The Assassin's Way
part 12 A Shot in the Dark
"Are you going to come quietly or do I have to use earplugs ?"
-Spike 'Tamara' Milligan
11 June 2055
Sacremento State University
Library of Maps
10 AM
A stack of ancient papers were set on thne table. slendfer hands went through tem. "These are all they have of actual paper maps ?" Fang asked the librarian, the woman nodded Fang sighed and gave her thanks, her brother had the job thanks to Car Key which gave her and Auji access to the old maps room at the university itself. Fang went through the maps of Sacremento, namely where St Diamonds Cathderal was at. "It will have to do"
"I tried to tell the fellows, maps of St Diamonds Cathederal and roads around it arent readily available, but they dug deep and this is what they found. Good luck for whatever you're searching for" the Librarian said
"These will do fine, thank you" Fang said giving the woman a look and watching her leave, allowing the two to search for their route into the cathederal without being noticed by Templars whatsoever. Closing the door Fang quickly set a chair before it to keep it shut as Auji wen pover the more modern maps and layouts of the roads in the area. St Diamonds cathederal was dead center of major Templat activity, and it was built upon a ancient vault, however with all the rebuilding going on in that area the original vault was destroyed and the tomb, what was there at least, was moved into the dome of the cathderal, which meant one of two ways to get in.
Fang went back to Aujis side and went through the old building blueprints, "Here" she said pointing out a side socket of a sort. "Looks like a vault entry path from the west wall near the bell tower itself." A moment passed then she asked "How is Miss Yu settling in at Grandma Ruthies ?" She knew that he and Xeibo had rescued a Tiger from a zoo, and didnt know it was Miss Yu until Auji spoke to her the night before about what happened, at least what he had deduced happened to the woman
"As well as can be" Auji replied looking over the mapos of the streets to get to the Cathderal itself was going to be a pain in the butt. "Ruth almost didnt let us bring her inside" Auji recalled her words.
The night before
After Mark and Sazhori had left and a group of men showed up to work cleaning at Ruths home, professional cleaners at that. Men who didnt leave any notion that anyone was left dead in the house whatsoever. Auji spoke aloud as he watched the men enter and exit the homestead with bodies tightly wrapped in shrinkwrap
"Ok, question" Auji said
"What ?" Xeibo asked. she held the Siberian tiger in her arms, amazingly strong for a 7 foot tall woman with white hair and bright frosted pink scales.
"How the fuck are we gonna get a seven hundred pounds plus Tiger who is scared out of her mind into a tiny close with a sniper rifle that can out an Aaethertruck made out of magic like it does every Tuesday Night ?" Auji said as they were in the hovervan waiting until dark.
"Uh,... What day is today ?"
"Whats that got to do with it ?"
"Plenty, If he uses it every tuesday, It means he'll open the closet to use the rifle in seven days at the soonest,"
"Good point, uh... Tuesday. Today is Tuesday, almost Wednesday"
"Good, then it means she wont be disturbed for a week. From what I can tell of the spell used to transform her, it'll wear off on its own after a time period. She'll wake up human hopefully when the owner of that thing isnt here"
Auji took a deep breath then let it out. He looked out the hovervans tinted window and saw Mark, as well as Sazhori, there was no missing that Raven anywhere leaving the house for a nighttime mission "Fine, soon as they're gone, we get her inside. And you get driving lessons"
Xeibo smirked and went to Zhao Yu, the massive cat shivered but recognised Aujis voice. It was clear she was still freaked out.
The two went inside, Xeibo carrying Miss Yu easily they were stopped however by Ruthie who was leaving to do some errrands, even that late at night. Seeing who they carried, she looked between the two. "I dont exactly allow pets, unless they are service animals But in this case I will make an exception... Keep her safe in your room and no probems to be had" Ruth could tell Auji was upset, the mere thought of Miss Yu being thought of as a pet ? When she was infact his nanny for most of his young life to begin with did hurt a little.
"Ruth asked no questions and as far as I am aware, Miss Yu is sleeping soundly in Xeibos closet." The same closet that was connected to Marks closet that housed the antieverything sniper rifle
"In other words, we have possibly a week to scout this place out" Fang mused. "Give me a day and I can have the info you need." She went to the door as there came a knock, her brother stood outside it, he had delayed the dean long enough. "Be wary, I sense trouble."
Talon spoke as he entered. "So do I, the job here is tempoary, sixty days. But from whats going on all across the zone, everyone is on edge. Apparently the guy we're to look out for and avoid as much as we can was captured by the enemy."
"So the enemy of my enemy is my friend. He can do damage there" Auji mused "Mother always said that when Mark Wolfe was captured he did more damage just getting out of captivity than getting in"
"To his captors or the stuff around them ? The Trinidad Museum is shut down due to destruction in two of their major rooms" Talon said, "My new boss is rather upset about it too. Appaerntly an important artefact was stolen. A ring of some form."
"So the place was damaged, an item stolen. Anything else ?" Auji asked
"Yeah, apparently some guy informed the police but when they arrived there was nobody around, just damaged and trashed artefact rooms" Talon replied; "Happened yesterday, apparently during the night. Have the route yet ?"
"Fang is going to fly overwatch, map us a proper route, all the streets are security kept and watched by so many cameras it'd be impossible to get in without being seen just aiming for the front door itself" Auji said Fang nodded. "Head off, Map us a route. For all I know we're going to have to fully avoid cameras, and Templars as best we are able with what we have, I doubt our magic can stop technology."
Fang nodded and left the two. Talon of couse was thoughtful. "The guy we're to avoid was captured, a item was stolen. And a museum was trashed. Am I missing something ?" To that Auji had no answer
At that same moment
Warmoon Palace
Guestroom
Morning came sooner than expected for Mark, sleep for ten hours exactly, well almost exactly. Ten minutes before ten am the tiger on the bed started wining and growling in abject fear, as was always every morning. Then at exactly ten am sharp Vitas appeared out of nowhere whatsioever and spread her hand trowards the tiger on the bed, Forcing the cat off the bed to the floor with her magic the cat growled and whined as Mark woke up and saw Vitas in the room, Before he could move a wall of strange energy formed between him and the two women, well woman and tiger. Mark couldnt get anywhere and couldnt do anything as he struggled to see through the eldritch magical wall Vitas created.
A needle formed in the womans hand. And right before his eyes the Tiger transformed. Mark stared mouth agape as Vitas went to work at exactly ten am, the needle, filled with pure raw caffine, was poised directly over Miaos heart as her hands went to her head as she screamed from the nightmares Vitas turned her dreams into. Helpless as the needle slammed home. Briefly as the needle made contact with Miaos heart the caffine made the woman go stiff. Then her eyes snapped opened, a bright vibrant hazel. With a silenced shriek she swung at Vitas, as was every morning Mark winced hearing the sudden CRACK as Vitas easily countered and forced back the swing, easily breaking and and just as quickly healing, Miaos arm at the time. But thanks to the caffine, Miao was awake and easily ignored the pain.
Vitas then let go of Miao, the girl rolled onto all fours and pushed herself to her knees. Vitas stepped away, seemingly ignioring Mark knowing he was watching clearly what was going on. "Will you eat ?"
"Is it scraps, or food this time ?"
"When is it not one or the other ?"
"You said it yourself Master, I need my strength to be your pet. So that is why I asked"
"Then today is your lucky day." Vitas said turning to Miao after opening the wall, a floor to ceiling window which then allowed the sunshine through the constant rainfall. "Because you, and our... guest... get to visit the kitchen. I want you strong like you said, I do indeed want you to be my pet like you are. To keep yuor strength you need food. So... you know where the kitchen is."
Miao nodded "I do yes" Strangely her voice, the more she spoke, felt more and more hauntingly familar to Mark. She didnt stand as Vitas spoke to her or walked around her. Staying on her knees. The mere idea of seeing the kitchen for food for once. Did that mean real food, not the overcooked scraps she was constasntly fed by the butler ? "You mean, real food, right ? not the overcooked scraps I've been eating."
"Yes, real food, I want you strong after all." She didnt have to say why. Soon as Miao ate, the rest of the drugs,... and playtime... would begin. But Miao simply nodded. Then she seemed to focus
"Wait, our guest ? You mean the guy from yesterday ?"
"mhm" Vitas had a smile on her face, Instead of wearing a overly sexy red dress or formal red gown from home, Vitas was dressed in a more brighter colored gown of similar design yet not overly sexy. Mark didnt fall for it so she seemed to give up on sexually getting his attention. But then again with her it was a gimmie "You know the rules. If you so much as try to leave... my magic will stop you... And..."
"If I try to leave the daily visits will cease and I will die, I know" Miao replied
"Good kitty, now, be a good Tiger and lead our guest to the kitchen and do not eat the cooks" Vitas said disappearing seemingly into a door of some form out of nowhere
While it wasn't in Mark's nature to simply stand by and watch, Shock, Awe, Horror, and the wall of Magical energy between them kept him from stopping the horrid show before him. He couldn't help but stare at Miao; how could she just.. willingly let herself be subjected to this? But then, he heard the arm snap and heal, he knew Vitas was powerful... That left only one question in Mark's mind:
What did she have planned for him ?
Sadly it was a very long life she lead, every day, ten am, nightmares, then the drugs, all of them came right after breakfast. Before she could even get up from the table or away from the food dish she was given all sorts of crap. But by the time Vitas left, Miao had transformed back into her Tiger form. After all Vitas had said to be a good tiger... that and it was also by force of magic as well
Miao turned to Mark, with the caffine running full blast through her system it was only a matter of time before it wore off, or she threw up again. She knew a way out for him, but she had no idea what Vitas had planned for him. The white tiger looked at Mark, as if asking 'coming ?' As a door matrialised out of thin air against the wall. Just a plain oak door... from nowhere.
Mark's lip twitched, but his stomach was empty... he wasn't going to turn down food unless he knew it was poisoned. Sighing, he stood from the couch he slept on and followed the Tiger through the door. Along the way, he made extra special caution to memorize the route; where guards were posted, what the average height and size was of the guards, and other details one normally left un-noticed as he walked through the halls. He could start a break out right now... it'd be easy; summon his armor, activate a Phoenix cloak, and bust out...
He'd have to do it quickly though; any build up of magic would likely be detected by Vitas and then likely shut down... First things first, however... he needed to eat; couldn't kill people on an empty stomach. ... Though most people would disagree.
As Miao lead Mark through the halls they passed through a long hall lined with a good two dozen guards along the carpet line in the middle of the room. Each guard carried a shield of some form, a long energy piole of black steel, and wore a black skintight jumpsuit like a scuba suit minus the scuba gear. It was backlit seemingly with pale gold. Vitas colors. Miao ignored the guards and pretty much followed her nose as the two moved towards the kitchen. Rounding a corner into the place filled with heavenly food smells.
Miao briefly thought of escaping and hiding in the kitchen, in human form, and eat like a human, But after seventeen years of eating like a Tiger she actually didnt know how to eat like a human being. Not to mention being captive for twenty seven years in total with only ten years as a human most of the time before Vitas took over caring for her, which was better than being beaten daily
There were three cooks in the kitchen working at making breakfast. One of them saw Miao enter and briefly raised an eyebrow, but when Mark showed up the woman nodded. Pointing towards a room, the pantry, where Miao was headed. Not saying a word.
Mark followed the Tiger into the kitchen, staying silent, even as he saw that the pantry was massive. It reminded him of the Palace Pantry back in Arendelle... reminded him of home. Blinking, Mark perused the endless shelves of drinks and food, wines, beers, ales, soft drinks, plain old water, milk, everything. Cheeses, breads, meats, veggies, fruits, and again: everything. In the center there was a small table, where two people could sit perhaps three feet away from each other. There were two plates; and a bowl.
Who would be joining them?
Hopefully no one, Mark thought, as he grabbed a plate, and proceeded to stack it with as much meat and bread he could; taking the meat to be cooked by the cooks before getting the bread; he'd need his energy for what was to come. For a drink he simply chose milk; a refrigerated door also within the pantry keeping the drinks nice and cool. Sitting down at the table; he scanned the food carefully for a good minute, making sure it wasn't poisoned, drugged, or otherwise tainted in an effort to impair him in any way, or kill him. Once he was satisfied, he began to eat, staring intently, almost straight through the table as he ate at a moderate pace. He could feel his magic... he could feel Kalda's Magic... but at the same time, he couldn't feel Kalda. Something was off.
Upon entering the pantry for a brief moment the tiger couldnt decide on what to eat of the meats, there was so many raw meats ready to be cooked right from the butchers that Miao was simply going into scent overload before finally picking out a huge hunk of elk meat and going up to it she Bit the thing, dragged it off the shelf and then mostly carried it as best she could over to the table and clean floor before setting it down and starting to chow down.
Good sweet relief from the tablescraps she was normally given she slowly felt her strength return and her fur seemed to brighten a bit with the energy her body concverted and stored from the meat. Soon however she was done with that chunk of meat, all that was left was a well scoured bone of a elk. Now for something more proper... beef. Moving from where the bone was left Miao went hunting, so to speak, for some beef.
She had no idea what Mark was planning. But someone else did. Her ears perked up when she heard a voice beyond the pantry door. "What do you mean the tigers not in the bedroom ?" It was Spike, she was on her wristphone "Fine fine... make sure that wherever the cat went she gets back to the throneroom on time for playtime... Yes you might be the toy... idiot" She hung up. Speaking to the cooks she asked for two coffees and then left the kitchen. She never saw Mark. But he saw clearly the faded gold and purple tattoo on her face around her eyes like a mask
Mark's eyebrows furrowed as he saw the tattoo on Spike's face; having never seen it before. Then again her face has been covered both times he'd seen her; once by the mask, and once by her armor. There was something scary: Her armor... able to stop his self-proclaimed "Anti-Everything" rounds... well, at least his pistol rounds. The rounds used by his Sniper Rifle were a different story; though he wasn't willing to try; those rounds were expensive! After he started to eat he watched Miao watching the Tiger with pity in his eyes. The poor girl. She deserved freedom; moreso than anyone else under the rule of the Templars... definitely more than him.
He could do damage to Vitas and her regime while here, she couldn't. Taking an annoyed breath, he continued to eat.
Miao continued to eat, clearly unhindered by the arrival and departure of Spike. Instead she was focused on eating her breakfast. But then again, right after breakfast shed see Vitas, or Vitas would go looking for her and find her and then playtime began. And it wasnt the typical playtime most thought. with Vitas, it was sheer hell. But it was in a way better than what she had under Vitas adopted parents which then allowed Vitas to do as she liked and even keep Miao where guests could see her rather then hidden in a cell.
Soon however the beef was gone and the tiger was eyebaklling a wheel of extra sharp cheddar cheese. And within six bites that too was gone. Being a tiger she had a water bowl, but since she got to choose her breakfast that day she chose some whole milk. gulped it down and gave off a grunt akin to a burp. then sighed. That was good
Her ears then drooped, it was time to find Vitas now that breakfast was over. Getting to all fours the tiger ambled out of the pantry and headed for the door she lead Mark through just to get to breakfast, back to the hallway packed with guards.
Mark finished eating a while before Miao finished, giving his stomach time to settle now that it was full. By the time they were moving, he was ready to execute the hastily thrown together plan he'd made when walking down the hallway. As they walked down the hall, Mark was calm, but after they passed the second guard he was ready. As they made it to the third guard, he moved, quickly backhanding the first guard fast enough to snap his jaw and knock him out. While that guard collapsed he took the man's lance and turned, sweeping the legs of the guard accross from him and then twirling it expertly to jam it into the man's throat. His body began to glow as his Armor glittered into existence, and the air around him began to grow cold with Ice Fire as he summoned a Phoenix Cloak at the same time.
There came a slow clapping noise "I was starting to wonder when you'd attempt to escape me." Came a sultry voice, As Mark turned to the source he saw a amused Vitas standing next to what appeared to be two more guards in better armor compared to the two he just dropped. "If you were to get out of here, where would you go ? Its six kilometers to the moat, that way" Vitas pointed straight down. "Hop a balcony and you fall, endlessly. Was that your plan ?" She crossed her arms. As she spoke his armor faded, and the room temperture slowly returned to normal.
Miao stepped up dutifully next to Vitas and sat down beside her as Spike snickered next to a pillar as she drank a coffee. Seemingly amused by what she was seeing. "Looks like I won that bet. I'll tell the guys" Miao simply sat next to Vitas, waiting it seemed for playtime. Though also dreading it too. ninetysix kinds of drugs... Time to begin.
"So, as long as you're here you might as well watch. Or bet with Spike on how long she lasts" Vitas said, patting briefly Miaos head before tensing her hand, her fingers stretched briefly and strange energy flowed from Vitas hand against Miaos face. Out of nowhere came another needle. and before Mark could move, the strange magical energy that kept him from helping Miao before breakfast manifested. "Have a seat" Vitas said, "this wont take long" A chair matrialised as if by magic for Mark to sit on.
Mark didn't look at her for a few seconds; preferring instead to watch the guard grasp at the staff jammed in his throat in a futile effort to not die as the blood seeped up around the weapon and onto the carpet before he went pale and went limp. He also preferred to listen to the pained crying and muffled screaming of the other guard whose jaw he'd shattered. Wrenching the staff from the throat of the man he twirled it behind him as the chair appeared and the barrier stoped him from doing anything again. Instead of sitting however, he paced back and forth, probing at the barrier gently with the staff. She'd stopped him from even summoning his armor... that meant he couldn't run either...
"Your guards are weak; and would never survive the training required to be a royal guard." He barked out in Norse, his voice booming past the barrier. He meant the training that the new Royal Guards of Arendelle had to complete before being considered official Guards. The Assassins had upped the difficulty and standards of Guard Training for Arendelle; even getting accepted into the Royal Guard Training Program was an achievment many familes were honored by. When Mark returned, he'd make the training even harder over time. He would protect Arendelle. That was his Family's job... that was ibhis/b/i job...
First things first, however, he had to get the hell out of here, and he had to kill Vitas.
Vitas smirked at his words, not understanding them one bit she simply nodded and the two guards stopped moving. Seemingly fading away into nothing. "Whatever it was that you said. You have skill..." Six needles were emptied, and Miao laid limp on the floor of the hall. ninety to go. "And yet... they learn" A brief buzz of energy as two new guards stepped into view and once more took their place along the hall to either side of Mark. "Care to try again ?" The barrier buzzed briefly but otherwise didnt do anything, the staff couldnt even pass through it
"If you run, where would you go ? Can you survive a six kilomerter fall ?" Vitas asked. ten more needles, eighty to go. She brushed Miao with a hand, the fur soft and clean for once, maybe a good hearty breakfast was the right idea ? Better then the weaker food she had James feed her. Such man arrived, tall and older looking, a butler for sure. "Ah there you are. Where have you been ? Oh thats right it was your day off, I forgot again." The man merely nodded silently and stood by with a tray to take all the used needles
They Learn? Pausing, Mark spun and flung his hand, only for the Guard to lean back just enough to dodge it. Narrowing his eyes Mark nodded softly. He understood. If he kept killing them they'd keep coming back, harder to kill than the last time. He placed a hand on the back of the chair, his fingers gently rapping on the wood. His lip twitched and he kicked the chair hard into the barrier, knowing it wouldn't go through, but knowing that it would distract the guards long enough to stab one through the throat as he stood there, continuing to push the staff until it was lodged in the wall, and the man hung there limp. Sure that wouldn't work again; but damn was it fun to kill something.
The chair shattered and another guard faded away. But as luck had it, the guard was simply replaced by another, identical to the last detail. However it learned, they all did. Vitas smirked however. "Please, dont trash the furnishings" She mused aloud, another ten needles down. A flick of the wrist and the last few dozen needles went into Miao, the poor girl was fucked six ways to tuesday. and it was wednesday "Spike" The woman calmly stepped into view when her name was called "Would you like a playmate ?" With Spike being so close Mark easily saw the tatoo design on her face around her eyes clearer. A faded gold to purple design covering her eyes in various ornately curved spikes
"Can I ?" Spike asked giving a sidelong glance at Mark as Vitas dusted off her hands from using too many needles, none of the drugs affected her. But in dusting off her hands, she let Mark have something important back... but only so far
"If you break him I drop you in the moat personally, but dont worry, he wont break you" Vitas said simply with a smile on her face as Miao transformed into her human form and laid limp on the floor at Vitas feet. Vitas unconcerned as two blackguard sentries stooped to pick up the drugged woman and carry her off to somewhere
That then left Mark, Spike, Vitas, and two dozen guards
Mark wrenched the staff from the wall and held it loosely in his hand, ready to use it at this talk of "Play". i"You will find I'm harder to break than you think."/i Mark growled out in Norse again, staring at Spike.
Spike smirked and simply stepped through the barrier, as she did so her own armor matrialised upon her body, similar in design to Marks own armor, but more like a true dragon like armor. Almost hayabusa style but maintaining many Asian elements to it. With a crack of the knuckles Spike held out a hand towards the nearby sentry, the thing handed her its staff. And she held it into a ready stance. "Ready ... Master Wolfe ?"
As Spike offered her challenge, Mark felt his own Armor return to him, in a way, and summoned it to his body. He stepped a foot back, pointing his staff at the woman in challenge as his stance was relaxed, his knees bent slightly, however, displacing his weight so that he could both move quickly, and yet not be tripped up easily. Now that he could get a closer look at Spike's armor, he smirked. There were obvious blind-spots due to her helmet, and she had many open spots that he could exploit. Though then again his armor had imore/i open spots, as his was designed for maximum movement rather than maxium protection; favoring a more mobile combat style that would protect the open spots in the first place. He didn't have a helmet, though he didn't want one; a simple mask would be better; though he didn't know how to weave Duradaeden into silk.
His eyes narrowed slightly before relaxing; taking in Spike's whole body as he lowered his chin. He was ready.
Spike smirked, For a brief moment nothing happened, then it was on. Jumping lightly she swung the pole at Mark, The man blocked, thusting acvk at her it was a frenzy within moiments as the two struck madly at each other, each trying and vying for a weakness in the others armor. Spikes armor was magical, as was Marks, yet Spike seemingly had too many openings to strike at yet each time Mark struck, it bounced off. The armor was seemingly ghostly and covered her entire body with only the most apparent areas visible
Every swing of the polearms cracked against each other and the barrier as Vitas watched with an amused smile as Spike was relentless. No magic was used by either one of the fighters as they hammered relentlessly at each other. Wild swings with no form or design. Yet each swing made contact with the other polearm
Mark's face was eerily blank as they swung at each other, his eyes, not yet glowing due to Vitas' blocking his magic, were almost glued open as he watched each and every movement Spike made. His movements likewise were minimal, only moving to move or strike in the most obvious ways, yet at the same time doing so that it always succeeded in a block. In this instance, Mark was entirely defensive, not moving forward, yet at the same time he never moved back, instead opting to circle Spike, and keep her trying to face him when they moved. Mark stifled a yawn, his chest rising with the inhalation of breath.
He was bored.
Every strike was blocked with precsion and grace. Crack after crack of metal on metal as Mark began to circle her, Spike pivoted just as he hoped to keep him in her line of sight, but she also had opened her other senses, Mark seemed bored but Spike didnt care. A flick of the wrist was all it took for her to break briefly. Her polearm breaking into two pieces, like a pair of longswords of black metal edged in bright gold light.
Spike smiled then, and sprang for Mark, using a strange sword form and stance as she attacked, first left, then right, then up, down, right again, up, left, down and up at once, both left and right at once. No real form, but sheer speed, and grace. iLets see how bored he really is/i, Spike thought
Mark expression stayed the same, though he did do a nice twirl of the staff while Spike broke hers into two staffs, keeping the staff in a loose wrist but tight grip. As she began her assault, Mark responded in kind, twirling the staff furiously in a figure-eight pattern, the sheer speed of the thechnique blocking and counter-striking each and every one of Spike's attacks with ease, while also not allowing her to get as close as she wanted to with her movements.
Then Mark finally moved forwards, a quick succession of twenty thrusts all to different parts of Spike's body, keeping her moving and blocking, after the twentieth thrust Mark used his momentum of pulling the staff back to spin and launch a back-kick right towards the woman's gut with blinding speed and organ-crushing power, his boots also having plates of Duradaeden on them over certain areas, such as over the toes, the heel, the achilles, and the instep all for more damage and protection. His shins were covered by the grieves. After the kick Mark pulled his leg back quickly and slid in with his balance leg to stomp at one of Spike's knees, using that as a means of closing the distance using the staff to then slam into her chest just above the breasts, since she was against the wall to begin with.
Twenty strikes came at her, She blocked all but the last which she easily dodged away from only to have Mark kick her in the back of the knee right after he nailed her in the stomach, cartalige shattered as Spike flipped onto her back and blocked his next foot attack, easily knocking it aside with the weapons in her hands before backtracking briefly and crossing her arms in front of her, the swords she used creating something of a shield as Mark went at her with his staff. Driving her against the wall.
As Mark held her against the wall she felt her knee heal thanks to Vitas powerful magic. With him focused on holding her to the wall she grabbed his polearm briefly dropping one of her own weapons in order to get onto the weapon held in Marks hands, she was surprisingly light even then. her armored foot came up, fast with a flick of her dress and a pale sickly green glowing foot came out of nowhere at his face.
Mark merely lowered his forehead into the oncoming kick, the hardest part of his skull connecting with the foot as he then dropped the staff, and reached to grab the woman's legs, the claws of his gauntlets digging into the calf-muscles of her legs easilly. Digging deep as he turned his body, and pulled her down, his claws dragging through flesh until getting lodged in the bones of her ankles as he slammed her onto her back. Squeezing tightly, he quickly adjusted his finger-tips, the claws immediately going for the Achilles tendons and all the nerves and blood vessels there.
His expression, however remained the same. Mark was still bored despite seeing stars from the kick to his face, and by now, it was getting to Spike.
Spike shrieked as her leg was cut by his claws, briefly as her foot made contact with his head she felt something akin to a brief numbness in her foot But all that went out of her mind as he grabbed her and threw her onto the floor as he turned around. His claws digging into her left leg just above her knee. Blood was everywhere
As Mark stooped to pick up his polearm Spike stood up. Vitas had stopped the pain simply watching the two. Mark drew first blood, it was only fair for Spike to match it for the fight to end and both to get some rest. and maybe Mark to get to freedom ? Spike threw aside her twin swords, the sentry nearby caught the tossed weapons, easily reforming them into a single red edged staff before it returned to the normal colors belonging to Vitas.
Spike settled into a stance, Mantis. And waited for Mark to make the next move. He was bored. She knew it, and she was already starting to tire of this little game. Her sickly green claws flexed briefly as she seemed to be in pain from his claws to her leg. But she was faking it. And he didnt know it
Mark rolled his eyes and tossed the staff, the other Sentry catching it. With an annoyed sigh, Mark settled into a Tiger stance, his claws dripping with Spike's blood; the smell of it making the man shiver slightly; finally blinking slowly as he moved with frightening speed after his injured foe; aiming to finish this bout and kill Spike quickly. His strikes were direct and fast, most of them aiming for where Spike's armor did not cover: Her armpits, her inner thigh near the crotch, her throat, wherever. Each and every strike was an open-handed raking motion or stab, the claws of his gauntlets even whistling through the air as they moved with such speed towards the wounded woman.
Speed, that was what it boiled down to. Spike was naturally fast for her body. Smaller than Mark by a good half head or so she had to keep one step ahead of him, she could tell he was aiming to kill her. But she couldnt, wouldnt let that happen. Easily slapping away the first few strikes and dodging a few more she brought up her left hand as he went for her throat on the last strike, her right hand going right behind middle and ring fingers extended and slightly curved. The mystical sickly green glowy armor ignored his right arm armor easily,
She felt resistance briefly as her claws made contact with his wrist, then her fingers with his skin, her personal nails leaving a long deep pair of trails up his arm to his armpit where her left hand clinched into tight fist and she struck him under the arm hard, splitting them apart. She was about to jump after him when she halted and stepped back She had made second blood.
The barrier came up between them then, allowing Spike to lean backwards, her armor fading without a sound or really any magical flair as she leaned heavily on the nearby sentry. Another sentry appeared with something akin to a thronechair matrialising for Vitas. who was clapping.
Mark grunted in pain as they parted, the right gauntlet vanishing as he looked at his arm; sensing the barrier activate. Hearing the clapping, Mark rolled his eyes, already feeling the pain lesson and the wounds heal from Vitas' magic. Typical. Thats why he was bored; no consequence, no thrill of the fight; no reason to truely fight hard. Whatever; he won; had it not been for Vitas, Spike would have died long before ever taking her Mantis stance.
"If that is the best your second can do I'm afraid you're the only real threat here." he finally spoke English, crossing his arms.
Spike growled something and Vitas simply waved her off, with the help of a sentry Spike left, leaving Mark alone with Vitas. "You do not want to see me in combat... Or do you want to be in pain ?" Vitas said simply standing from her own chair her arms crossed as she looked to Mark. "I think you have stayed long enough. Enjoyed my home, my food,... yes... Take him upstairs" Vitas said, two sentries stepped forwards as bindings of the same barrier formed around Marks wrists as if handcuffing him. The two faceless sentries then frogmarched Mark up the stairs behind Vitas as she went to see first to Spike
Upon arrival once more in the throne room Mark was left alone, for the second time in twelve hours, with Miao. The woman laid at the foot of the throne stairs, the obsidian tile steps glittered under the heavily drugged woman who simply laid limp, barely moving, though Mark saw easily that she was alive. Each of those drugs, normally able to kill a normal human being, somehow kept her alive
"Enjoyed is a strong word, don't you think?" Mark grunted before he was cuffed by the energy. He didn't bother resisting as he was taken to the throne room. "So much for keeping me, your biggest threat, right where you wanted." he taunted again. With him there she could easilly break him down and turn him into a slave to her will. She wouldn't enjoy it, but then neither would he. She'd have an excellent weapon to use against the Assassins and to use to keep order. She'd have her old boyfriend back; and he'd be iall hers/i.
But she was about to throw it away again. Mark shrugged as he was left alone, didn't matter to him; she tried too hard to be sexy. Turning his gaze to Miao, he finally got a chance to stare at her, figure out who she was. He searched his memories, and finally found an answer: His cousin. She was his cousin on his mother's side. Slowly walking towards her, his expression softened as it dawned on him more of his family were alive than simply he and his father, and his shoulders slumped as the rest of his armor de-materialized, and he stopped just a few feet away from her.
"I'm sorry you wound up like this... no member or extended member of the Wolfe Clan deserves such treatment." he mumbled in Norse to her; the language of their home-land. Of Arendelle.
Miao twitched, her bright drugged laced hazel eyes sought vainly for Marks voice. She recognised him, even in her drug induced state she recognised his voice. She recognised the name he spoke of, Wolfe... her aunt's face briefly filled her vision before Marks face filled her vision as she remembered he.. Him he's... He's my... cousin ? Her memories soaked through the drugs were vainly grabbed at held onto and then just as quickly lost as she recognsied Marks voice. Her hand reached out and faintly smacked against his foot as she rolled onto her back, laying diaganol on the stairs
But her eyes went wide as out of nowhere Vitas stepped into her view and her hand spread wide before smacking Mark solidly in the back. Sheer magic making it go utterly dark for him. Miao crowed something, for once not drugged in perfect crystal clear Arendellian only he could understand, "Mark Look..." She started to say as Vitas knocked him out without a sound. "Out"
Mark blinked as she spoke; she remembered too even when drugged beyond humanly possible ? He was about turn, but before he could, Vitas' hand connected with his back, and his world went dark; however he was still quite consious, enough so to spin and lash out wildly at whoever had hit him, though immediately after he would stumble drunkenly forward, dead into Vitas, his arms draped over her shoulders as he tried to stay conscious, his quick breathing shortening and slowing as he slid down her body, his fingers gently tracing the skin of her shoulders, neck, and collar bone before he fell to the ground at her feet, as he fell, his hand grabbed the top of her dress; dragging it and the strap down with him, the fabric stretching just enough before he let go, leaving Vitas almost half-naked in the throne room; his normally dark brown eyes were entirely black; still open as if he'd died that way. However he was very much alive. Barely able to stay awake, his eyes darted back and forth, slowly closing either as an attempt to blink, or as the magic finally continued to work and put him out.
Vitas simply rolled her eyes, bending down to his face she reached a hand up and closed his eyes saying simply "I tried that before, when you arrived last night, you didnt want it. You didnt want me... you dont want me,. So why try for it now ?" She redid her dress strap before setting her seelve back where it belonged and relaxing her shoulders before sdtanding up and moving to Miao.
Mark of course heard it all as Vitas stepped to Miao, the woman still drunkenly reaching for Mark, only managing to weakly touch his his steel toed booted right foot as he laid on the floor. "So my pet... you do know another langauge ? Perhaps it is time for more... playtime ?" A pained growl was heard as Vitas used her magic to forcefully trigger Miaos transformation into a tiger. "Good girl. Now, stay..."
Vitas turned towards two human thugs. "Take him and his things back to where you found him at Spikes orders. Ensure he is captured by the Trinidad police for destruction within the museum there." The men nodded and picked up Mark like a piece of lumber and carried him from the throneroom as Miao simply watched in druglaced horror as her memories of recognition of Mark faded into darkness.
1 hour later
Trinidad California
Trinidad Natural History Museum
Egyptian Artefacts Room
A memory burshed the surface of his mind. he could see three children, well, two children and a white tiger cub no larger than a gratedane atthat point. His sister, and his cousin, and himself as children... Mark ran as fast as he could, laughing as hard as his little lungs could pump out the air. Behind him his sister Marion rode on the the back of Miao in her Tiger form as they played together in an Arendellian Park. The sounds of their laughter filled the air and they'd been at play for at least an hour. They playfully wrestled with each other, getting filthy dirty in the process, but they were kids! They didn't care. Miao was just a little younger than he was; maybe a year younger, while Marion was three years younger than him. They were all so happy, so full of life and energy and oblivious to the hardships they would face in the future.
"Kids! Time to come in to eat! Say goodbye to Miao and let's go!" Mark's mother called out. Mark and Marion pouted, but did as they were told, hugging their cousin nice and tight, the Tiger child wrapping a paw around them as they hugged. They watched her fade into the distance as they left in the carriage, dark figures he assumed to be her parents approaching from behind.
That was the last time Mark saw Miao before finding her again.
Opening his eyes he saw only darkness again, but knew he could see; as streams of light came in from the ... corners? He was in a box of some sort... a ... coffin? He was not bound, so with his arms he pushed open the coffin, taking a breath of fresh air as he fell onto the ground, his legs a bit weak. He coughed a few times; shuddering as he felt the last of Vitas' magic leave his body. Sighing, he stood, hearing the click of a gun as well as a thud.
"F-Freeze!"
Turning slowly, Mark saw a scared-shitless security guard, along with his partner out cold on the floor who must have seen him fall out of the coffin. "D-Don't move! But... don't put no curses on me either!" he said.
Mark slowly walked towards him, slowly closing his fingers around the slide of the gun, and pointing it away from himself. "Would you think it wise to shoot me? What would Grandma think about that?" he asked sternly. The man's eyes widened, and then he nodded slowly, removing his finger from the trigger and putting the safety on the weapon. "I thought so... you saw nothing, you heard nothing. And as far as you know... this mess is a freak accident. Got it ?" he gesutered to the mess made from his fights with Luna and Spike earlier. Again the guard nodded, his jaw shaking. "Good." Mark smiled, and put his index fingers to his lips, quietly shushing the man before opening a transport array behind him and stepping through it, heading for Ruthie's house.
Normally it was blink and one was where they wanted to go via transport array, It was also painless. But this transfer was everything BUT painless. One second he saw his destination, and was headed for it, Ruth Bigs Bed and Breakfast, the barn not far from the Dodges parking space. Next thing he knew that mental image was wrenched away and he was flying in free fall from a ceiling to a hardwood floor of nice light oakwood. A demour home of a sort
"Glad you could drop in" Said a oddly familar voice. A younger sounding voice was laughing at the mere sight of Mark falling from a two story ceiling to land face down on the floor.
"So glad I had V mop the floor this morning" Hidden Flute mused Her head titled slightly seeing something else fall in with Mark. a pair of books, journals it looked like, both written in Draconian which she could read clearly
Mark landed hard and let out a pained groan, coughing a few times before shaking his head and groaning again. "I must be getting old...landed on my fucking hip..." he grumbled, standing as the women talked. He stood and exhaled an annoyed breath, his eyes already blazing with Eagle Vision as he searched the room. "Care to explain why you ... so rudely yanked me from my transport array?"
"Take it easy on the language, there's children present" Luna said fanning herself. Compared to her even Mark was a kid
"Mother" Hidden Flute replied in a strong Draconic as Luna smirked, holding out her hand to Mark
"I didnt think it would work, but somehow it did. I think it belongs to you now." Luna said, holding out the shard to Mark. The thing glittered in the sunlight of the morning. Somehow through use of the shard, Luna had transported Mark from his intended destination to... well.. there. "Using this I thought of you, and bringing you to us."
Looking to Hidden Flute with a raised eyebrow he turned back to Luna, remembering their fight. His eyes narrowed, but he slowly took the shard back, pocketing it. "Children must be growing too fast because I swear that's a full grown woman right there." he nodded his head to the pit-fighter who smiled and stifled a laugh. After a pause, Mark focused once more on Luna. "When we fought over the shard... you mentioned I fought like a Wolfe. How would you know?"
"There are a scant few who utlise their bodies like a Wolfe. So you either are a member of the Family in some manner, or a student of one." Luna replied thoughtfully. "However, you mentioned that 'you should be, you are the head of the house' ? How is this possible ?" Hidden Flute had to smirk however. She had her mother back after Light alone knew how long. And now Kalda was getting a history lesson
"I should be full grown... Kalda; After all I'm almost 1,300,018 years old as it is." Hidden Flute said, She titled her head towards Luna. "She... She is my Mother" Now Mark could see the resemblence, those lumicent backlit brown eyes. Luna had them too. She bent down and picked up both books as Mark stood
Mark grunted as he was referred to as Kalda, who currently was still dormant within him; either thanks to Vitas' magic, or due to exhausting his own magic trying to keep Mark conscious after being shot. Or just being Lazy. "That being said... you must be a Wolfe as well then?" Mark looked to Luna, and then to Hidden Flute. Briefly he summoned his left Gauntlet, the gauntlet that marked him as Clan Leader. "Here is your proof that I am Clan Leader. My father shamed us, and the responsibility fell to me." he added calmly.
"But if you're as old as you say you are... and you know me as Kalda..." Mark thought for a second, piecing parts of Kalda's memories to his own. "You must have both been born or lived in the Mythic Realm, no?" he asked.
"Born, both of us... But its... complicated" Luna replied haltingly seeing the gauntlet, her mothers gauntlet that Luna only saw twice in her life before going with Diamond to bury her mother all those years ago. Luna recalled how her mother told her how she became the Clan Matriarch at nineteen. the youngest at the time. A single tear slid down Lunas face as she remembered her mother. Yaeko.
Finally Luna nodded "it suits you" She said.
Another minute of complete silence filtered only by the sounds of the lawnmower guy outside in the backyard doing the lawn when Luna said. "We are Wolfes... My mother was Clan Matriarch... Yaeko Wolfe... I'm her second born."
At her words of it suiting him, Mark looked to the Gauntlet with a sort of solemn look on his face before it vanished and he looked back to her; his eyes widening a bit with shock at what she said next. Yaeko's second born? And then... her daughter? He looked between the two women in stunned silence for a few moments before speaking again. "Complicated is one way of putting it..." he said, moving to a chair and sitting down as he continued to process the information.
"When I'm done here in California... when I return to Arendelle... would you like to come? Home, I mean? I've... been restoring the Wolfe Manor to its glory... I couldn't bear to see it in shambles after the fire." he shook his head at their reactions to that. "I'll... tell you later. It's not an easy story to recall." he said, his voice stern enough not to be questioned, but gentle enough to not be rude.
"Either way... what do you say?" he asked, referring to his question of them coming back to the Home of the Wolfe Clan.
The mere thought of returning to Arendelle after milennia being away. Time didnt move much if that in the Mythic Realm, but in the Mortal Realm it had easily been two million years since Yaeko walked that city. And the mere thought of returning to her mothers home city Made Luna have to sit down in another chair.. "Mother gave birth to me in the Mythic Realm, I was three when I first arrived in Arendelle... I lived there and watched my siblings grow up and have families of their own... Mother was insistant they stay close by." Well that explained the Wolfe District of Arendelle. As well as the Yaeko District
"Arendelle. Mother, I've only heard stories from V and Lady Matisai, is it really as beautiful as they said ?" Hidden Flute asked, also looking to Mark. the mere idea of seeing her grandmothers home made Hidden Flute's stomach fill with butterflies
Luna smiled, letting out a deep breath she nodded "There were many fires during the additions to the homestead. Some of the forges overheated or workers set fire to scaprs that spread. But Mother continued to add onto the home. The last time I was there... we bureid her. the Gauntlet chose my youngest sister, Bane to be the next matriarch."
Luna looked to Mark. "How long do you intend to be here... in this area ? I have two things I need to settle back home before I refully return here for good." One of those was let her daughter have the say so with her unrepentant ass of a father. As wel las beat some sense into her younger brother
"Mother" Hidden Flute said, Luna turned to her as she held out a journal to her, in this case, it was Yaekos journal. Luna simply stared.