Forest Child

[cataleerc]

You are an orphan living in a village in the middle of a huge forest. The orphans in this village serve as a kind of slave labor. Their parents have suffered a wide range of deaths by illness, murder, starvation under captivation, execution, or worst of all... banishment to the forest that surrounds the village. No one has ever survived a night outside the village walls.


The Orphans work in shifts, doing odd jobs around the village. They do the jobs that one else wants to do. They take out the trash, in more ways than one. One of those odd jobs is feeding the prisoners. The ones who came from inside the forest. The ones who wandered a bit too far past the line of trees, and a bit too close to the tall stone gates. Fae creatures, were wolves, shape shifters, nymphs, vampires... The Villagers see them as monsters. Every one of them is on death row, but you see that some of them are perfectly innocent, torn from their families just like you were torn from yours.


And one day.... some of them manage to escape. They set the Village a flame and knock down the stone walls.


And they take you with them, into a forest that expands much farther than anyone could ever have expected. A forest that now covers the entire world. A forest without any other villages... or humans.


Welcome to the World of Allibaster.

 

[cataleerc]

Despviir paced the small square of her holding cell, head down, hands swinging forward and back in sharp motions. She had too much energy and not enough space to dispose of it properly. This has been the case for several years now. Constant pacing in her five by six foot cell. It was enough room for her to sit and stand, but that was all. She couldn't even lay down without needing to curl her knees to her chest. And the cell was completely dark save the occasional sliver of light under the door when the sun hit this side of the compound just right. This did not bother her; she was a Drow. She grew up in the dark, but there were other fair folk who were not so accustomed to the absence of the sun.


_____


Daneel sat cross-legged in his cage, head back against the wall, and look of pure agony painted across his bruised face. They'd brought him in yesterday and chained him to the wall. Now, good day iron wouldn't have been a big deal except that someone out there had come up with the bright idea to have the cuffs blessed by a priest. The skin had been charred away from his wrists and ankles, and every movement sent a searing pain through his body.


"This blows," the Tiefling huffed, blowing a strain of damp hair out of his eyes. "I swear when I get outta here, this entire place is going up in flames."

 

[Blakie13]

"Pfft, of course the Tiefling would use fire," Vorinia yelled from her cell across the hall. The Nymph was irritable, as was understandable. She had been locked in a dank cell for over a moon. No sunlight or fresh air, and only the minimal amount of water was not a way to keep a being of nature happy. She paced about her cell, cursing her curiosity which had landed her near the village's borders.


Her magics were dulled in this place, and without anything to keep herself occupied, she felt she was going mad.


_______


Calindrien listened with his elven senses, as the other occupants of the prison cursed and wept and went mad. He was calm. He could wait. It had only been a week, and his kind lived for millennia. The humans would pay in due time. He only had to be patient. As it stood, he was growing mildly hungry, but he had refusing meals for a week. He couldn't hold out much longer, but no doubt the human prepared food would be sickening at best. Still, he needed it, and soon.


_______


Bastien struggled against his chains. His cries were carrying throughout the prison, as the blessed iron bit into his skin. He had arrived earlier that day, mid-morning. He had thought it safe to rest in the church catacombs, weary from travelling. The humans were smart, and had taken him during daylight hours, when he was weak. Funny, though, they seemed to have expected him to die immediately in the sun. Was that myth still carrying on among humans? As the iron bit once again into his wrist, Bastien cried out again. Humans were horrid.

 

[cataleerc]

Despviir's ears flicked in annoyance. The human's newest acquisition had not ceased its agonised screams for many hours, and it made the others restless. She could feel the others shifting uneasily in their prisons. Obviously this one was much stupider than the last one. It continued to fight against its blessed chains whereas the other one had stopped moving only after a few long moments.


"Oh will you shut up?" she demanded as another guttural cry reached her ears. "Just sit still and it won't hurt as much."


______


'Oh, like you wouldn't love to see this place set ablaze!" Daneel spat, leaning forward, pressing against the chains secured across his chest. Bad choice. The iron bit into his skin and his screams drowned out the sizzling of his flesh. The scent of charred flesh pervaded his cell and likely that of all the other prisoners. His stomach churned, and unable to move without warranting more wounds, became violently ill, placing his breakfast back in his lap.


____


Asher lingered outside the prison, the screams coming from within setting a nervous pace to his heart. He had been tasked with providing the monsters with food this morning, but wondered if he could leave the cart outside for someone else to find and deliver.


"What're you just standin' around fer?" The voice came from Asher's left where a guard stood, unnoticed until now.


"N-nothing!"


"Then get on with it, orphan," the man spat. So it seemed he had no choice. Asher took a deep, calming breath, and pushed the door open, cautiously entering the place of nightmares.

 

[Blakie13]

Bastien wanted to scream at the voice. He was in pain, what did they expect him to do? Laugh? He's tried staying still already. It had proved ineffective. Vampires healed at an extremely rapid rate, staying still meant the wounds were pressed against the iron without a chance to heal. It burned more that way. At least he had a couple seconds of reprieve if he moved somewhat. He was growing more and more agitated and scared. The smell of burning flesh suddenly hit his sensitive nose and he felt nauseous. He hadn't eaten in three days, and his body cried out for blood.


"Somebody... Please... Make it stop..." He whispered to himself, sobs raking his body.


____


Vorinia pitied whatever new creature they had brought in. His reaction to the blessed metal was worse than the Tiefling's, and it made her wonder what manner of creature it could be. Her musings were interrupted when she could sense a life force entering the prison. No, make that two....


____


"Asher!" Demetrius called out. "Hold for a minute, the butcher sent me with this." The young man held up a bucket of red liquid.


"Apparently it's for the new prisoner. You'll have to feed it to him personally, they still have him in chains. You need any help?" Demetrius asked. He had some menial chores to do for the tailor before he went to take over for Surrana in the doctor's home. He wanted to put it off as long as possible.

 

[cataleerc]

Asher stopped in his tracks, thankful for the excuse to stop moving. He stared down at the red liquid with hollow eyes, trying to pretend that it wasn't blood. The blonde was very faint of heart, and the notion of feeding some creature a bucket of blood threatened to stop his heart entirely--it was already beating at such an irregular pace. But he swallowed his nerves, locked them away in a little cage. It wasn't like this was a first for anything. Not the screaming creatures, not the blood. He could handle it, but he appreciated the company.


"If you have the time, some help would be nice."


_______


Azrael made her way from door to door, delivering mail to each house in the eastern sector if the village. It was a simple morning task, but a stupid one. What mail could anyone possibly need when everyone already knew one another? It wasn't like the village was that big, after all. Such a stupid thing, trying to exchange secrets via orphans. Didn't the people know that the orphans read everything. Azrael knew all about the adulterers, the gamblers, the envious. She'd heard every plot to kill a husband or a wife, steal enough money to buy more food in order to make it through the month, and so much more. And so did all the other orphans. This gossip was their source of entertainment, a way to make light of their forced servitude.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius gave a small smile of encouragement. Asher seemed a decent enough person, and was two years Demetrius' senior, even though the latter was much taller and muscular, and could easily pass for someone older. Demetrius followed Asher into the prison, nose twitching slightly at the smell of burning. He tried to ignore the cries of pain coming from the far end of the hall of cells.


"I'll take the right side, you can take the left. Alright?" Demetrius asked as he picked up the keys hanging beside the door. He heard the cow's blood sloshing in the bucket Asher now held, and shivered slightly. What would that ''meal" be for?


____


Calindrien heard the humans talking right outside his cell, a scowl settling on his handsome features. Two humans was even worse than one. At least they had food, although it smelled terrible. Or was that just the burning flesh of the Tiefling still lingering...?


____


Vorinia almost exclaimed in excitement. Finally, some food. The humans were approaching the cells, and she looked forward to the at most two seconds of interaction she would receive. It was at least something to curb her boredom.


___


Aurelius hissed in pain as the blonde girl cleaned the wound on his arm. He had managed to cut himself on a hanging sword in the blacksmith's shop, like a complete idiot.


"Oh, don't be such a baby. You're a big, strong, smith's assistant, Aurelius. You can handle a little stinging. Besides, your brother would throw a hissy fit if you got yourself an infection, and I'm not dealing with that bullshit," Surrana stated. She was one of the two village orphans that helped the doctor in his home. The other was Aurelius' twin.


"Blondie, is that orphan lout dealt with yet? I need you to organise some herbs," the doctor yelled from the front room.


The blonde rolled her eyes as Aurelius smiled apologetically. "Don't get in trouble on my account," he whispered.


Her reply was cut by a knocking on the back door. Mail time, probably. The doctor specifically asked that all orphans, including the messenger girl, used the back entrance. Didn't want them scaring away customers, Heaven forbid.

 

[cataleerc]

"Sounds fine," Asher agreed and immediately set about opening the doors just long enough to slip the prisoners' trays of food inside. He encountered many creatures that looked nearly human. The only tell-tale sign they were not would be the long, pointed ears and luminescent eyes. Most just looked at him with a dulled expression and did not move, but some like the grey-skinned creature with the inked face would lunge at him in a desperate attempt to either eat him or get past him and through the door. He was not entirely sure which.


And then he came across the final two cells, specially made with blessed iron. This back corner reeked of charred flesh, and it was all he could do to keep his heart from leaping out of his chest. His fingers hesitated over the latch on the door, unsure if he could bear the screams any longer. He looked to Demetrio with a wild panic in his eyes. "I.. I don't think I can do it..."

 

[Blakie13]

Vorinia was digging into her sparse meal of overripe berries and weak vegetable broth, listening to the humans go about feeding the other occupants. The tall male who had given her her meal had looked at her with too much suspicion for her taste. What was she gonna do, eat him? So she had grinned at him in an predatory manner, to scare him a bit. He looked more annoyed than anything, which was disappointing. She hoped one of the other prisoners would give the humans just a bit of a scare, she was so bored. She was also amusing herself with the revulsion she could feel rolling off of the elf a couple cells over. He really didn't like eating human prepared foods.


___


Calindrien stared at the the thin oatmeal and tubers, looking almost offended. The white haired human had been in and out with the meal too fast for the elf to show his displeasure, unfortunately. Perhaps I can go one more day without eatin- his thoughts were interrupted by his stomach growling. Muttering to himself, he began eating, the poorly prepared food sliding down his throat in a disgusting manner.


___


Demetrius looked up from where he was fiddling with the keys for the cell with the charred flesh smell. "Asher, you really should work on your nerves," he said, not quite annoyed, but frustrated with the other male's cowardice. Although considering what the other prisoner's meal looked like, Demetrius was sympathetic.


"Alright, if you're sure, I guess I can feed it while you slip the food to whatever is in this cell. When you're done with that, please come over and make sure I'm alright. Actually going into the cell and dedicating a few minutes to hand feeding something? I'd like some backup," Demetrius said, taking the bucket from the other young man. He hoped Asher could at least be brave enough for that. The thought of being alone, one-on-one with a monster in a cell was not exactly pleasant. Asher could at the very least watch from the door when he was done with the other beast.

 

[cataleerc]

"Sorry," Asher mumbled, avoiding the other's gaze. He knew no good came from fear. He knew that all the creatures were safely secured and that there ought to be no reason that he should worry about one monster that seemed in too much pain to be much of a threat. At any rate, he traded his bucket of blood for another dish of food, took a steadying breath, and opened the other door.


Before him, draped in chains sat what might have been a very handsome creature had it not been covered in burns, lacerations, bruises, and its own sick. The scent of it hit Asher's nose all at once, triggering a harsh gag reflex that he struggled to control.


Daneel winced as the fierce light pervaded his senses, blinding him momentarily. Before him stood a lanky boy, white of hair and slightly green of pallor. The Teifling rolled its eyes. What a sad existence the human must lead if it faltered upon just this sight alone. Honestly, Daneel had been in states far worse than this thought the chains around his body begged to differ.


"Well? Are you just going to stand there and pity me or are you going to give me that slop you creatures call food?" he snapped. His stomach had been empty for days, and he craved the feeling of something--anything--in his stomach. But more importantly, he needed the untensils that came with it.


Asher looked the monster up and down. It did not seem that it would be able to move in order to feed itself... "D-do you need me to feed you?"


"Do I look like a helpless infant?" Daneel demanded, taking great insult to the resented question. "Just leave it there." He nodded his head to the empty space by his side, watching the boy with a predatory gaze as he set the tray down. And, just for fun, he jerked forward against his chain, clamping his teeth down on the air just a centimetre away from the human's face, laughing as he watched the pitiful thing scamper backwards, the rest of the colour draining from its face.


___


Despviir took one look at the food placed before her and threw it against the closed door. Countless years of the same slop, the same dank air. She had had enough. They could kill her if they wanted--she would not fight them, for any death would be better than this--yet they kept her. Captives came and went, but she persisted. Why? Why had they chosen her to be the one constant in this dreadful place?


____


"What was it this time?' Azrael asked in place of a proper greeting, bobbing her head toward the wound on his arm. "Were you pretending to be a swordsman again? You know those things are sharp." It was an ongoing joke. Well, she saw it as a joke. Aurelius saw it as an insult, but that's what made it so funny. "Anyway, nothing important today. Sorry, but I bring no tidings of uprising today."


"Must you say such things so loud, myshka?" The small girl's ears perked at the sound of a low voice just behind her.


"Toma, please. I can say what I like. I can do what I like. What's the worse they can do? Kill me?"


"Yes," Toma sighed, his blue eyes reflecting a deep, internal pain. He hated listening to the things she said. Azrael was the only family he had left, but she was reckless and cynical. A combination that could indeed cost the girl her life. He feared for her.


"Good." She let out a harsh laugh, tossing the large envelope down among the various herbs and bandages Surrana was using to clean Aurelius' wound. "What are you doing here anyway, cousin?"

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius listened as Asher opened his own door, and then picked up the bucket of blood, walking into the cell full of pained cries. Demetrius couldn't contain the gasp that escaped his lips. The creature before him was not at all what he had been expecting; instead, a beautiful young boy writhing in pain was crying out. His skin was as pale as milk, the blood flowing from his wrists making a stark contrast of crimsons and scarlets. He couldn't have been older than sixteen or seventeen, yet he was held hostage in this dank prison full of beasts. His eyes were closed tight in pain, and his breathing was ragged. Demetrius walked forward, the blood sloshing in the bucket. That got the boy's attention, and his eyes opened in shock.


Demetrius flinched. The boy's eyes were ice blue and glowed with their own luminescence. Everything clicked into place: a vampire. One of the most feared and dangerous of the creatures that roamed the forest, and they were all the more terrifying for once being human. Steeling his resolve, Demetrius walked forward, and held the blood to the vampire.


"Drink, this will be your last meal for the next few days. It's how all new prisoners are 'welcomed," Demetrius growled, his discomfort showing.


Bastien tried to hide the fear and hurt in his eyes at the human's words and tone. Instead he calmed himself enough to sniff the offered blood. He hissed in disgust, the human flinching again at the sound. Trying to curb his revulsion, Bastien dipped his head toward the bucket, Demetrius holding it an angle for him to drink. Bastien guzzled the cold, putrid excuse they called a meal, welcoming the relief to his thirst. He drank as much of the horrid blood as he could before turning his head away, and the human lowering the bucket.


"Thank you..." the vampire murmured, and Demetrius felt his heart skip a beat as his mind filled with pity.


Blood dripping down his chin, he made quite the sight as the other human scampered into his cell from across the hall.


____


Aurelius muttered indignantly. "I grazed against the sword rack, if you must know..." He was interrupted as Surrana applied the final bandages.


Surrana nodded in greeting to Azreal, giving her a friendly grin and a laugh at her joke at Aurelius' expense. They weren't exactly close, but Azreal was the closest Surrana had to a female friend.


"Well, what brings you here, Toma? Not often I see you here. Unlike this clumsy oaf, you're a bit more careful." Surrana stated, cleaning her work space and sorting the mail into a pile for the doctor, a pile for his assistants, and a dimunitive pile for the orphans the doctor emplyed.


Aurelius, on the other hand, was going through the mail for his brother. Like most mail for the orphans, it was just work orders. The priest needed an orphan to help with squishing vineyard grapes for wine and the captain of the guard wanted Demetrius on feeding duty for prisoners next week. Knowing that his brother already had to drop off an extra meal that day, Aurelius knew his twin would be oh so thrilled at the prospect of visiting the prison again so soon.

 

[cataleerc]

Asher stopped just short of the entrance to the other cell. "Vampire," he breathed. Now it all made sense. Of course it would need blood, and it was likely bound in the same blessed iron as the Tiefling, but since vampires were no longer even part human--the other still at least a quarter human--he guessed the iron would burn a lot more. Looking at the vampire, Asher noted that he should be filled with a sense of fear akin to that of just moments before as the Teifling made to take off his nose, but the boy--no. It was still a monster--appeared so innocent even as blood dripped from his chin. "How curious."


___


Toma shrugged. "I finished my morning tasks early, and the architect could find no other uses for me. I was on my way back home when I noticed a particular little mouse reading someone else's private letters." He ruffled Azrael's hair a bit, smiling gently as she scowled and batted his hand away. To the untrained eye, the two appeared to be siblings in all except for direct appearances. She was small of stature and fair of skin while his was built sturdy and tall, all muscle and tanned skin from years of heavy labor putting houses together from nothing but a pile of timber. But they might as well have been siblings, as they two had been inseparable for as long as anyone could remember. Even after their parents were banished, they still remained as close to each other as possible.


___


Daneel remained still against the cold wall, eyes closed, chest rising and falling with each pointed breath. What would follow would take much strength that he feared he did not have. But that did not matter, so long as he was free. So long as they were all free and this place destroyed, it did not matter if he had the energy or not. He would get everyone out of here. His meal had so generously come with a fork, and that was all he needed to succeed.

 

[Blakie13]

Bastien sorely wished he had not just fed, as it meant there was just enough blood in his system for him to blush in embarrassment and turn his eyes downwards. Both of the humans were staring at him, and it was making him shy. It didn't help that both were rather nice to look at. That was of course interrupted as he moved slightly, and the blessed chains once again burned into his freshly healed wrists, eliciting a cry from the vampire. This was starting to be too much, what with the humans looking at him like a curiosity, the bad blood, the iron biting into his skin, and his body already feeling thirst due to the poor nutrition of stale animal blood. His throat burned and his fangs ached like they had cavities.


Demetrius flinched at the sound of the boy's cries, not sure what to do. "Maybe...maybe we should head back out?"


____


Calindrien smirked at the voices from the end of the hall. So a vampire is our new guest? The elf nodded to himself, making sense of the pained noises the new occupant had been making. Only vampires and pure-blooded fae would feel such pain from blessed iron. At least the humans were too greedy to waste silver chains. The boy would have been in pure agony, if that was the case.


____


Vorinia felt pity for the humans dealing with a vampire. The creatures obviously didn't know how to properly imprison them. You gag them, to prevent their fangs from being used as weapons, you use blessed silver chains, as they weaken as well as pain a vampire, whereas blessed iron only pains them, and you made sure there was a window for sunlight. The humans were lucky that they had caught this vampire unawares and weakened. Vorinia admonished herself. It was cruel what the humans were doing to a fellow supernatural being. Plus, they probably gave it animal blood. The poor creature would fade into vampiric hibernation without proper sustenance. Her musings were interrupted by one of her rare moments of clairvoyance.


Ah, so the Tiefling has a plan, does he...this should be interesting... She giggled to herself, finishing the last of her meal.


____


Surrana hummed in acknowledgment. "I see... Well, so long as you're not getting into trouble for not working, you're welcome to help me sort these blasted herbs. They're my last chore of the day, I'd like to get them done and head back. Aurelius, you should head back to the smith, finish your work. Maybe we can all have dinner at the same time for once..." Surrana mused, thinking of their little corner their group of six shared in the back of the orphanage. They so rarely got to all sit down for a meal together.


Surrana turned to Azreal. "Oh, Azreal, if you see Demetrius, can you let him know that the doctor no longer needs him today?" She wasn't sure if Demetrius was still with the tailor or if he was off doing something else for someone else. The people in this town worked them like dogs, even after they became adults. There was seemingly no escape from the title of orphan in this hell hole.

 

[cataleerc]

"Sounds good," Asher agreed, voice more tremble than word. It actually pained him to see this boy in such pain. He was a strong believer in pacifism. He believed that, despite any of their wrong-doings, even beings other than humans did not deserve such a punishment. Life was sacred in any form. Every fibre in his body screamed in protest as the two boys turned away, urged him to help the boy, so just before the door clicked shut behind Demetrius, Asher tossed the key to the vampire's cell without a single backwards glance, praying it made it far enough into the cell where the boy could reach it. He could do nothing about the chains, but the sense that he may have just saved twelve lives soothed his uneasiness just a little.


__


Toma smiled graciously. "as much fun as that sounds, I think I'll walk with Azrael for a little while. She seems in more need of assistance." He motioned to the messenger bag bumping against her thigh. It bulged with far more mail than one could hope to deliver in a day. "But we'll be sure to deliver your message to Demetrius and, with any luck, we'll make it back in time for dinner."


He slipped an arm around Azrael's shoulder as they made their exit. "Oh," Azrael added. "Watch out for those blades, Aurelius. Remember: they're sharp!" She stuck her tongue out in a playfully childish manner as Toma shook his head and pushed her the rest of the way out the door.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius walked out of the entrance, exiting on the street that led to the prison. Turning to his companion, he gave a small smile. "Well, that wasn't too terrible, was it? I've got to go finishing packing some bolts of cloth, and then head to the doctor's for my shift. I'll see you later tonight, alright?" Demetrius worried the man would be too frazzled to continue his other chores for the day.


____


Aurelius grumbled, grabbing his things. Azreal and her jokes... He was supposed to be the joker, not her. He nodded a farewell to Toma and Surrana, stuck his tongue out in return to Azreal, and walked out. He managed to get to the smithy in a short amount of time, only for the blacksmith to yell at him for his foolishness and clumsiness. The blacksmith's apprentice had finished Aurelius' work for him.


"Get yer arse back to the orphanage and rest up, I expect less mistakes tomorrow," the large man grumbled. He wasn't as harsh as many of the others in the village, but he couldn't tolerate mistakes in his smithy, not from anyone.


____


Surrana shook her head at her friends' antics, and began bundling herbs again. She was looking forward to a peaceful dinner with her five misfits she called friends.


____


Calindrien looked to the door, eyes showing disbelief. Did he just hear...the keys falling somewhere?


____


Vorinia practically cackled as she heard the humans exit the building. Oh, this was beautiful.


____


Bastien, too shocked to continue his cries, stared in fascination at the keys at his feet. He looked at the door, and back to the keys, over and over again. This had to be a trick. These humans didn't try to kill him or look at him with disgust and hatred like the others, but they were still humans. He thanked whatever deity would listen that his wardens hadn't chained his feet as well, as he reached for the keys with his left foot. He hissed in pain as the movement jostled his manacles, but he finally managed to reach. Using all the flexibility and grace his years as a vampire had garnered, Bastien tossed the keys in the air with his foot, managing to just barely catch them with his teeth. The iron bit into him more and more as he moved his left hand into position, and threw the keys with a flick of his head. He cried in pain as the quick movement caused agony to shoot through his wrists. But he had done it, he had caught the keys. Now it was just a matter of testing the different keys on the lock of the manacles.


After messing with the keys for a few minutes, he realised that the keys all seemed to be for the cells. Frustrated, the vampire growled. The hard way it is, then. He tapped into the back of his mind, searching for what magic reserves he had left. Vampires weren't great arcane weavers, but he had enough to provide a surge of strength. Throwing everything he had into his endeavour, Bastien pulled the two chains from the wall, almost giving out from the pain it caused. If it had been possible, he probably would have blacked out. Standing dizzily, the vampire made a movement towards the iron door. He paused, thinking about if it was a good idea or not. The locked door was all that stood in his way of freedom. He could tell it was late afternoon, nearing sunset. It was now or never. Taking a deep breath and ignoring the pain the still locked manacles caused, Bastien unlocked the door, steeping into the hallway.

 

[cataleerc]

"Hm?" Asher had only caught the last bit of what Demetrius was saying. Something about later tonight. It probably didn't hold much importance, so he nodded in mock understanding before parting ways soon after. He just needed to be alone for a while while he gathered his nerves. The blonde often sought solitude which was admittedly difficult when everyone kept a lookout for orphans to do the jobs they didn't want to do. But there were certain places along the exterior of the village where he could be alone for an hour or two. He made his way to one such place and pulled a small, battered moleskin journal from his pocket along with a stub of graphite with which he could write. Writing calmed his nerves, and Asher found time every day to release his anxieties into the little journal.


______


Daneel had just pried the cuffs from his wrists using just the prongs of a for when he heard the door next to his swing cautiously open. He let out a soft hiss of irritation for he knew the cell had opened from the inside. It would seem the vampire had somehow found a way out first, and while that was generally good news, Daneel had quite enjoyed entertaining the notion that he would be these creatures' savior. He shouldn't have waited so long to start working on his chains. It had taken a dreadfully long time just to free his wrists since he had to pause every few moments when the pain became too much to bear silently. But maybe he could still be the hero. He did not believe a vampire would have the heart to save the others. Vampires were selfish, vain, and only did things that might save their own hides.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius made his way to the tailor's shop, and almost ran into the mail girl and her cousin as they turned onto the road.


____


Surrana spent the next hour bundling herbs before the doctor was satisfied. Sighing in relief, she headed home. It was a quick walk, and she was tempted to take her time. But knowing that if she didn't look busy someone would force her to work, so Surrana hastened back to the orphanage. She was mildly surprised to see Aurelius already back, sitting in his cot, reading through an old book. From where Surrana was standing, it was either a book of poetry or a book of prayers. Possibly both.


"Home already, Aurelius?" She asked, setting down her satchel. Their corner "room" was towards the back of the building, near the back exit. It had six cots in it, a couple of chests, a table and chairs for meals, and a single bookshelf woefully bereft of all but a few ragged books on their last legs. The orphanage was an open floor plan, but rooms were created with dividers and bunk beds forming walls, and stacks of boxes and other storage devices making the whole building a maze of impromptu rooms.


"Smith let me out early," the young man responded, eyes lifting up to acknowledge the blonde. "His apprentice took care of things while you were patching me up, he wanted me to rest up before my next shift."


"I see. Well, let's hope the others get home soon. I have to go help prepare the evening meal with Nan, I'll be back in a bit," she replied, putting her hair up and putting on her apron. Nan was the kind old woman who was in charge of food in the orphanage. She herself was an orphan and was thus relegated to feeding the village outcasts.


____


Bastien hissed slightly as he felt the manacles bite into his wrist again. He wasn't going to get very far at this rate. He still had the keys, and he looked down the hall at all the cell doors. He couldn't just leave the other prisoners, could he? He was woozy and hungry, but that was no excuse to turn into his Sire, who would have left all these creatures to die had she been in Bastien's position. Steeling himself, not knowing what might lay on the other sides of the doors, Bastien turned to the cell across from his own, and with care for his still manacled wrists, he slipped the cell's key into the lock, pulling the door so it would open as it unlocked.

 

[cataleerc]

"Watch where you're going," Azrael hissed as she nearly collided with Demetrius' chest--why was everyone so tall?--stopping so abruptly that Toma bumped into her instead. Honestly, she knew she was short, but she wasn't so short that people couldn't notice her presence in the streets. But as it was, she often had her feet stepped on and her mail spilled as someone knocked her over. More often than not she believed it to be intentional. Orphans were not treated well, after all. The history of the discrimination against children left without parents was unknown (people probably just needed a collective group to hate), but people seemed to make it their mission to make life miserable.


"Sorry, Demetrius," said Toma. "It's been a long day. She's pretty tired."


"Yeah, sick and tired of being trampled by these zadrota who--" Azrael immediately stopped herslef as Toma's hand wrapped around her upper arm like a vise, his grip a little too firm. She looked up and was rewarded with a glare that could freeze hell. "What?"


"Language, myshka," Toma used his favourite term of endearment, but the warning was obvious. She would watch her language, or else.


Azrael had never made it a mission to find out what the "or else" implied. Toma was quite frightening when angered. It was silent anger. The kind she imagined would send even the beasts of the forest fleeing with tails between their legs. So different from her fiery temper in all aspects. Her could snap at any moment, but Toma. It took so much more to even get an irritated sigh out of him, but it would seem Azrael possessed a great talent. She could illicit a warning glare with nearly everything she did.


"But he--"


"--Azrael." His nails dug into her arm. If it were anyone else, she would have fought back, but she knew Toma too well. He had taught her everything she knew about fighting, and he was better than her. Plain and simple.


____


"Oh come on," Daneel whined as his door swung open. "I didn't need any help. See?" he motioned to the heap of chains on the floor and the fork he had been using to pick at the lock on the door. He wanted to be the hero, not the damsel in distress. "But thanks anyway, kid" he grumbled, slipping past the kid. He took a moment to stretch outside the confines of his cage, his lips curling upward in a small, blissful smile. Movement felt so good when one didn't risk burning his skin off.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius watched the exchange, a slight scowl on his face. Toma was an alright person, but Demetrius and Azreal rarely saw eye to eye. They usually refused to acknowledge each other if they were in their room at the orphanage. Giving them time to debate, Demetrius looked to the sun. It would be setting soon, and he needed to get to his shift with the doctor.


"Well, it was nice seeing you both before evening at home, but I have a shift with the doctor to take care of, and I'd like to get that done with. I had to help Asher with feeding the new prisoner they captured this morning, so it's been a long day..." Demetrius said in a tired, polite tone.


___


Bastien was staring at the Tiefling. He had never seen one in person, but he did not imagine the demonbloods to be pleasing to the eye or so easily captured by humans either. He also noticed how the creature had managed to get his chains off, something that irritated the vampire. The blessed metal of his own manacles was starting to incapacitate him.


"Uh, you're welcome, I guess... Um, could you possibly handle the other cells? I...I need to rest a moment..." Bastien said, trying to hand the keys to the creature. I haven't even introduced myself and I'm already asking him favours... The youthful face of the vampire was scrunched in pain and his thirst was making him too woozy for much movement. It would be better without his wrists needing constant healing; that was robbing him of all the blood and energy in his system.


___


Calindrien couldn't believe it. The Tiefling and the Vampire were free. Soon he would be too. The gods were kind. Soon he would get revenge on the humans for their discretion.


___


Vorinia laughed in pure glee. Freedom at long last. The others probably planned to burn the village and slaughter the inhabitants, or some such nonsense. Personally, she just wanted nature to run its course and ruin the village. The Woods were full of movement, she could sense it. Nature was running wild, and this village would be overrun not too long after its soon to happen desolation.

 

[cataleerc]

"Actually, Surrana sent us with a message in case we found you," Toma said. "It would seem the doctor has no need of you. You're free to go home. Tell the others we'll be there shortly. We just need to deliver a few more letters." He dipped his head in parting, leading Azrael down the street with her arm still in his firm grasp. The girl sent a wither glare over her shoulder. This wasn't over. She would have quite a few words for him when she and Toma returned home.


___


Eyes that I last saw in tears


Through division


Here in Death's dream kingdom


The golden vision reappears


I see the eyes but not the tears


This is my affliction.


This is my affliction


Eyes I shall not see again


Eyes of decision


Eyes I shall not see unless


At the door of Death's other kingdom


Where, as in this,


The eyes outlast a little while


A little while outlast the tears


And hold us in derision





Asher skimmed over what he had just written and closed his journal, satisfied. It was a good poem, one of his best probably. He tucked both tattered journal and graphite stub back in his pocket and set off for the orphanage, chasing the sun westward, desperate to make it back before the night laid waste to the last golden rays of light.


____


Daneel turned back to face the vampire with the smuggest of grin. "Oh? The vampire can't even get his shackles off? What a pity."


His amber eyes danced with amusement, and for a second he contemplated leaving the poor creature without a means to free himself of the iron. But no. Much as he hated it, the boy had released him, so a debt must be repaid. He traded his bent fork for the keys. One by one he released his fellow captives, finding he quite enjoyed the looks of--what was it?--adoration? No. Love? Not quite...


Well whatever it was, he was pleased with their reactions.


__


Despviir sprang from her cage before the door had even opened completely, so ready was she to taste fresh air and to feel a soft breeze on her face. How she had longed to run, to leap from trees, to simply exist within a space of boundless expanses. And finally, after so many years, she was free.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius nodded in thanks, made it to the tailor's shop and finished his work in ten minutes. He made it home thirty after his meeting with the two cousins. Aurelius was lost in some book, and Demetrius began setting his things down. The smell of food was filling the building, and his stomach growled.


"Home before sunset, brother of mine?" Demetrius asked, slipping into more comfortable clothes, rather than the thin burlap he needed on days he worked with the doctor. Blood from patients was less damaging to cheap, easily replaced burlap.


"I cut myself walking past a sword rack. Surrana cleaned me up, and the smith sent me home early," Aurelius said smiling, putting his book away. "How was your day?"


"Overly long. The tailor had me packing bolts of cloth all day, and then that was interrupted by the butcher needing me to run a bucket of cow's blood to the prison. Luckily the doctor cancelled my shift today," Demetrius sighed.


"Blood?! What the hell did the prison need blood for?" Aurelius asked in disgust.


"New prisoner is a vampire, caught him this morning trying to rest in the church catacombs. He...was quite young looking, maybe a couple years younger than us. And so very fragile and delicate..." Demetrius murmured.


Aurelius' reply was interrupted by Surrana returning from the kitchens. "Well aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Come give your foster sister a hug while we wait for dinner and the others. I think I saw Asher through the windows," the blonde stated, hugging the usually more somber twin.


___


Calindrien stared at the other creatures in the prison, his eyes showing a spark of distaste for the nymph who called herself Vorinia. Elves and nymphs were often at odds in the woodland realms. Vorinia, in response, fluttered her fingers at him in a wave, and blew him a kiss. Her attention was on the Tiefling and the vampire, their saviours. The Tielfing looked quite proud of himself, but the vampire looked worn out. Poor thing needed blood.


___


Bastien nodded in thanks to the Tiefling, trying not to stumble in his weakness. He needed to feed. And soon. As he was thinking it, he caught the nymph's eye. She motioned to the doorway. The prison guard was outside the entrance, Bastien could smell him. Without batting an eye, and unhindered by chains, the vampire used the last of his energy and ran through the crowd in the hall. He opened the door and deftly pulled the human in, sinking his fangs into the man's throat as he closed the door without a sound.

 

[cataleerc]

Asher shouldered through the make-shift door (which was really just a sheet strung between two bedposts) and mumbled a greeting. He sat on the corner of his bed, pulled off his boots. The day had been long, and his solitude dreadfully short. The boy was in no mood to make small talk or put up with dinner antics. Rather, he immediately rolled over on his side pulling the sheets with him so that his back was to the others and the blanket covered his face. He simply wished for silence in the form of sleep.


______


Azrael and Toma divided the rest of the letters and had them delivered as quickly as possible. It was quite late. The last lights were starting to fade, and no one wanted to be caught out after dark. It was dangerous at night not just because of the monsters, but the people as well. Thankfully they were close enough to the orphanage that once everything was delivered they were a quick sprint away from home and made it back just in time for dinner, slightly breathless.


___


Having released the others, Daneel saw his job done. They could do as they wished now. He was going to sit for a while and try to regain some semblance of strength. The past week had taken much from him, and as the adrenaline faded from his system he could finally see just how weak he really was. The world faded in and out of focus, and his brows furrowed as he watched the walls turn sideways as he collapsed on the ground.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius and Aurelius began setting up the table for everyone, both twins starving and were in a rush to have things ready while Surrana was gone to grab the food from the kitchens.


Surrana looked to Asher with hesitation. She worried for him, but she knew that when he was in one of his moods, it was best to leave him be. Instead she turned to the newcomers.


"Well there you two are. Come on, Azreal, help me go get everyone's meals while the twins set the table. Toma, can you be a dear and rinse off quickly, you smell of sweat and a hard day's labour. As much as that musk is appealing to the senses, we are about to eat. Plus, you need to change clothes. Oh, and watch that Aurelius behaves himself in the few minutes we'll be gone. And don't wake Asher, he's had a long day I think," Surrana stated in greeting to the cousins. Somehow she had ended up both mother and group instigator, despite being the youngest. Although Azreal only beat her by a month.


___


Vorinia went towards the Tiefling. She had a small bit of magic she had been saving, and their saviour looked in need of a boost. She'd recover it in the morning when she got some sunlight. "Here, young one, have a spot of this," she said as she gently laid her hand on his forehead, ignoring the stares of the others.


Calindrien, meanwhile, was discussing plans of action with the Drow. "What do you think we should do? We obviously can't allow this village's continued existence for what they've done to us," he was saying. He sensed that the woman was most likely the oldest among them, except perhaps the indeterminable age of the nymph. Elves held a great respect for age, and he trusted her to be more apt for a well founded plan, rather than whatever harebrained scheme the Tiefling would come up with. They were a rash species, Tieflings.


___


Bastien stared at the corpse, eyes unseeing and looking to the ceiling. It was surreal. He did not usually kill his intended target, he must have been more hungry than he thought. A small part of him felt guilt for the man's sudden passing. But these humans had imprisoned him, tortured him, and why should he feel guilty for one of them to die at his hands. Humans are nothing but insignificant insects, lambs to the slaughter. They exist for us to feed upon, to entertain us, both in mundane and sexual instances. Should a human truly deserve it, we welcome them into our number, like I did with you, young Bastien. The words of Bastien's Sire echoed in his mind. He rarely agreed with such a view, but he couldn't ignore the gall these humans had to have to imprison a vampire without cause. He hadn't fed on any of the citizens here, and was only passing through.


Sighing in annoyance, Bastien turned away from the dead man. The door to the Guardsman's office was slightly ajar, the room looking rather neglected and unused. The humans probably didn't want to spend time with tortured screams at all hours, he thought with a bit of sadistic humour. He walked inside, and found a shining metal shield on the wall. Hmm, I could use this as a mirror...


And so he did, putting his hair in order, ridding himself of blood, and rinsing off using the dead guard's flask of water. Finally, he looked again like his usual self, something humans found beautiful. Good looks are what attracted his Sire's attention in the first place, after all. His clothes were a mess, but he could probably steal some from the village. He grabbed a set of twin daggers from one of the chests in the room and returned to the hallway.

 

[cataleerc]

That was the way of things in the orphanage. There was rarely a moment of rest, even in the group home. As soon as they made it inside there was food to prepare, clothes to wash, or Surrana demanding they bathe. Toma responded with a mock salute and crooked grin before heading to the wash room where he quickly filled a basin with cold water and scrubbed at his face and arms with a bar of soap. He could finish after dinner, no one would notice. He came back and threw on a different shirt before settling on the floor with a satisfied sigh. It had been a long day, and his legs were eternally grateful for the rest. He looked to Asher and then to the twins, raising a questioning eyebrow. "Long day for everyone, huh?"


______


Azrael only had time to drop her messenger bag before turning on her heels and following Surrana to the kitchen. "So what's wrong with Asher? I mean, everyone has long days, but he never just goes straight to sleep..."


_______


Despviir looked around the prison for a moment, eyes scanning each face, trying to read the motives behind each one. They all looked relived, exhausted, and exceptionally angry. And for good reason. She expected many would find it wise to punish the humans, but she had not forgotten that the human had put them all in there. If they could do it once, they could certainly do it again. "They will not go unpunished. Look at the anger, look at all of these creatures who have spent many moons harboring personal vendetta against this village. They will no doubt try to destroy it, and many will die, human and fae alike. I will not risk my freedom again just for petty revenge. I will be gathering what supplied I can and finding suitable weapons and then I shall leave. Follow me if you wish, or stay with the rest of them. I do not care."


____


Daneel remained on the floor even after he felt some semblance of strength return to his body. The nymph was kind to help him, but it still wasn't enough to have him back on his feet quite yet. He managed to sit up against the wall, but the simple act left him breathless.

 

[Blakie13]

Demetrius grunted in agreement with Toma, tired and hungry.


Aurelius, on the other hand, was his usual talkative self. "Tell me about it. First the smith works me like a dog, as usual, then I manage to fuck up and cut myself on a sword. The bloody thing was hanging on the wall, how do I even manage that?" He asked, incredulous and not really expecting an answer. Demetrius looked at his brother in worry. No one had told him his twin had gotten hurt today. "So I go to get that fixed up, as you yourself saw. That was a joy. I do so love the sting of a poultice on an open wound," Aurelius continued, his tone oozing sarcasm. "And Surrana binds bandages really fucking tight. I mean I know you're supposed to, but still. And then I get home and I'm told by Demi over here that I apparently missed out on seeing the new prisoner they caught this morning! I swear I miss out on all the fun..." Aurelius finished, muttering the last part.


___


Surrana began stacking meals in Azreal's arms as well as her own as she tried not to step over anyone's foot in the crowded kitchen. Nan was doing her best to control the youngest orphans, although they were rowdy as always.


"I can't be entirely sure, he just showed up right before sunset. He didn't have any shifts today, so I know they were looking for him to do feeding duty in the prison. Although, now that I think about it, if they did end up giving him that duty, that would have been his first round of going there. Can't have been easy," Surrana replied, leading the two of them back towards their room, arms laden with food.


"I know they captured a new beast this morning, it's all the doctor could talk about between ordering me around. Vampire, I heard. So there would have been screams. You know how they are with new prisoners. The whole experience couldn't have been pleasant. Can't say I blame him, although I think we should at least wake him to eat. Then he can sleep," Surrana finished, heading in the direction of their half of the orphanage. The younger children had to eat with Nan, but anyone over fifteen was permitted to take things to their room.


___


Calindrien mulled over the creature's idea. "What you say is probably true... I know the smithy and armoury are nearby, from my scouting. I shouldn't have gotten as close as I had... And an old storage building, we might be able to find something in. Funny, it seems to be a popular locale for children and teenagers, but the human young should be gone during the night." The elf reasoned, knowing that at least the nymph and Tielfing overheard him, due to proximity. And probably the vampire, as well. The bloodsucker was coming back down the hallway, looking refreshed. His predatory ears would have heard Calindrien.


Vorinia smirked a the elf's plan. It sounded decent, and would gain them all weapons and supplies. She also couldn't help but notice the vampire returning, looking for all the world like a beautiful human youth, rather than a bloodthirsty beast. I bet that comes in useful when hunting...





Bastien saw the nymph staring at him, and ignored the unease it caused. The Tiefling looked a tad bit better than earlier, but not completely recovered. Arriving at the Tiefling's spot in the hall, the vampire knelt down. "Anything I can do to help...? Er, sorry, I don't think I know your name. Or anyone's name, to be frank..." Bastien whispered self-consciously. He had only arrived today, he wasn't sure if any of the others knew names or anything. It felt rude not to introduce himself. "I'm Bastien, by the way," he stammered out, his face flushing. To a human, the blush was minimal and the palest of pinks. To a vampire, that was as much as a vampire could blush.