by shike77
Chapter V
"I'm drugged to delight…" -'Temptation,' the Tea Party
Hallo… School started. @_@;; EEEEEEEVIIIIIIL… *cries* But in other news with me, guess what?! SCANNER! ^_^
… This would've been out a LOT sooner, but I had a LOT of bad news the day I finished it, so I gave up on trying to write an author's note. -_-;; Couldn't think of anything intelligent to say.
Anyway… *cough* Well, I say the horses in this story look like REAL horses, not the demented mix between cow, donkey, and bear they are in the game. @_@;; They ruined the horsies for me…
Saer: … you forgot rat.
shike: ^_^ Right you are, there.
Leon: … *glances down at the rest of the chapter* … You REALLY like whores, don't you?
shike: … Not really, no…
Saer: … Then why are there so many IN your story?!
shike: … I dunno. Most likely because I'm really, REALLY bored and need that last character for plot stuff, and had no other way to incorporate them?
Saer: … That works…
"When push comes to shove, I win."
"When push comes to shove, you throw your daggers at me and storm out of the room, dismantling everything mentally in the process whether you realize it or not, then come back five minutes later feeling as if you've just eaten a bowl full of sugar."
"… And your point is?"
"I give up!" Krait growled, kicking an overturned box across the barn. The already traumatized animals ducked, twitched, or even bucked and whinnied in reaction.
Nariko, perched on the door to a stall, was forced to do the first on that list to avoid being suddenly transported with the box. She mewled in protest, rather loudly, and an agreeing whinny came from within the stall.
"Krait, don't pester 'Yana. She needs t' sleep."
The mercenary scoffed at the assassin, who sat with her feet propped up on a small table, dangerously close to a rather large candleflame. Worn leather boots remained unaffected by the flame, even as they rocked back and forth, each time hesitating even closer to the flame before rocking away.
"I don't give a shit about the horse, Enigma! We should be teleporting, not running around on horseback! It'll take us forever to cross the fucking ocean on a damned boat!"
"But 'Yana can't come with us when we teleport… you said so yourself!"
"It doesn't matter!" he exclaimed, exasperated, "Because we wouldn't need her until we get back here, anyway!"
She blinked at him, rather confused. "Okay, what the hell is up with that shit?! Why are we going all the way there, then coming back?!"
"Because here is where Derek's castle is, and where he's got the single most important key to his victory hidden away," he replied, patting the brown nose of the startled Niyana affectionately.
Enigma frowned at him. "So… why are we leaving?"
"Because the most powerful Dragoons are where we're headed," he growled, "and they're heading for Indels Castle in Bale, our destination."
Blink. Pause…
"Oh! I get it now!"
'Very good, Nig, I think your IQ just went up a few points," Krait sighed, patting her on the head like a small animal. She swatted at his hand with a playful glare in his direction, then stood up to feed the mare.
"What's the plan of action, cap'n?"
"First off, I need you to get into that castle and locate the Jade Dragoon—confirm their identity."
"Sounds easy enough," the assassin grinned, cracking her knuckles in delight.
"No killing."
"Say what?!" Enigma jumped to her feet, staring at Krait incredulously.
"I said 'no killing.' You could take out the Jade by mistake, or even make quick enemies of a useful ally."
"But it's not fair," she pouted, the last word wavering as she folded her arms. "Every time you need my help, I can't kill anyone!"
"It's perfectly fair," he retorted, mimicking her tone of voice, scratching the nose of his grey stallion absently. "You've had enough killing in your life, and I think you'd actually enjoy heaven instead of some eternal torment in a random level of hell."
A snort. She folded her arms over a flat chest and stuck her nose up slightly, as if feigning royalty. "I don't believe in heaven."
"Even when you're of demon blood?"
"I didn't say I don't believe in Hell. It's just a bunch of souls floating around with funny-lookin' wings on their backs singin' songs and playin' harps is just a little too fucking far-fetched for me."
Krait rolled his eyes, glancing at the map—still crude and now rather smudged—tacked to the stall door. The next stage of their journey wasn't far away at all—the ancient Wingly mine was merely a few days away by foot, but Krait had little doubt that he could cut it down to one—except for the fact that the assassin was utterly useless once forced to skip her precious 'nap time'.
"… We're runnin' outta meat," Enigma remarked casually, idly inspecting some travel bread, "And I think this is starting to get fuzzy."
"… Fuzzy?"
"Yeah, with fucking green and black dots all over its—Oh, sorry, his name is Bob, and he's become a higher lifeform than ever seen before on Endiness, so he's about to take over the world in one foul sweep of his… soon-to-grow hand."
He chuckled dryly, glancing over at the molding bread in his friend's hand. "I think it'll be a while before Bob grows a hand."
"Now, that's not very nice. Bob doesn't like to be insulted, and now you're going to have to bow down before him and beg forgiveness before he kicks your lily ass with the feet that will appear any moment now…"
He shook his head in amusement before turning away, grumbling something along the lines of 'you and your bread' before stalking off to buy more supplies.
"… Uh, Krait? Bob wants you to wait until he grows legs before you start running away…"
***
Dresla was too proud to stand and pace in the room, and refused to fidget like a small child. She absently combed her hair, her eyes unfocused, her mind lost in a confused, muddled daydream. Dull black hair had been tended to non-stop for the entire day, and fair hands were beginning to blister from the effort of forcing the knots out of her curled, matted hair.
She had given up trying to wake the young girl on the bed, and, eventually, had grown rather jealous of her. She had obviously been washed, her hair combed, and given fancy outfits to wear, even though none would ever see her in them but Dresla. Her hair shone of fresh washing, her body of rich oils, and the pillows and blankets on her bed were of fine, priceless silk. Dresla was ignored, dirty, her nightgown spoilt by the conditions in which she had been kidnapped, her makeup running, the chamberpot in the corner smelling, and she had naught but a ratty old cot to sleep on!
Dresla had not heard or seen anyone but this sleeping girl for two days, and she was beginning to be frustrated. No matter how the glowing gem in her hand had comforted her when she had first come, she was beginning to lose her temper. Hear voices in her head. Act restless, combing her hair for hours on end in some sort of attempt to send the voices away. Think in brief, uneducated sentences that were driving her even more mad than just the fact that she was alone and someone other than her was being pampered while she was being ignored!
The stone pulsed. She needn't worry herself so, she was perfectly sane.
She swore loudly. So, even the voices in her head were trying to comfort her?!
She dropped the stone when it burned hot in her hand, a yelp of surprise escaping her lips. She cradled her wounded hand to herself, whimpering as she drew into a corner.
What she had originally thought to be a Rose Quartz, her late mother's favorite gem, was pulsing, sending the slightly tinted light about the room in a dazzling display of brightness.
The silk curtains blew open, the priceless glass fell to the floor and shattered, and even the covers whipped from the girl's bed and tore her well-tailored leather clothing. None of this Dresla saw, for she had long ago closed her eyes in fear of going blind.
Suddenly, the light stopped. Too afraid to open her eyes, the noblewoman who felt much like a cowering child shied further away, into her corner, whimpering.
She felt something touch her foot, gently, questioning, and a small, curious sound akin to a bird's chirp reached her ears. Confused, Dresla slowly opened her eyes, and let out a gasp of surprise.
A small creature, not even tall enough to reach her knee, blinked up at her innocently with wide eyes that no light reflected within, and chirped again with its slightly longish nose. The creature was so sweet-looking that she couldn't help but sigh in adoration and pick it up to examine it further.
What she assumed to be the beginnings of claws were rather dull, and merely ticked her skin as they rubbed against her. Soft scales were tinted a pale, pastel pink, the beginnings of some sort of white, ridged spine protruding from the back. Four small limbs and a pair of wings unlike any that she had seen… No, she'd seen it in one of Albert's books, left so haphazardly strewn across a table, and by mere chance had glimpsed upon it and had drawn back in horror… What had it been called? A bat?
No, these wings were not bats'. Most of it was translucent—catching the light and casting it onto the ground in a rainbow of pale pinks—and only the frame was the same solid material as the body.
"What…" she stopped, lost for words.
The creature chirped, and, suddenly, Dresla saw that it was holding the gem in its mouth. Smiling, she took it, and the stone began to glow softly.
She held a Dragon in her arms, and a Dragoon Spirit in her hand.
Dresla smiled. Who cared if she was insane? At least she imagining something that made no sense whatsoever. And, therefore, once she came into decent company, she could easily return to being sane.
The stone's glow increased. Well, it was a start.
***
Well, he'd managed to find himself in a bit of a predicament.
Women here. Women there. All sexy. All willing to sleep with him on the drop of a dime.
Grinning to himself, the Shape Shifter ran the fingers on his right hand along the cheek of a brunette, and gently brushed his left over blonde locks. So many to choose from… All so damned inviting.
Both women giggled, running their fingers along his muscular, yet slender frame.
"Come, we'll give you a discount…" one whispered in his ear, her elven ones twitching with anticipated pleasure. He glanced down at her exposed neck, seeing the flesh perfect, without any scars of any sort.
"… As long as you take both of us," the other invited, hands lingering on his belt. Her skin untouched as well.
Disappointment after disappointment. He'd been told to take only one specific whore to bed…
And then he saw her, leaning against a wall in the shadows, her cloak drawn about her. Black leather straps that barely covered anything at all gleamed with fresh polishing, and a black leather collar lay wrapped tightly around her neck. Jet black hair cascaded down her shoulders and partially over her face, contrasting sharply with her pale skin. Bright yellow eyes stared at him rather blankly, as if daring him to come to her for the night. Blood red lips parted and she licked the bottom one with the tip of her tongue briefly, white teeth flashing.
He smiled, stepping away from the women who had already begun to undo the leather strings holding his shirt closed, and began to finish the job they had started.
A sudden gust of wind blew the loose linen back and the shirt slipped from his arms, lingering for a moment, as if unwilling to leave the touch of his flesh. The black leather strap that bound his long hair came undone, falling to the cobbled ground, leaving the strands to fall about his face of their own free will, some falling right between his eyes.
"What is your price…?" he asked sweetly, every word coated with fine sugar.
"Your Humanity." The voice was cold, dark, and almost husky—although not enough to ruin the overall balance of the vocals.
He laughed, gently brushing her hair away from her face. "Now, if I'd had that in the first place, I would have come here long ago to lose it."
She smiled sadistically, running her hands over skin that rippled with the well-toned muscles underneath. "That's what they all say."
He held a coin to her lips, and she kissed it, elven ears twitching, yellow eyes challenging his—currently—dark cerulean ones as she licked her lips.
Yes, he'd definitely found the one.
She latches herself onto him, running her hands along his body, pressing her tongue into his mouth and running it along the soft pallet invitingly.
He needed no further invitation.
Needless to say, two minutes later they were in a room with a door that was bolted shut, contained no windows, and he had succeeded in removing her cloak and poor excuse for a shirt.
She broke their excessive, all to passionate kisses abruptly, smiling sweetly at him as she whispered, gently stroking his throat, "You know, you're the best damn kisser I've ever had the opportunity to meet in my entire fucking life time."
With a snarl, she bit down on his throat, sucking the sweet blood from his jugular vein. With a groan of ecstasy, she gripped his strong shoulders and used them for a support as her body curved and straightened with the delight of a fresh meal… his blood tasted so much better than anyone else's ever had…
Then her eyes snapped open wide and she drew back, watching in horror and rage as he ran his fingers along the spot where she'd bitten.
"You asshole, you're not human!"
He grinned sweetly at her. "Neither are you, love—looks like we'll make a perfect match."
Furious, she glanced down at his rapidly healing neck… Gods, how she longed to bite it again…
With a snarl, she snapped herself out of her half-awake state and pointed to the door.
"Out."
"But-!"
"Out!" she screamed, grabbing him by the shoulders and throwing him through the door and several walls. She walked coolly over his body and down the make-shift hall, picking up her garments where they'd been discarded.
"… Fucking free-loaders," she grumbled to the questioning look she received from any other whore who had seen her leave.
… @_@;; Yeah, a vampie… and we now know that Shifty's not human… that was a 'duh' in the first place, shike…
… And before you ask, that has become
his unofficial name. *scratches ear* Dun' Ask why. I was REALLY bored…
and I had too many cookies… and I was RPing as Nig at the time… Yeah,
there are days I wonder... and then I give up.
Anyhoo… onto the reviews!
Striker — I can't kill the guy off THAT quickly… @_@;; My main baddie proposing to Miranda? He doesn't have THAT much of a fuckin' deathwish, mind you… By the way, where the hell ARE you?! @_@;; If you don't come back soon, one of us will end up writing 'The quest to save Striker' … @_@;; I know that much.
Fifi — … *shakes head sadly at a very happy Shifty* … -_-;; Annoying, poor excuse for a man…
Aer—Know what you mean. I have GREMLINS across the street whom I babysit… @_@;; GREMLINS, I tell ye! GREMLINS! Evil little buggers…
… 'Iko's kinda become a mascot over the past month or so ago I revived her… -_-;; Mostly for RPing purposes…
Shade — Yay for the short people! ^_^;; Being short isn't much fun in vollyball… *arm hurts from trying to spike over the net*