Raphael
I shrug, "not that I can think of right now. But, fuck, I cant even trust my own thoughts right now. You remember the dreams? I've cleaned this place out ten times a day since She's started asking about it. Hell, I wasn't sure I hadn't until she sent us."
I look at him a second...
Raphael
I turn his words over in my mind, like a dog pawing at a new and unfamiliar toy. Surprisingly I don't recoil from them, the idea of existing like this loosing its sting already. Unlocking the door is a rote motion for me now.
Maybe I can do some good like this. Scrape the scum...
Raphael
My jaw clenches. "I'd think that draining good folks dry would be mutually exclusive with being 'a good sort'." I bark a bitter laugh. "But what do I know, I'm just her cautionary tale. Let's just get this done, so I can get back to being paraded about."
I attempt to leave the car...
Raphael
I match his silence beat for beat. Quiet reflection was always stressed back in the Seminary. Heaven knows why. Never seemed to bring me any closer to Himself Above. Nor did scripture, for that matter. The only thing approaching divine communion I ever had was cleaning the streets...
Raphael
I stuff the phone back in my jacket. I can't answer that question right now. I'm not sure which would be worse, right now, a lie or the truth. There shouldn't be anyone in our old safe house, at least, but that Molotov on the stairs should still be good.
I try to put my mind at...
Raphael
I have to clasp my hands to stop them wandering to the phone in my pocket as I leave the cavern. Hopefully Maeve'll chalk it up to reluctance over murdering my friends. I rush to my room and haul my phone out, and type out a quick message to Mark.
sally's?
have a lead on a...
Raphael
I look at Maeve, unspoken plea in my eyes. If her expression changes, and I'm not sure it does, it only gets harder.
"Fine," I reply, then glance towards Ferida. "I left my sword in my room. I'll grab it and meet you outside."
Sweet Mother of Mercy give me strength, I silently...
Raphael
Christ, of course she'd ask me about them again. Can't she just leave off? Sure as Hell below awaits me I want to tell her, but I won't betray my friends, even if they will want my heart on a stake when they find out I'm a leech now.
Raphael
I sigh and shrug one shoulder. As I look back at her my eyes lock to hers. I loose myself, and a smile spreads across my face. The small part of my brain that still hates Maeve screams quietly as it's drowned in a flood of adoration.
"Alright," I gush, "let's."
Raphael
"Like the dead," slips from my mouth, and I wince at the poor choice of words. I look around the room, tearing my eyes off her. "No cronies tonight?"
Raphael
Mistress. Maeve. My dead heart lurches in my chest at the mention of her. She's the one who tuned me into this monster. I hate her with every fiber of my being, I love her with ever drop of blood in my veins. I give my head a quick shake to clear it, and gesture for the ghoul to lead...
Raphael
I can't pull my God forsaken eyes form that drop of blood forming on the ghoul's arm. Revulsion rises like a stone in my throat that I want, crave, need it now. The man presses his arm to my mouth and blood, salty yet sweet, profane yet holy, floods my mouth. It washes that stone away...
Growing up in one of the rougher areas of Limerick City it was inevitable that Raphael would fall in with a bad crowd. Before he reached adulthood he was dealing to his classmates, and his physique made him a natural choice for one of the local gang’s legbreakers once he left school. After a...
Okakura smiles back at the Crane. "Nothing but my wandering feet and absent mind," he replies. "When I found myself here I decided to take a look around might banish some of the mystery of last night, especially with a clear head and the light of day to assist me." He gestures at the hole...
Okakura pays little attention to the rest of the pairings after his match, Takeru's taunts gnawing on his mind. He leaves quickly after the contest ends, choosing not to talk with his peers after his back to back failures. He knows that some of his competitors have been meditating and taking tea...
...tell a tale in your honour this evening at the Poisoned Water." He bows and limps away, sick to the stomach at the prospect of the next test.
*****
Horsemanship. Okakura knew this test was coming, but he had pushed it to the edge of his mind, ignoring the terrifying problem in his future...