Monday, May 31, 2004
10:16 pm.
The Rose Is Fairer
Chapter One. Escape.
Danielle sat in a hard wooden chair, facing the spot that she remembered to be the doorway, although she could not see it. She knew it was there because she felt the slight breeze blowing underneath the door, and now a shift in the air... Somebody was coming.
Here eyelids fluttered; it was time.
A creak, and the light spilled into the room, flooding out over cold cement and mortar. Danielle did not move, and the door opened wider.
'It is time,' came that ugly voice inside her head. It was like a snake. A talking snake inside her head... She was more than ready for this, because after this night, those voices would be gone for all eternity.
'Ssssssodomhorra,' she replied without speaking. 'Take me to him.'
The figure now standing in the doorway nodded briefly before approaching her. Danielle remained still, stiller than the air particles surrounding her body. She could sense them, as always. She felt the oppressive air against her smooth, pale face. It used to terrify her, but now she used it to her advantage, feeling the currents wash against her in waves as the figure came towards her in the room.
She would have been able to find her way through a fight with her eyes covered. She had been forced to, more than once. She had loved it. She was a killing machine, and this night was the night of her condemnation at the hands of the High Elders.
They were going to destroy her, in the way that they had been destroying all who opposed them for thousands of years. She would be exposed to Rah, the sun source, and burned alive as they listened to her screams from the darkness.
Danielle felt her mouth twitch in a semblance of a smile, but she controlled it.
He was inches away from her now, and the chains that bound her wrists began to vibrate as his hands went to his pockets for the key. He did not notice the sound, nor did he notice when she was unable to control the grin any longer. It broke out on her face like a ghastly full moon between the night clouds, her eyes wide in a guant pale face.
The chains began to vibrate even more violently, although it made no sound in the silent room. He still did not notice. Ten seconds had passed since the door had opened. He had found the key. It was in his hand. He was kneeling down to undo the restraints and she was grinning like a maniac as the chains silently shook.
And she screamed so loud that the walls echoed back in that dark silent room, her hands jerking apart like a rubber band released.
The chains broke. Her right hand, all hard flesh and sharp nails, came curving around from behind, not stopping when it collided with his face. She took off part of his jaw, even as he attempted to propel himself backwards away from her.
She was at her feet. A flicker of movement, and she was across the room, towering over him. Her eyes glowed yellow in the murky light.
He looked up at her from his ruins of a face and his eyes widened in terror, a gurgle escaping his throat as the blood bubbled up out of the wet hole.
She hissed.
And then with a scooping movement his ribs were laid bare and his heart was in her hands, pink and unbeating as she crushed it between her fingers.
Bending down, she gripped his head in both hands and twisted viciously until she heard a crack. She then entwined her fingers in his hair and yanked, while using her other hand to rip the flesh away from his neck until nothing remained to connect his body to his head, which she threw into a corner for safe keeping.
The body beneath her did not bleed. He had not fed yet, she mused, although this was inconsequential. He would never need to feed again.
The door shut with a click behind her, and the room was dark once more.