red smear remained. "Mister Xanthic!" she smirked, pulling her door open quickly. She scarcely heard the defeated hysterics of the man behind her as it became clear his suffering would be extended. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"I need you to fix something," he answered plainly. He caught the crimson smear across her lips and chin and looked away from her face in disgust. He wasn't unaccustomed to hedonism—far from it—but had often wondered in the past if Jaqlyn's self-indulgent foolishness knew any limit. Nevertheless, she'd mended him in life and was likely better at it now.
"What sort of something?" she asked, fingers twitching with a barely-restrained desire to touch the man.
He gave his head a hard tilt one way and then the other, playing for her the audible grinding crunch that had antagonized him all afternoon. The noise made her smile.
"Ahh, I believe I know the problem—but before I send you out for materials, let me have a look?" she asked breathily, sliding her tiny fingers around his wrist to draw him into her bedroom.
*END: CHAPTER 20*
-last update 3-23-10
^BEGIN: DISCUSSION^
-Escalus as a matter of fact, I would lovejust as much if you weren't all a bunch of sick fucks!... Not. You're probably right. I think night elves are stupid looking xD Vaschel is also not a big fan of them… as you can see. Most of my BE's are not fond of them, although a few don't really care, like Negate and Cevian and Fae, but they do carry an 'I'm better than you' attitude. But that's with any other race x) I am quite fond of Vaschel, I won't lie. I think Negate is still my favorite, but Vaschel's close xD
-Tea oooi! Reply to my messages already giiiiiirl. ;) All of you seem to really like that nelf comment xD That whole argument was one of my favorite so far. Although that part was kinda the focal point. OH HEY. Now you know what the hair was for :3 That was quick, wasn't it? See? Ask and ye shall receive. If only I gave other answers that fast, amirite?
Nooote to self. Get on the hawthawt love scenes.
My BF can't stand Daynha. He reaaaally hates her.
I GET IT! And yes. Yes, I know for a fact that at least 40 people played WoW when you did, because you've been to raids! :P Just kidding. My BF played it back when 40 man raids were big. He was a holy priest on a PvP server XP
Gnomes caaan be kiiinda cute as long as they don't /silly or anything. Their voices are sooo annoying. And they say the stupidest shit. Like not even funny, just dumb. Puuuunt. Gnome priests are cute (why don't you play one of those? shift,,) warlocks and mages… fine. Rogues is getting more annoying and gnome warriors are like the bane of my existence. Thank gawd I don't run into many.
Not to self! Avoid Tea's server =)
How do you pronounce Tearle anyway? I just call you 'Tea,' like, you can drink it.
-Ren THAT WAS FAST. So was this one! I'm on a friggin roooooll. I was actually starting to wonder what happened to you. No worries though, you gotta have time to actually play the game.
Vaschel is a REALLY girly name xD It kind of reminds me of like, Velvet. It's also the name of an indy brand of purses and heels xD Gaaaay.
I know xD I'm a genius. I wonder if it shouldn't be humor-romance. Or humor-drama. I don't wanna drop drama out of the title though, because of parts where… okay, like that flashback where Lisys was still alive, laying naked and three fourths dead in a forest. That's dramatic. :3 But I think humor-drama will make people scratch their heads. xD
-Darkmedow NOW YOU KNOW! Ahhh the NE comment's fame is thrided. You went from an NE huntard to a NE death kn00b then back to an NE huntard? XD maaan. You're like the punching bag of the internet, ain'tcha?
-Nub Abby is new to her existence as a death knight. Kind of like when Dawnn had to pretty much start completely over as a paladin since he used to be a priest, but not as extreme. Hahaha, you thought I was gonna try to throw HP in here? You crazy!
Thank you xD The middle aged cat and the new puppy is srsly the best way to describe Vaschel and Phasilica like 90% of the time.
No, you shouldn't piss off the healer xD Vaschel does this semifrequently. There's another group that's notorious for it but that'll come up later.
-Everyone I'm predicting a long wait on this next chapter. I could be wrong, so check back often. I think it'll be mid-January (I'll be moved into a new apartment by then, jeeeze time flies) and so MERRY CHRISTMAS WINTERVEIL CHANNUKAH WHATEVER. I know I said that last chapter but that was a just in case. This one's for reaaaal.
Basically, I think I'm going to overhaul all the chapters previous again. I haven't since April, can you believe that? I don't intend to change anything major or even content related, so there's really no reason to go back unless you need a refresher :3 I'll also be removing old author's notes, where the review I replied to got pushed off anyway. Jeeze, right now I'm at 88, can you believe it? I mean half of them are from Tea, ( :P) but when I started this I never thought… anyway, during this time I might pick up a side project or two and brainstorm with Tea if she's not busy.
Which reminds me! Tea's wrapped up now, so if you catch a mistake in this chapter… that's why. Tis the season, y'know, so she hasn't edited this one at all.
OH HEY! You know, I was looking around this site (I'm actually like really new to , srsly this is my first ever fanfiction and I didn't read them before) and it turns out you can track your story stats! I'll be damned!
--PAY ATTENTION NOW BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT—I learned that, since March of '09, I've had over ten thousand hits to this story! Ooomg! Now hits don't mean much, and I know that you're probably thinking "ten thousand? Big deal, I had that many ages ago on my story" but it was really tough for me so SHUDDUHFUCKUP. I'm on the fav's list of 30 of you and 16 have me on author alert, whatever the hell that is. Some of these names overlap on both lists, but I also like to think that some of you are like Kyn and just have me in their browser favorites ;3 That any a you weirdos even wanna read this is just so excititing. I'mma fall over.
I had my BF craft this present for you. :3
[ http://thecrawlspace(DOT)com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/thankyouforreading(DOT)jpg ]
Copy it to the URL bar and replace the (DOT)s with a period.
((PSSST. Guess who's in that picture? Yeaaaaah. It's closer than you think.))
^PEACE^