Obscure


"Are you sure it's wise to wander without your Horsemen protectors? There are a lot of dead here that would strip the flesh from your bones."

I smiled at Draven sweetly, showing just a little bit too much teeth. "They have yet to bother me," I chimed in reply, sitting on a step of the deck and folding my legs neatly. "You asked me to come alone, so what's the problem?"

The former military leader seemed to sigh without actually expelling breath, folding his arms and shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I wished to speak with you alone, not to have you cavort all the way out here on your lonesome. To go forth unescorted is to go forth foolishly."

I shrugged. "So I'm a fool. Also, I'm a fool who knows that, if I brought one of them with me, there's no way we'd get them to back off for me to talk with you privately. So, you have one little fool, all on her lonesome." I mocked cheerfully, bobbing my head side to side amicably. "Besides, what are you gonna do? Stab me? They do tend to worry a lot, but sometimes unnecessarily." I grinned impetuously.

In spite of his lack of lips with which to do it, his jaw still managed to convey the disapproval of a frown. "…Impertinent lass." He shook his head and sat beside me, careful to keep his blades to himself. "That's the one I wanted to talk to, though. Not the arm decoration for the Horsemen, but the one who tried like hell to punch a ghost." He sounded amused.

Of course he would bring that up. "I didn't know if he was completely incorporeal or not." I grumbled. "And it was worth trying, anyway. So. What did you want to talk to me about?"

Draven hummed between his teeth, a strangely echoing sound. "A simple request, if you'll hear it." Waiting for my nod, he then clarified, "My time to act against the King may be at hand, sooner than I thought. I want you to ride with me, when that day comes."

I blinked in surprise, and I'm pretty sure my face had a look of dumb confusion. "Ride wi— Oh. Ohhh. You're going solo against the King, that's why. But, why me? Wouldn't it make more sense to plead your case with one of the Horsemen? They're stronger than I am. A lot." I stated plainly.

"I wouldn't go that far." Draven murmured in a sly tone. "Each of you hold different strengths— I may approach one of them and succeed in obtaining help, but where one goes, the others are likely to leave well enough alone. If, however, I ask the one whom they all rally behind…"

I started grinning uncontrollably, seeing his stratagem beneath it all. "You get me to go along with it, and you get all four of them without lifting a finger. Clever, Draven. But this is a war you're wanting to wage." I lifted a brow at him. "Why would I risk their lives in something that does not involve them? My own life is one thing, but since they count that as theirs as well, I have to take them into consideration."

He seemed to have expected this line of questioning, because he already had an impassioned speech ready for me, spoken on feverish whispers so as not to be heard by others. "Can you imagine what would happen, at the conclusion? Once I've rent the King's head from his body, filled my goblet with his spinal fluid— His crown will be mine. This entire realm will be mine, and nobody else will be subjected to the trickery I had inflicted upon me. Those who fight and win for their souls will regain them, not lay trapped in servitude to a betrayer!" My, how he must hate the ruler and his sycophant— It tingled and singed my senses, but he was able to gain control of himself, nonetheless. "For you, however… For you and your Horsemen, I would name you welcome. Any domain under my power would be sanctuary for the ones who aided in putting it within my grasp. And I know that the Horsemen do not have allies jumping at them. I would be a valuable asset, as would any under my command."

Wow… I was a little impressed, to say the least. "…You want it that badly, huh." I said slowly, thoughtfully. Then I nodded. "All right. I'll lend you my blade, at the very least. I can't promise the other four will fall in line behind me, but it's at least one more than you currently have." I offered a hand to him, smiling.

Then he surprised me once more by taking it, and giving a slight, reverent bow to it. His eyes were smiling… That was the first time I saw him like that. Truly, only the prospect of obtaining his revenge was capable of making a bitter spirit sweet.

"You will not regret it." He announced intensely. "This I swear to you— Come time of my rise to power, you and yours will be richly rewarded. This will not be forgotten."

My mouth quirked off to the side wryly. "I seem to remember how eloquent and charming humans are, now." I sighed theatrically. "Woe is me! Getting talked into all manner of unsavory things… And here I thought those days were over." I patted the hand that held mine companionably. "As long as you don't change, I don't mind helping with a little coup d'etat. Just, umm. Don't kill the hired help? You'll be bearing the weight of every single soul that dies, so when you pick your Dead Lords, don't kill them right after we bring them back to you. Death was so pissed after that, and I don't think you'll like sleeping eternity away like the current King."

Draven obviously knew what I was referring to, for he shot a scathing look in the direction of the throne room. "…That will not be a problem." He declared finally, stiffly turning his attention back to me. And when is he going to let my hand go…? "I honor my debts, mark my words. I will find a sufficient way to be of use, have no doubt."

Something occurred to me just then, and I couldn't help but ask. "But, what are you going to do with the Chancellor?"

Draven scoffed. "That snake? I'll tie his tail in a knot and fill him with water. I'm sure the children wouldn't mind having another toy. This is a dreadful place, after all."

The mental image of little ghost-kids prancing and playing around the bloated corpse— Do spirits leave corpses? I never noticed— of the Chancellor made me giggle, strangely enough. So I went along with it. "Oh! Or!" I held a hand up, deciding that if he wanted to hold hands then I wouldn't stop him. "You can tie him neck-to-tailbone to a tree and make a swing-set out of him. That would be fun!"

He shook his head, and the hood to his cloak fluttered slightly. "Oh, but think of the children." He admonished, insincerity extremely evident. "I could always keep him in the torture chambers, for when there's a slow day and I get bored."

Then I held that free hand up in attendance. "I'm invited, right? I always wanted to learn how to torture a spirit— Now I can learn!" I beamed at him, and was given a dry glance in turn.

"You are a strange one." He said my favorite line of them all, leaning back against the step, still in possession of my hand. I think it's a dead-thing. They like the feel of life, I suppose. "Now, if I were flesh…"

I cocked my head. "If you were flesh…?" I prompted after a little bit.

He grinned fiercely.

"Only time will be telling that, lamb."


Authors Note: Whoa. Now that was a lot more suggestion than I was intending on ending it with, eheh. ^_^' Dammit Draven!

DecepticonQueen: That was my exact problem with writing this very chapter. Why does a ghost with no mouth to speak of have such a sexy voice? ~headdesk~

And, in response to Rosa-anon: The Horsemen are all siblings according to canon, and the last Nephilim in existence. And they're all pretty close, even though Death and Strife don't get along all that well. So, to them, what belongs to one, belongs to them all. They just can't figure out which one got first dibs. =w=

I'd also like to note that logging in under a username makes it infinitely easier to respond to questions and/or complaints. I like lurking as much as the next lurker, but what am I supposed to do when I answer a question an anon asks? X3 I respectfully suggest and request that questions be sent via logged-in reviews or PMs- But I'm leaving anonymous reviewing on for those who just want to drop by with their opinions, okay? :3

Thank you very much~