AN: I am back! Sorry about being MIA for these past few months! Life, right? Well, now I am back, and here is a nice long chapter for everybody to enjoy! Once again, this is a slow burn, and we are in this for the long haul right?! Right! Here is Arch 1 Chapter 2, The Path Continues!
Cold air brushed past. Her dark skin illuminated in the dark halls. The groan of death before her. Sylvanas glared down the pathway. The clip of her boots echoed off the stone walls. Blood red eyes bored ahead. Her mind twisted in anger. Memories of her dream flashed across her mind. 'Why wont these horrid thoughts leave me?!' she scowled. Her nails digging into her fist.
Lanterns lit the dreaded halls. Her dusky hair swayed behind her. A tight turn in the path opened up. Her vision filled with whisps of souls flashing by her. The chilly magic hung openly in the air. A towering figure, dwarfing her own, stood out. Dark markings dragged up its arms as chains hung down its wrists. "Jailer." Sylanvas spoke; her haunting voice irked in respect.
The Jailer glanced, his glowing eyes bearing down on the undead elf. "Sylvanas." he boomed. His movements shifting his massive weight. His eyes turned back to the front.
"You wanted to see me?" Sylvanas asked. Her puzzled irritation hung to every word. The tips of her ears shifted in her emotions.
A thud echoed off the chamber walls as the Jailer stepped away. His massive figure moving slowly towards an exit. "Yes, I have need to use our new weapon again." He spoke; his tone almost demanding. The heavy steps sent shockwaves up each wall.
Her ears twinged. A scowl passed her cold face. The red of her eyes glimmered in the darkness. "I do not believe that the weapon is ready." She stated. Her tone hung in the open air. Boots clicked off the cold ground as she attempted to keep in step.
The scream of agony sounded off in the distance. Dark red clouds thundered outside. The Maw churned endlessly. A rumble like growl splintered the air. "A weapon is meant to be used, Sylvanas." The Jailer replied. His vision fixed on his next target. "Without use, a weapon is worthless."
"And you are correct." she started. Her dream-like visions continued to play behind her eyes. A grit passed her clenched teeth. "However, a weapon also needs maintenance. Otherwise, it will dull from over-use. The weapon still needs…time, before it is ready to be used again."
His large head; completely bare, shook. The chains on his arms jingled. Soul-like winds blew through openings in the walls. "Go and have the weapon prepared, Sylvanas. He will be leaving later on tonight." The Jailer continued his walk. Minions scattered at his feet.
A wisp-like sigh seeped through her teeth. Sylvanas' eyes glanced at his chains. "Very well." She lamented. Her lips curled downwards. "Where will we be sending the weapon this time?"
Her question bounced off the cold walls. The Jailer's glowing eyes grinned. A rare scene befell Sylvanas' vision. "For the next key, of course." He grinned. His vision watching the chains that strung from his abode. Far off into the Maw; the chain's disappeared into the fog. "We only have one of the needed keys. For us to continue our plan, we will need the remainders. Tonight, we shall have the second key." A dark laugh bellowed out from his chest.
Her mind twisted around. Sylvanas watched as the Jailer continued towards the chains. Flares of memories erupted behind her eyes. "Yes, and we will be closer to true justice. But, as I asked, where will the weapon be going?" Sylvanas repeated. Her lips twinged with irritation. Her dusky hair swayed behind her.
"Is there a need to know where I place my own things?" The Jailer replied. A glare shot down from the Eternal One.
The chill of fear rocketed up her spine. A cringe of anger soon followed. "If we are equal partners in this plan, yes." Sylvanas replied; her voice pushing through her emotions.
Silence entered into the open chamber. Wails of agony seeped out of the ever churning Maw. The ghastly lights of Torghast died to the clouds. A grin flashed past the Jailer's face. His eyes gazing into his realm, his domain. "Yes, equal partners." He spoke; his voice merging with the wailing winds. His vision fell to the tiny underling. "The weapon will be going to retrieve the key from my brother, Primus." The Jailer revealed.
"So, the weapon will go right into the eternal battlefield?" Sylvanas questioned. Her gleaming eyes returning the Jailer's gaze. Her nails curled into her palms.
"Yes, and I expect you to prepare the weapon." The Jailer stated. His palm swiped in the air; dismissing the undead elf. His dark laugh bellowed into the void. "By tonight." He reminded her. Each word carried the weight of an order. Dominance seeped from his jaw.
An uncomfortable twinge shivered up her legs. The need to turn increased in her mind. 'Damn you and your spell' she hissed in her mind. A flare of anger glimmered past her eyes. Her canine bit into her lower lip. Her boots clanked against the stone floor. Her back now towards the master of the abode. "Very well." She replied. Her mind thrashed behind her scrunched lips. The dark hall stretched before her.
Moments melded together with each step. Her heels clacked endlessly in the darkness. A red glow from her eyes forged her path. Anger twisted with delight in her thoughts. Darkness crept and swayed behind her vision. 'At least I know where to send them' she pondered. Her irritation growing as her interaction with the Jailer played again in her mind. Her lips scowled at the open air. Step after step sounded off the chilling walls.
Her nails grazed the cornerstone. A chip of rock fell into the pathway. The swirling void filled her peripheral vision. Endless wails and screams drowned in her ears. The chilling breeze swept past her hair. Clinking metal; a dagger by her waist, died in the screams. Stone followed stone in the endless walk. Her eyes shifting from the path to infront of her, and back. Endless thoughts swirled in her mind. A sinister smirk passed her lips. Sights of the boy-king, shuddering in agony, grazed her thoughts.
Dark metal fell into her vision. Her heels stopped on the stoneway path. Her chamber door laid bare before her. Her dark fingers stretched out; the tips touching the cold door. A creak echoed down the halls and the door opened. Her chambers swarmed into her eyes. A brisk air flung past her; lifting her hair along her shoulders. Her searing eyes glared towards a small cage. The flap of wings shook the cage in response. A slight chuckle left her throat. "Yes, it is time for you to leave again." She whispered.
Her long nails tinged against the cage. The click of a lock whispered into the air. A black flash brushed past her. The flapping of wings echoed in her ears. Her vision turned to the source of the sound. A dark bat hung by the door. Grey markings adorned its crown before sweeping down the wings. The bats face nuzzled into a small bowl.
A chair creaked. The dimming light of candles flickered against her face. The burned tear-stains glimmered under her eyes. Sylvanas glanced down towards her desk. Her pen swept across the paper before her. Ink melted into the pages. Each stroke of the pen silently filled the room air. Red eyes shifted to follow the pen. "Done." She folded the paper in two, then four. A dark red seal pressed the paper together.
A chirp echoed off behind her. The bat's face stared at its mistress. Tiny legs gripped a bar above it. The dark lady stepped towards the bat. Elegance and malice dripped from each step. Her glaring eyes fell on the bat. Her ghostly hands worked on the legs. Paper twisted against its skin. "Now, I need you to go." She ordered. Flapping wings shifted the stale air. The bat lifted and twisted in the air before finding an exit window.
Sylvanas' eyes kept with the creature. Her vision following until the bat disappeared into the fog. Her face briefly lit by the candles. Dusky, long hair fell to her waist. 'I never fully trust anyone' she thought, her inner voice bound to herself. Her eyes hid the battle inside her.
Darkness crept past his vision. His eyes; heavy and lifeless, glued to his cell floor. Anduin felt his life draining. Chapped lips sat on his face. The prickle of growth stung his neck. Cold gripped against his veins before trickling into his heart. White-blonde hair fell around his face. Time crept by. Each second ticked inside his mind. Empty, voided thoughts drifted about.
His ears blocked the world. Cold air drifted through his open lips. Shadows flickered before his vision. Dark circles hung heavy under his eyes. Sweat; cold to the touch, slid down the back of his neck. Small puddles laid beneath him on the stone floor. A drifting click of heels died in his ears. The flickering light of candles vanished. Darkness swallowed his vision.
Sylvanas stood, her icy hand gripping the cell bar. Her blood red eyes glared at the tired King. "If I didn't know better," she spat. Her dusky hair hung by her waist. "I would say that the boy-king is refusing to sleep." Her cold voice echoed in the dusk.
Sleepless eyes glanced up at the Banshee. Anduin's mouth still slightly gapped. Sound drifted out of his teeth. A groan, tired and hopeless, died in his throat. Unruly hair tangled in his gaze.
A twitch shot through her lips. Anger rang into her mind. Sylvanas' teeth gleaned through her scowl. "So, now we are too good to talk?" She hissed. The clank of metal shook the silent air. A screech echoed off as the cell door opened. Her boots stepped closer to her prisoner.
A deafening silence swirled the room. The faint light flickered. Her glowing eyes watched every movement of the drained human. Her mind twisted with emotions. A dark grin flashed past her glossed lips. A dead hand reached towards the boy-king. Her nails dug into Anduin's hair; gripping the hair on top his scalp. Sylvanas forced her figure into his sight. "Well, I don't care if you talk or not. However, boy, you will sleep and rest. You are being sent out again tonight, and our weapon needs to be sharp enough for the job." She hissed. Anger flashed behind her glowing eyes.
A faint grin emerged on Anduin's dried lips. His eyes met his captures. Her dusky hair hung beautifully past her shoulder. The tips of her ears stuck in his mind. His heart pumped faintly in his ears. Dry chuckles broke from his chest. Lips parted as air sucked into his lungs. His heart drenched in despair.
A snarl whipped through Sylvanas' face. The glow of her eyes intensified. "You dare laugh at me, boy-king?!" She shouted. Her anger seeped through her teeth. Power surged through her gripped fingers. Ear tips flared.
A wince passed Anduin's eyes. Hair tore from his scalp. The lid of his eyes shut. "I just-" he coughed; his throat pained with dryness. "I'm flattered…that the Banshee Queen is worried about me." he finished. His lips curled into a small smirk. His voice; barely audible, died past the elf's ears.
"Stay your flattery then, boy." Sylvanas hissed. Her grip loosened on his white-blonde hair. Confused emotions swelled in her thoughts. "I am not worried about you, but of my weapon." A snarky grin plastered itself to her lips.
His dry chuckle continued silently in his chest. Relief swelled to his scalp. The bench met his legs as he fell back down. Silver eyes glanced up at the undead elf. "Of course." He replied. His voice betraying his inner self. Drips of saliva painted his throat.
"Now, as an order from your Queen," Sylvanas paused, her lips pursed. Her face dangerously close to Anduin's ears. The delight of prey slipped into her mind. "Sleep." she finished, her voice a silent whisper.
Chills drafted up his spine. A flush of heat ran past his lobes. Anduin's eyes glanced to his side. The feminine figure of his capture sank into his mind. Blood poured through his troubled heart. "And if I don't?" Anduin whispered back. All his strength flooded into his throat. "Will the famed Sylvanas Windrunner lull me to sleep?" His tired voice dripped in sarcasm.
A hiss escaped her lips. Her face pulled away from the weary king. Anger dripped into her red vision. Strands of her long hair fell around her shoulder; twisted and tangled from the jolt. "Your jokes will be the end of you, boy!" Sylvanas spat. Her eyes glued on the young human. "Do not test my patience, and make sure you rest." A different emotion clung to the end of her words.
Anduin watched; his grey eyes dizzying. Sylvanas' back twisted away from him. The slam of metal blasted the air. Lonely candle light filled his vision. Torrents of emotions filled his weary heart. The dry chuckle died in his throat. 'If only I could, without that horrific nightmare' he thought. His mind curled back, void entered his thoughts. The dark walls closed in. Light faded from his eyes. A heavy sigh brushed past his teeth.
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