The water was luxurious. It warmed and soothed Cara's well worked muscles. She had taken Dog for a run through the forest. Chucking her formal jacket at Berdine she had turned and bolted, whistling for Dog to follow her. She had returned a few hours later with a ripped top and scratched pants. The next hour had been spent grooming Dog. Plucking twigs and leaves out of his fur before brushing. He could have used a bath, but Cara could do that tomorrow. She had wanted her own bath, and while heading down to the bathing room had gestured for two of the younger Mord-Sith to follow her. It had been one of the first things Cara had done once she started living at the Confessor's Palace. The bathing room was nearly identical to the bathing rooms in Mord-Sith temples, a little slice of home and luxury that she so enjoyed. Currently, Cara leaned against the side of the large bath while the two Mord-Sith rubbed sponges across her back, slowly going downwards. Cara felt a disturbance in the water before the sponges stopped moving and were replaced by a lathered cloth and a hand. These hands moved down a lot quicker.
"Hmmm, Dahlia. Nice to see you missed me."
Cara turned around and grabbed Dahlia's hips. She pulled the other Mord-Sith to her before turning back around, trapping Dahlia between herself and the edge of the bath.
"Of course I missed you. Did you miss me?"
"I missed that thing you do."
"That thing?"
"You know, that thing." Cara grinned. "That thing where you annoy the hell out of me but get away with it because you pout so enticingly."
"Ah, that thing."
"Yeah…" Cara swept Dahlia's hair to the side and starting kissing and nipping up the column of her neck. "That thing. But I don't want you to do that now. I have another idea of what you could be doing with those lips."
Cara reached the top of Dahlia's throat and started to move her lips across Dahlia's jaw. Cara bit down lightly on the other woman's check before moving to her mouth, teasing her tongue across Dahlia's bottom lip.
"Open." Cara hissed, and Dahlia did. Then Cara's tongue was in her mouth, hot and wet and doing and demanding things from her. She whimpered.
Cara chuckled and moved to Dahlia's jaw again.
Cara froze, her body tensed. Then she shoved Dahlia into the edge of the bath, hard enough to bruise.
"Tell me Dahlia, who owns you? Who decides where you are stationed? Who sets the rules for you, and who punishes you when you break those rules?" Cara hissed into the dark blonde's ear before biting on it hard, breaking the surface and making it bleed.
Dahlia whimpered. "You do."
"That's right, I do. Would you like to tell me then, Dahlia, why you have a mark on you that I didn't put there?"
Cara rubbed a thumb over the mark in question. It was a dark bite mark.
"This is a few days old. You've only been here half a day and no one would dare to bite a Mord-Sith but another Mord-Sith. So tell me, Dahlia, how much of a transgression have you made?"
Cara held Dahlia still with her hands on her shoulders. When Dahlia didn't answer right away, she dug her fingers in.
"I'd find it hard to believe that a bite was all there was to it, but I'd believe you eventually. Was that all there was, Dahlia?"
Dahlia shook her head. She knew she couldn't lie to Cara, Cara knew her too well. Cara's hands clenched and she heard a painful pop as one of Dahlia's shoulders dislocated. She lent forward, licking the abused ear.
"Have you been whoring yourself out in my absence, Dahlia?"
Dahlia whimpered as Cara pressed down on the dislocated shoulder.
"Is that a yes?"
"No. Not whoring myself out. I…I love her."
Cara let go of the other Mord-Sith and took a step back. Her eyes were wide and a surprised smirk curled on her lips.
"Mord-Sith do not love."
"You can't believe that Cara. Just look at Berdine and Raina. Look at you and me. We…"
Cara wrapped her hand around Dahlia's throat, effectively cutting her off.
"I don't believe it, I know it. Mord-Sith do not love."
Dahlia didn't move, even though she was finding it extremely hard to breath. Surely Cara wouldn't kill her like this, and even if she did, she'd bring her back. Right? Cara wasn't letting go. Dahlia raised a hand to the one around her throat as air was becoming a serious problem. Her vision was starting to fade. Cara snarled at her in disgust. Dahlia barely managed to squeak back. Then she was flying through the air into the other end of the pool. She swallowed a mouthful of water as she fought to stand. Dahlia hadn't heard anything, but by the time she surfaced the rest of the Mord-Sith were filing out of the bathing room.
Cara moved towards the stairs of the bath, her hand shooting out as she passed Dahlia and snagging the other Mord-Sith's braid. She half dragged Dahlia out and around the large bath. She let her go, Dahlia wobbling slightly on unsure legs.
"Spit."
Dahlia spat.
"Stand."
Dahlia moved onto the glob of slightly watery saliva.
"Stay."
Dahlia didn't think anything in the world could have made her move. Cara circled her once before stopping behind her.
"Stay standing, Dahlia."
Then Cara placed the tip of her agiel at the bottom of Dahlia's naked spine. Dark tendrils spread out, and Cara slowly dragged her agile up. Through the steadily increasing pain, Dahlia wondered where Cara had gotten her agiel from. She hadn't been holding it before Cara discovered the hickey. Maybe one of the other Mord-Sith had handed it to her. Dahlia struggled to stay standing as the bones in her spin were slowly being snapped and twisted. Cara had only reached a quarter of the way up when Dahlia collapsed. She didn't want to disobey her Mistress, she really didn't. Oh Creator, she'd already disobeyed Cara, hadn't she? She should never have … but she loved her couldn't Cara understand that?
Cara knelt next to Dahlia. She ran her hand through Dahlia's hair and made shushing noises as Dahlia started to sob. Dahlia had always been so close to breaking point. Always believing what she was told, not what she saw around her. Cara had felt … affection … towards Dahlia, but nothing near to love. No matter what Dahlia seemed to have convinced herself.
"Mistress. Mistress, I'm so sorry I disobeyed you. I didn't mean to fall down."
Dahlia's sobs slowed and became quieter.
"I know, Dahlia, I know. But I can't just accept an apology, what would our sisters think? I need you to either tell me who gave you that mark, or I need you to stand up."
"I can't tell you, you'll hurt her. I couldn't let you hurt her."
"Then I need you to stand up for me. Can you do that for me Dahlia?"
Had Dahlia been in her right mind, she would have realized that standing up would be far too lenient a task for Cara to forgive her indiscretion. But she didn't realize it. Cara stood back and watched as Dahlia struggled to even push herself into a sitting position, but ultimately, she couldn't stand up.
"I can't. I'm sorry Mistress, but I can't stand up."
"Then I'm afraid I can't accept your apology, Dahlia. One last chance, tell me who marked you."
Dahlia shook her head but didn't say anything. Cara strode forward and tapped her foot against Dahlia's. Dahlia stared at her foot, not understanding how she had seen Cara's foot touch hers, but not felt it. Cautiously, she reached a hand out and poked her thigh. Dahlia could feel her thigh beneath her fingertip, but not the fingertip on her thigh. Dahlia looked up into Cara's blank eyes, all her notions about Cara quickly shattering.
"I'm going to let you live, pet. You never know, you might even have lovers. They'll be able to take their pleasure from you, but you'll not take it from them. At least not that way, and especially not with her. I will find her, and then I will kill her in front of you. I don't want you to hold onto false hope, Dahlia. That would be cruel."
Cara moved to the door to the bathing room, she knew someone (most likely Berdine) would be there. Gossip moved fast through Mord-Sith, though none would admit it. Both Berdine and Raina were waiting for her.
"Who had contact with Dahlia in the last two days?"
Berdine automatically started listing names. Cara carefully watched Dahlia for a reaction to a name.
"Don't forget Rikka." Raina added quietly.
Dahlia flinched.
Berdine nodded. "Rikka, of course."
Flinch.
Cara never took her eyes off Dahlia. "Rikka?"
Flinch.
"She rides out two days before the quads get into the city to keep them updated."
"Does this happen often?"
"More often than not. She normally volunteers."
"When has she not?"
Berdine told her the days Rikka hadn't ridden out as her gaze slipped to Dahlia lying on the ground.
"All of which are the days Dahlia hasn't been a member of an incoming quad."
Cara nodded. "I figured as much."
She moved towards where her dirty formal wear was folded on a nearby table. She picked up the ripped top before dropping it again.
"Raina, fetch Rikka for me. Bring her here in an hour. Berdine, bring me my leathers."
"Yes, Mistress Cara." Both of them bowed as they left the room, not wanting to anger Cara. They could see how close she was to losing it over this Dahlia thing. Rumours had speculated over what Dahlia had done to annoy Cara, but no one knew for sure.
xxxxx
Raina headed towards the dining hall. It was dinner time, and Rikka was probably to be found here. Once in the dining hall, Raina made her way to the table of red in a sea of silver and blue. The palace guards and the Mord-Sith had integrated fairly well, but still ate in separate groups. Part of that was the Mord-Sith not eating any meat (a tradition left over from Darken Rahl's days, Mord-Sith only ate what the Lord Rahl ate, and Darken Rahl hadn't eaten meat. Most Mord-Sith had been trained this way, it was ingrained in them) and the palace guards eating almost only meat. A spot near the head of the table opened for Raina as she neared, as well as several non verbal offers to get her food. She declined them all and sat next to a happy Rikka. Rikka smiled at her and offered part of her meal. Raina shook her head and focused on the dining hall clock. Now all she had to do was wait. Rikka continued her meal and conversations she had been having before Raina arrived. When she tried to stand up to leave, she found Raina's hand on her shoulder shoving her back down.
"Sit, Rikka."
"I have watch with the palace guards now."
"Hally, take over Rikka's watch."
The blonde Mord-Sith nodded and left her half eaten meal to do as she was ordered.
"Now sit, Rikka, and stay sitting until I tell you otherwise."
Rikka wisely sat, not saying anything.
xxxxx
It didn't take long for Berdine to find Cara's red leathers. The Overlord kept them in a large chest at the foot of her bed. Berdine made sure to knock before entering the bathing room. Cara stood in front of Dahlia, agiel in hand. Berdine couldn't see any more marks on Dahlia's body, it looked as if Dahlia hadn't even moved, but that didn't mean that Cara hadn't taken some frustration out on the other Mord-Sith. It had probably been verbal if the tear tracks down Dahlia's cheeks were any indication.
"Cara? I have your red leathers."
Cara's gaze barely flicked to Berdine before she was looking at Dahlia again. She was silent for a few minutes before she moved to the table her formal wear lay on and placed her agiel down carefully.
"Good. Assist me."
Berdine brought the leathers forward and assisted her Mistress. Pulling leather into the right place, and straps taunt before buckling everything together. Berdine started to braid Cara's hair. She had obviously intended to wash it in the bath. Cara still wore her hair like any Mord-Sith did, braided tightly down her back.
She stood before Berdine, so much like the Mord-Sith who had over thrown Darken Rahl. But she wasn't. Berdine knew she wasn't. Part of her had been repressed over the last few months, and now it was coming out. Dahlia, whatever she had done, could only hope to get out of it alive and mostly whole. Though by the look of Dahlia at the moment, Berdine figured most of that hope was gone. She had seen enough broken spines to know Dahlia probably wouldn't walk again. At least, not without a healer.
Cara moved to the table and picked up her agiel again, rolling it in her fingers.
"Wait outside for Raina. Bring her and Rikka in when they get here."
Then she was crouching in front of Dahlia, whispering. Berdine didn't want to know what was being said. Cara could be really fucking scary when she put her mind to it, and right now, that's the only place her mind was.
xxxxx
"I know I promised to kill her in front of you, and I will, but that could always be in a day, a week, a month, a year, why would I want to spoil the fun? Would you like to watch what else I do to her? It'd be the only time you see her. I think I'll start by torturing her. It won't take long to break her. Do you know why Dahlia?"
Dahlia shook her head.
"Because, if she" Cara snarled. "loves you like you say she does, then her weakness, the weakness I will use to break her is you. You'll be the reason why she calls me Mistress. You'll be the reason she'll be my pet, why she'll do anything and everything I say. She'll see you and she won't even recognize you. Would you like that, Dahlia?"
Dahlia shook her head again.
"Well, that's a shame, because I think that'd be great fun, and I'm the one in charge."
Dahlia had wondered if it were possible for her to cry anymore. Apparently, it was.
xxxxx
Berdine leaned against the cool stone wall. She liked Dahlia, even if Dahlia was a bit pathetic at times. Rikka was quiet a close friend, and Berdine would do a lot for her. But this was beyond shit hitting fan. Hell, after this, Cara might not even need the competition.
Berdine heard footsteps, one pair she instantly recognized as Raina. It must have been an hour. Raina walked slightly behind Rikka, a guiding hand on the other Mord-Sith's back.
"Berdine, maybe you can tell me what this is all about."
"Fuck, Rikka. I don't know what you did, but she is really annoyed."
"I didn't do anything to Raina!"
"Not Raina, you idiot. You and Dahlia did something, and now Cara is so pissed off I'm surprised the world hasn't exploded. She's barely talking to anyone besides Dahlia, and I don't think they're having a friendly catch up chat."
"If she's done anything to Dahlia, I swear I will…"
Berdine slapped her hand against the stone wall.
"You don't get it. We're going to make you go in there because we've been ordered to, but I don't think you'll be coming out alive. I know Dahlia won't be coming out under her own will." Berdine took a deep breath. "Cara broke her back. It's not good. What in the world did you do, Rikka?"
Rikka stared at the ground. "I love Dahlia. I have for a while now."
"Oh Rikka. I'm so sorry I have to do this."
Rikka nodded before opening the door to the bathing room and walking in, her head held high.
Berdine collapsed against the wall and slid down it. She fought the tears as long as she could, but in the end cried silently. She had just sent a good friend and a sister to her death for the crime of loving someone. Raina settled next to her and pulled Berdine to her, wrapping her arms around her love. A crime Berdine felt quiet guilty of as well.
xxxxx
The door opened, and Cara stared blankly down at them. She didn't comment about them being wrapped up in each other on the floor, she just started giving orders.
"Raina, take Dahlia to a cell, make sure it has a pallet and don't talk to her. Berdine, get rid of Rikka's body."
They stood up and moved to do as they were told. Cara's hand shot out and grabbed Berdine by the chin. Blood, which had been invisible on Cara's red leather smudged across Berdine's face.
"Never betray me Berdine."
She let go and strode down the hall, a braid of hair and an agiel clenched in one fist. Berdine didn't think she could betray Cara. She was wrong, the moment she laid her eyes on Rikka's body she knew she could in fact, betray this Cara. This Cara wasn't the Cara she willingly served. That Cara was the one who told Darken Rahl that both Raina and Berdine were busy with orders rather than letting him sleep with either of them. This Cara … this Cara just wasn't that Cara.
Raina moved forward and lifted a weeping Dahlia carefully. Despite orders, Raina made a hushing noise and murmured something. Dahlia tucked her head into Raina's shoulder, her shortened hair covering her face. Raina held her tight to her body and headed to the dungeons. Berdine lifted Rikka's body and left the room.
xxxxx
She really, really shouldn't be doing this. Cara didn't want this to happen, she would have said so if she had. As it were, Cara had said the opposite. Berdine laid Rikka on the floor of her and Raina's bed chambers. She tilted Rikka's head back and parted her lips with her thumb. Berdine leant forward, her mouth hovering over Rikka's. She took a deep breath before releasing her power into Rikka's body. She moved back and waited.
xxxxx
Raina opened the door to her shared chambers quietly. Seeing Berdine leaning over Rikka's body didn't surprise her. Not much her lover did surprised her. Rikka's eyes fluttered and she groaned.
"I feel like I've just been brought back from the dead."
Berdine smirked. "Imagine that."
Rikka looked around quickly. "Where's Dahlia?"
"She's … alive, not fine, but not dead."
Berdine turned at Raina's voice.
"Raina, I…"
Raina waved her lover off and moved forward. She started pulling clothing out of a chest of drawers and shoving it into a bag. She tossed a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a jumper at Rikka.
"She'll be fine for now. She's in a cell, but it's one of the nicer ones. Berdine and I will keep Cara distracted and away from her until she has time to calm down a bit. Get changed, you need to get out of here."
Rikka nodded and started to get changed.
"I want to see her."
"Not possible."
Rikka froze and glared at Raina.
"No, Rikka. You need to get out of here before Cara comes looking for your body. We already need someone else's corpse to replace yours. You need to leave and make a new life far away from here. You could try Westland."
Rikka bit her lip and stared at the wall. "Okay. Can you tell her something for me? Can you tell Dahlia that I love her?"
Berdine nodded. The rest of Rikka's escape went in silence. She climbed out the window and down the stone work. Berdine watched as Rikka disappeared into the night.
"Do you think we gave her enough money?"
Raina sighed. It was just like Berdine to worry about the small things. "We did more than we should have. She's Mord-Sith, she'll be fine."
"Is she? Is she still a Mord-Sith?"
"Cara cut Dahlia's hair, not Rikka's. Even in death, Cara saw Rikka as a Mord-Sith. You tell me, is she still a Mord-Sith?"
"I guess you're right."
Raina snorted. "You guess?"
"Do you think she'll find the journey book?"
"Berdine, it's at the bottom of the backpack. If she doesn't find it we've sorely overestimated her."
"Right."
They were silent. Raina wrapped her arms around Berdine's waist.
"You know we can't tell Dahlia."
"I know, but it'll give Rikka some peace of mind."
"True. Hey Berdine?"
"Yes, love?"
"You ever try to hide anything like this from me again and I will …" Raina paused, thinking.
Berdine smirked. "You'll what?"
"I'll revoke all sexual acts for three months."
"You wouldn't."
"Try me."
"Oh Creator, you would!"