Fantasy The Five Kingdoms - The Fall of Sarthenfall - Ic

[Inheritance]

Jeod Swift​

"Of course I have plenty of clothes. Just recently restocked before I...so yes the Trinket is simply a small bell that makes wild animals calm, more serene. Of course it won't stop a charging bull or anything, but it would calm a horse or something. And of course I'll need to ask what you can offer in exchange?" He had run quite dry of money since being driven away from the castle, so he was happy for the buisness. Blackrose7

 

[Blackrose7]

“Do you want some info? I did say that we don’t have any money, so we can’t do that.” said Daisy. She wanted to know what kind of info that Jeod would want to hear. Sam wasn’t sure if Annabel would like a bell trinket, because she seems more like the type of person who may like to read books. “I may need to pass on the bell trinket then. But I think the rabbit princess: Aurelie would like to get a cute little bell if you go talk to her.” said Sam.
He pointed at the monastery, since Aurelie said that she was going in there. “Aurelie headed to the monastery if you want to go talk to her after this, but just to let you know. She is extremely timid like a rabbit.” said Sam.

Meanwhile,
Annabel was still taking a nice relaxing bath in the lake. ‘This is relaxing, but I should probably get out.’ thought Annabel. Not knowing that it was the boy’s bath time, she got out of the lake to go dry herself. But little did Annabel know that Cale went into the lake as soon as she did that.
She was singing a little song in her head when Annabel was drying herself with a towel, since she usually does that during her bath time at home.
Inheritance Bakuyoshi

 

[Inheritance]

Jeod Swift ​

No money. Drat. Well that would be all fine if the info read valuble. "I have plenty of books. Just comes down to choosing what you like. History? Fantasy?"
Started tightening his belt and putting things away, not expecting much else. "What stort of information? I seem to be at a loss of knowledge for the inner workings of the camp here. What do you know about that?"

Blackrose7

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Oh my god that feels nice. I can feel my head clearing already. " Cale muttered as he felt his mind clearing up. A warm bath could cure most forms of panic and helped with relaxing. He was slowly wondering what he was supposed to do without his set of clothes before he could he could see something else in the distance. And by the time he realized it he let out a terrified sound that could only be described as a mixture between a scream and a squeak. "I t-thought it was time for the men to be washing!" Cale had no idea what he was feeling as he looked at Annabelle. He desperately wanted to look away yet it felt like his head was locked and unable to move. "Why can't I move? What have you done to me!?" He shouted at Annabelle as he was struggling to look away.

Blackrose7

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

“Hey!” She said in mock offense, giving out a laugh, her face squished into a scowl, though her grin ruined it, playfully chiding in the chest with her elbow, glad for the uplifting mood Raymond always seemed to carry. She rolled her eyes at the compliment with a smile, “Flatterer.” She remarked smugly, amused not at the statement itself but his expression that went with it.

Smirking, Azalea followed after him and tried to ignore the weight of the journal tucked beneath her leather vest, feeling more and more like her investigation only brought more questions. She wondered if the General would miss it at all. Her attention went to the people around her, some men and women starting their celebration of the feast very early, the smell of liquor already being passed around, laughter filling the air. The sudden bite to the air made her shudder, hardly noticing the drop in temperature until now. Azalea ignored the sudden nausea that came along with it, remembering she hadn’t eaten at all that day.

Raymond’s voice snapped her back to attention, her eyebrow arching as he mentioned Baxter’s change in attitude. Her brows furrowed, everything had changed. And she couldn’t help but wonder if it had something to do with his missing wife, or whomever had given him the wee chit of his son. Wondered if he had lost her, like they had all lost someone. She brushed her sisters from her mind, fighting the urge to touch the scars on her cheek.

“We all have a past these days.” Azalea said, her grin fading, her expression suddenly distant. Her mind straying back to the interrupted memory from earlier.

~~
“Don’t haste away, my lady,” Keeper said as she stepped back towards the blocked exit of the pavilion. “There is a guest I have invited whom I am sure you do not want to miss.”

The music began. The sweet music-box orchestra had been replaced with a symphony starved on scraps of minor key. A chorus of sickly violins grew to a forte, and the dancers stepped in together in the same pace.

Azalea turned to the entrance, and was blocked. A fox, snake, and owl stepped in front of her, turning about in the dance. Ladies whipped their fans out, their hands clasped with their gentleman beasts. Azalea stepped out of the way, barely missing a collision with a wolf, who pushed just past her. There was no room—the moment one couple moved, the next pair stepped in, the ladies skirts pressed together, squashed.

She pushed her way through the tiger and the wolf. The couple turned abruptly, and Azalea was thwacked across the face by the mans hand.

She hit the marble floor, face stinging, before she realized what had happened. Groaning, she yanked her hand away before it was stomped on with a buckled shoe.

Azalea scrambled to her feet, drowning in the skirts, before the couples stepped together and turned, hard, into a promenade. Every lady whipped a fan out, broke apart from her partner, and fluttered the fans against their feathered gold-and-black masked faces, a chill snaked along her back.

In a blur, they snapped their arms out. Azalea stumbled backward to avoid a hand gripping an ice yellow fan. She overstepped, and her arm brushed against the fan’s edge of the next lady. At first she felt nothing, then saw that blood had dripped onto the crush of gold skirts. She held her arm and craned her neck. The fan had sliced her sleeve, and a little deeper in her skin.

Azalea pressed her hand against the cut and glanced up to see Keeper at the far end of the dance floor, black figure cut against the garish reds and golds. He was smiling at her. In her fear she somehow managed to give him a vulgar gesture with her hand, her eyes lit with a thousand fires, her breaths heavy from fear and rage.

Dancers turned around and crossed arms. In the exchange, Keeper disappeared. Azalea swallowed and stepped into position with them, keeping with the flow. She mouthed the steps, keeping in time with the quadrille-waltz hybrid, and tried to work her way to the entrance. Her limbs shook, but her fear pushed her on into the steps.

Azalea turned into the next dance set, and stopped still.

A figure wearing a plain green dress stood still among the gaudy, glinting sworls of dancers. Azalea caught the pale face, the freckles, the slightly mussed hair, and her knees nearly gave way.

Dashing back around, pushing skirts away from her, Azalea craned to see the figure. Through the gaps of moving dancers, Azalea saw the woman again, and her heart leaped into her throat.

Her dress was light green, worn and mended, and clean. A silver ring gleamed off her finger. Azalea had to blink, hard.

The dancers turned with their partners, hands pressed against hands, then, all at once, stepped back into two rows. A hesitation step; the longest Azalea had ever witnessed. Again at the end of the aisle they made, and, at the other end—

Ana.
~~

Azalea snapped from the memory blinking away her solemn expression and into her usual smug expression as Raymond moved around her, swiftly cinching two slices of bread from the bakers tent. Azalea took a bite of the bread, which did little to ease to the nausea swirling in her stomach.

Curiosity peaked her senses as he mentioned not telling Baxter’s story. “No,” Azalea drawled slowly, her red lips pressing into a persuasive smile, “But it couldn’t hurt.” She said slyly, grinning as she arched an eyebrow,

“Afterall,” She drawled again, “he knows things he shouldn’t know about me.” Azalea persuaded, referring to the screening two months prior, wiggling her eyebrows at Raymond. It was true afterall. He got to see her shirtless, Azalea justified, it was only fair she knew something about him.

A glimpse of red caught her attention, glancing to her left, Aria strode in through the gates, along with a handful of other soldiers, led by Nathanial Whitman. The two made eye contact, Azalea grinning in greeting, giving a wave. Despite Aria’s rather tense posture, Aria managed a smile and wave back, seemingly humored by her cousin before her attention shifted back to the General, her face firm and stony again, listening to whatever rubbish orders he was giving to the squad, his back to Azalea and Raymond. She made a mental note to try and remember to ask Aria about the mission later, turning her attention back to the dirt road ahead.

Yet as they made for the monastery, she couldn’t erase the feeling of dread and unease from the pit of her stomach.

Xanto​

 

[Blackrose7]

Annabel dried herself with a towel, and as she was about to put her maid dress back on. She heard Cale’s voice behind her. “...Well, I didn’t know that. Nobody was at the lake when I got here. So I thought that was all clear to take a bath by myself. I was also pretty sweaty from my jobs.” said Annabel. She turned a little bit to the right so her eyes can see Cale a little bit better.
Seeing at Cale was petrified from this from the corner of her eyes, Annabel just put her maid dress on. “Well, I am going to go now. But before I do, can I wash your clothes as an apology gift?” thought Annabel.
Feeling bad about Cale having to see her naked, it is the only thing she can do to apologize for this little “accident”. Not to only mention, Annabel didn’t care if Cale was naked or not in the lake, because she does sometimes see weird stuff like that in Ezeris.


"Hmmm...I will pick a history book for Annabel, and if she wants the fantasy book. I will tell you about that, Jeod." said Sam. He honestly doesn't know what kind of book Annabel likes to read, so Sam will pick the history book for now. 'I hope Annabel likes this, because I haven't had time to give them a gift for saving me.' thought Sam. Wanting to repay his hero with kindness, this was the least he can do to make her happy.
"I can tell the knowledge for the inner workings of the rebellion camp if that is fine by you." said Daisy. She turned her head towards the monastery, for Daisy would talk about that. "That monastery over there is a part of the rebellion camp. There is a garden as well, and we are decorating the place for when everybody is going to move over here. However, that isn't done yet."
Daisy pointed at the direction of the rebellion camp as she talked more about it. "As Annabel told you, the rebellion camp is in that direction there. The rebellion leader is Baxter Callahan, and he has a brother. Baxter will probably do a screening on you by asking you some questions, and taking off your clothes to check for any injuries. Once you did that, he will give you a job base of what you tell him, and what you can do." said Daisy. "Annabel had to do that without her hood on, and she wanted to run away for a good reason." said Daisy.
"Of course, Annabel did that. Baxter is an Ezerisian, and every single Ezerisian that ends up seeing her face keep saying that she looks like the king and queen of Ezeris. Annabel got extremely annoying by how often the Ezerisians keep saying that to her. So she had to put that hood on to make them shut up about that." said Thomas.
Bakuyoshi Inheritance

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

"Hm," Raymond innocently mumbled in response to Azalea's sly grin. She really was trying to dig deep into Baxter's history. Despite having completely different personalities though, the Callahan brothers were extremely loyal to one another. Simply narrating his brother's background would feel like betrayal. At that thought, Raymond's head briefly shook only stopping after the princess's next line. Apparently, Bax already knew things about her that he shouldn't. What exactly . . what? Why are her eyebrows-? Ray thought to himself raising a brow in confusion after observing her expression.

Within a few moments, Azalea looked to her left prompting Ray to follow her gaze. Now there was a face he hadn't seen in a while. Raymond simply nodded at the northern princess with a slight smile knowing that she was still under the General's gaze at that moment. Aria's arrival at the camp nearly caught him off guard this time around probably since the group just returned from one of the few missions he wasn't dragged into. One of this blacksmith's duties within the camp was to go on recruitment and scavenging missions; however, the increase of camp members weighed down on his role as a blacksmith.

Soon enough, Ray's attention focused back on Azalea just in time to see her grin fade as they continued on. "Hard to imagine the man without a grump on his face," The younger Callahan surprisingly mentioned finding a way around his loyalties. His gaze then shifted forward before his hand casually rubbed the back of his neck. But deep down he was just trying to trick her into thinking that he was going to say something drastic. "-Bax actually told jokes before," Ray admitted deciding that he'd tell her a couple teasing facts rather than the full story after all. "Not as much as your's truly though," He smirked placing a hand on his chest and tilting his head slightly toward her. Ray didn't want to tell his brother's life story, but knowing Azalea she probably wanted something more juicy out of their discussion. Anyway, the stuff said would be on the surface rather than Baxter's deepest secrets. " . . He was also a romantic," The younger Callahan added glancing at Azalea to see if she'd react.

"Bet he could sweep ya off your feet if ya wanted," Raymond mentioned trying to wiggle his brows just as the princess previously did. Instead, he unintentionally winked at her from the attempt. It was true. Baxter was a hopeless romantic. A risk taker only for romance. It wasn't too long ago when Ray walked into him in the middle of the night writing love letters to Audrey. It was unbelievable how much had changed.

Ms. Sparrow

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"N-no I cannot ask such a thing after what I have seen. It's borderline criminal for me to ask any favor of you. But if you yourself are set on washing my clothes I need to know what I can do in return. Especially since it seems as though we both carry secrets." Cale said looking right at the area where he saw the star shaped birthmarked. "I fear I have learned yours and as such I think that the only fair way is me to reveal mine... in private preferrably." He quickly got out as fast as he could. He was not going to worsen this issue himself as he covered himself and dashed behind a thick tree grabbing his negotiator suit. "But if all else fails this incident can be kept under wraps. Aria and Azalea will both feel compelled to kill me. And if not them your friends may personally feed me to a shade."

Blackrose7

 

[Blackrose7]

“If you say so, but it isn’t a crime for you to ask a royal castle maid like me to do that. I mean I always have to do a bunch of things for the royal family before the shades attacked Ezeris.” said Annabel.
“Hell, if you went to the monastery once we are done talking about this. You will see how spotless that place is now, Cale.”
Annabel noticed that Cale saw her birthmark. However, she didn’t know why he did that. “I don’t know why you looked at my birthmark. But I can tell you that I won’t tell anybody about this just like what I said to Baxter about his little situation.” said Annabel.
“Also you should be glad that you don’t have to live in Ezeris, because the criminal problem isn’t the only thing you will see there. There are people who will try to walk around in the kingdom naked as well. The Ezerisians have gotten used to that though. But the brave travelers who want to stop the criminal problem or to visit Ezeris have always given the naked people a disgusted look.”
She knows that even with the criminal problem in Ezeris, the kingdom was always kind of weird, to begin with. ‘Nope. I will not tell Cale about the people who put the dick graffiti on the houses with a paintbrush either, because he doesn’t need to know that.’ thought Annabel.
Bakuyoshi

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Gods and I thought the Prince of Lorelthia was lying when he said that we needed to route out the criminal issue. Some of the criminals nearly got to Lorelthia... before they were cut down as quick as they showed up. It was deemed the great Bandit slaughter. Even the commonfolk got involved in that one. Rumor has it at night and you go to the scene of it you can still hear the sound of swords clashing and the bandits screaming as if it was still happening. And a monastery? I mean if you insist. But I would love my normal set of clothing to be cleaned. It hasn't been washed in the past two weeks. In my defense I've hardly been able to leave for a bath due to the sheer amount of dolts that broke their crossbows. No respect for the weaponry I make I swear." He was willing to cooperate in whatever way he could. Something kept his eyes glued to her and he had no idea why. "But it doesn't have to be immediately washed. I was intending on today being a research and development day. Everything that can be done has been done for today. So you know not much to do for the day until further orders." He had to stop himself as he realized he had gone on again "Apologies trying to work on the rambling issue."

Blackrose7

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

Azalea slightly scowled at the slight refusal, though the spark in her eyes didn’t fade, secretly admiring his loyalty to his family. Once, she too was same for her family. It had cost them everything. She puffed a red strand of hair from her face. Smiling the slightest as Raymond insulted the General. It was true, she didn’t think she ever saw the rotter smile, or—well—display any other human form of emotion.

Azalea didn’t fail to notice the change of subject, but was humored by it nonetheless. Her eyebrows quirked up in suprise when Baxter was mentioned again, gaping when Raymond mentioned he was a romantic.

“Your kidding,” Azalea said, eyebrows raised with a flat voice full of disbelief, and suddenly looking pale as they began to ascend the first steps of the monastery.

The scars on her cheek tingled.

Itching her cheek, her brows arched further upwards as he winked at her. Was he flirting? Though she had no doubt Baxter could sweep any girl off her feet. Azalea opened her mouth to say something and suddenly stumbled.

Something tugged, lightly, at the edge of her mind. Azalea stopped walking, glancing behind her. The tug was persistent, as if her mind was on the edge of some invisible thread being pulled. A summoning.

Azalea had learned to listen to the forest. To her surroundings. The forest around them was quiet, as if the birds didn’t dare chirp, the insects didn’t dare move, and the predators were scared. She watched the soldiers mingle, watched them drink and talk and laugh as if the world was moving in slow motion.

Azalea’s stomach roiled. Something was very wrong. The tug on her mind pulled harder, followed by a burst of pain reverberating through her skull. Azalea flinched, and turned back to Raymond, her face pale and panicked.

“Somethings wron-“

A woman’s scream cut her off.

Azalea launched herself down the old worn, moss covered stairs of the monstary, her heart reaching as she ran through the camp at breath taking speed, men and women alike alarmed as she shoved past them, following the invisible thread that tugged at her, as if following a path ingrained in her mind, she knew where her destination lie.

It was the mass of soldiers and refugees alike quickly piling into the massive dining tent, weapons drawn was where her mind found the end of the thread, and where, she guessed, the woman’s scream had emitted.

Azalea shoved her way into the tent, the crowds attention focused on something at the opposite end of the tent, her view blocked by the heads of over a dozen others, and nearly slamming into a soldier, who put out an arm to stop her.

“Princess step ba-“ he began.

“Move!” Azalea snarled viciously, surprising the soldier enough with her tone that he stepped back in suprise, his arm slackening enough that she shoved her way through the cramped mass of stunned, confused and scared looking onlookers. When she reached the front, a ring of circles surrounded whatever they were looking at, swords and bows drawn towards the center, and with one final aggressive shove, she stumbled her way into the clearing, breathless, and froze.

“Ah, my lady.”

Azalea choked out a strangled cry.
He wasn’t—couldn’t be here. Her scars burned as if she was receiving them all over again.

Keeper.

He was knelt in the ground on one knee, grasping a quavering girl’s tiny hand with both of his black gloves hands, her face red and blotchy from crying, no older then five. The girls attention however, was focused on a figure on her right, a woman, mid-fifties lay in a heap on the floor, a circle of deadly thorned ivy wrapped around her neck, blood trickled down her neck. Dead. As if she’d been strangled. The woman bore striking resemblance to the little girl, the same tan skin and dark hair.

Her knees shook, giving out an angry cry as she realized Keeper had killed the girl’s mother.

“You took too long to get here,” he said softly, his dark, black eyes moved from the little girl to hers. Faintly amused as he stood, his black suit pat somehow always so pristine, his black cape rippling smoothly behind him. He tugged the girl, gently, but firmly in front of him, who let out a whimper as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

Azalea’s lips pressed thinly into a line, her hands moving to her daggers at either side. One throw. One precise throw into his jugular—

Would not kill him, she realized, any hopes of killing him dying, Azalea clenched her daggers to keep her fingers from shaking. He smiled faintly, watching her expressions shift.

“Why are you here?” Azalea demanded, though it came more of a whisper. The room was silent. Her heart threatened to leap from her throat.

“I thought, perhaps it was time I got more acquainted with you’re...friends.” Keeper smiled. His fingers lightly drummed the quaking girls shoulders.

Azalea paled further. Raymond. Baxter. Aria. Annabel. Angelo. Aurelie...and Cale. But he was seeking something else she knew. Seeking them. She prayed Aria and Aurelie stay hidden.

Azalea shook her head, almost pleading. The strong-willed, cocky wild girl had all but disappeared at the sight of Keeper.

“Or perhaps I missed you,” He said softly, tilting his head and inspecting her, his black, dead eye bore into hers. The lighting of the tent casting dark shadows on his pale face, his black hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail. His eyes glanced at her neck for the briefest of moments, and her hand flew to where his eyes were. Where her necklace should be. This morning she had dressed so quickly she’d forgotten to fasten it around her neck.

Keeper smiled at the small victory and extended his hand, his other not leaving the girl’s shoulder.

Azalea glared, mustering up her courage, her voice was sharp, “Snap your own head off.” She spat.

Keeper’s gaze turned cold as he addressed the rest of the room, mainly the armed soldiers surrounding “Shoot me and I will kill her,” he said, referring to the girl he held captive, “and then I will kill everyone in this tent and more.” He said with a quiet calmness.

His attention focused back on Azalea, his tone turned cold, his hand still extended. “Care to introduce me to your friends?”

Azalea did not move or break his gaze.

A flicker of annoyance crossed his gaze. His grip on the girl’s shoulder began to tighten, the girl cried out sharply, “I remember,” he said with quiet lethality, “When you’re sisters and father made similar noises—“

The girl screamed. Azalea grasped Keeper’s hand, smacking her hand in his, flinching at the smooth silkiness of his gloves as his long fingers tightly closed around her own fingers. She stared at the long fingers closed around hers, tempering the ways his fingernails had scraped against her cheek, marring it permanently. Keeper pulled her close to his side, using her for just as much leverage as the little girl. His arm looped through hers, his fingers digging into the long sleeves of her arm, so tightly she flinched.

Keeper turned his head and smiled at her, his gaze full of death, a gaze she avoided by staring at the mass of people watching them ahead of her.

“Who to get acquainted with first,” Keeper began, turning his attention to the mass of people. “Ah,” He said, a smile growing, “Where is the leader of this... rebellion?” He called, raising his cool, deep chocolate voice to be heard across the room.

His attention flicked to the armed soldiers around them, his face creasing with annoyance, giving a dismissive wave of his hand before returning his hand to the child’s shoulder. “Call off you’re soldiers, lest you want them to die.” He ordered coolly, waiting for Baxter to appear himself.

He turned to Azalea, “I can wait for you’re friends to come out. I’m a patient man.” He said quietly, his eyes boring into hers, moving the fingers on her arm so they grazed her the slightest, she shuddered, unable to keep the obvious disgust from her face as she turned away from him, waiting for people to emerge from the crowd. Or more specifically, waiting for more people to arrive to no doubt say or do what he came here to do.


Xanto SandraDeelightful Blackrose7 Bakuyoshi explosiveKitten Inheritance​

 

[Blackrose7]

“Well, that is the Ezeris’s criminals for you, and if you want to blame someone. Blame the greedy Queen Lydia, since I heard some rumors from the other maids that she manipulated the king into giving the Ezerisian people’s money to her. They then told me that she spends the money on jewelry, clothes, fancy parties, and etc.” said Annabel. “The queen is a bitch, and I don’t know why the king let her do that. At least, the prince seems to be a bit normal even though I heard that he was flirting with a bunch of girls at the parties from the rumors.”

Annabel was about to continue the conversation when she heard someone screaming. “Oh my gods! Are we being attacked by the shades? This is literally the wrong time that they decided to do this shit on us.” said Annabel. “Also I will clean that, Cale, and I will clean my maid and hood dress as well.”
Annabel then turned her head towards the camp, because she was worry about everybody’s safety. “For now I am more worry about everybody’s safety, and you wouldn’t happen to bring a crossbow with you, Cale?” said Annabel. “You don’t need to apologize to me for that, and those guys are just asking for a death wish if they don’t take care of their weapons.” She is so going to say thank you to Cale if he brought his crossbow with him.
Bakuyoshi

 

[Bakuyoshi]

Cale simply reached back and pulled out a crossbow. "Let's ignore the washing of clothes this is an attack! Whichever way that scream came from we go. And let's not jump to shades immediately. On my way to this place me and Angelo saw some bandits still running around. Though get a torch ready or some form of fire. If they are shades we need to hit hard and we need to hit them quickly!" Cale shouted as ran forward hoping Annabelle was behind him. "Also if you need a weapon tell me! I also I have a dagger hidden on me at all times as well!" He could not believe he had thought of defending himself to this point either. Azalea told him he needed to play dirty and he was slowly working on not fighting fair. Now would be the time to try out the old surprise dagger to the throat approach.

Blackrose7

 

[explosiveKitten]

Panic burst from the common area of the camp. Angie looked up from her practice and gazed in that direction, watching soldiers pouring in that direction. Screams could be heard over all of it. And Angie soon found herself rushing in that direction as well.

When she came upon the scene, she had to shove her way through the crowd, shield and sword in hand as she made her way through. She found herself at the front of the crowd and quickly came upon a peculiar sight.

“Princess Azalea?!” She exclaimed, looking confused as to how this man managed to take the fireball that was Azalea hostage. She blinked, taking the situation in and trying to figure out a solution. She hefted her shield up to cover herself from potential attack.

“... I don’t know who you are, or who you think you are, but you are surrounded on all sides. Make this easy on yourself and just let Azalea go.” She demanded, her grip on the hilt of her sword tightening as she glared at the mystery man.

Ms. Sparrow

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan and Baxter Callahan​

Raymond immediately extended his arm toward Azalea once she stumbled. It seemed normal due to the slightly uneven surface they were walking on, but apparently it was much more. The princess looked toward the tents just after catching herself from the trip. In which case, Raymond shifted his gaze toward the area as well wondering what occupied her mind. Once Azalea faced him with a pale and worried expression, Ray gave a slightly concerned look. That was until a scream rang out from the direction they were just eyeing.

In an instant, Raymond rushed back down the monastery following the princess toward the scream. Oddly enough it seemed like she knew just exactly where to go. The guy tilted his body as he weaved through the crowd at a high speed. But even then, Azalea was running quite fast to the point where he trailed more than a few steps behind.

"Oof!" Raymond briefly peered over his shoulder just as it rammed into that of his brother's. The older Callahan paused doing a complete 360 to view Raymond. In one swift motion still walking en route, Ray nodded toward Azalea's direction and turned 180 degrees back around to search for her red hair in the growing crowd.

There was a scream, but the leader didn't really know where it came from. Baxter was signing a document in his own tent just before a soldier confirmed that the sound wasn't from a training session. Now, he turned following Ray into the sea of people eventually losing sight of his younger brother in the busy crowd when he entered the dining tent.

"Mason," Bax muttered expecting a brief update on the situation, but he turned to enter at a different angle after watching the guard shrug in confusion. His arrival was just in time for Azalea's one-of-a-kind entrance into the circle. She almost seemed . . afraid?

The rebel leader analytically watched from a far with a raised brow as he observed Azalea and the random man's interaction. Just featured in their scene was a dead woman and her young daughter no doubt being held hostage. It didn't help that it looked like Azalea and the man knew each other.

From the angle Baxter was at, he saw Azalea's hands slowly moving to her daggers. It disappointed him that she didn't budge after gripping them though. Azalea had every ounce of skill in her stab the intruder. Out of all the times, she chose now to hold herself back! Then again, killing the guy might have been too sudden of an action.

Baxter took a long blink preventing his own over protective instincts from kicking in. Now was not the time to jump to any conclusions especially since this random man seemed to be getting underestimated by the surrounding community. No doubt he had a secret weapon that made him so confident.

The faint sound of the man's voice from afar could rarely be heard from Bax's distance; however, he was able to pick up on the fact that the man was interested in Azalea's company. Impossible unless she wrote about them all. Baxter released the tension in his brows realizing that his thoughts were only stressing hypothetical scenarios of why the man was actually there. The leader merely had to wait for the right time to take appropriate action.

He missed her? What kind of lovers quarrel was this? Baxter thought to himself feeling his eyebrows furrow once more. And this time Azalea had the audacity to spit at someone holding one of his people hostage. Honestly, Bax could just walk in now.

Then, the random fellow spoke threatening to kill . . well everyone. It was just as Baxter suspected. The kid was being taken hostage. From what Baxter currently knew, this whole drama was happening because of one cause. For some reason the man was extremely persistent with getting acquainted with Azalea's company. The man's next line made Baxter's eyes squint though. That man was there when her family suffered. Such a thing only hinted that the man was powerful in some way. On the other hand, his stature didn't intimidate Baxter at all.

Soon enough, the man made his next move pulling Azalea close. This prompted Baxter to launch forward before hesitantly holding himself back to hear the man's trade. It was expected that the man's first requests were to meet the rebellion leader and call off the soldiers "unless Baxter wanted them all to die". Before Baxter could take his first step though, Angelo appeared moving her way through the crowd and trying to square up against the man.

Step. Baxter planted a firm foot forward tilting his torso sideways so that he wouldn't bump into any bystanders. After that slight motion, the people looked over their shoulders and almost automatically moved out his way. Baxter calmly walked forward toward the circle each step strengthen his natural demeanor. One of his fists were raised in the air signaling his soldiers to stand down at least for the moment. His sharp blue gaze then shifted to Angelo specifically signaling her to temporarily stand down as well. " . . What is your business here?" The rebel leader finally asked coming to a stop in front of the random man.

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten

 

[Blackrose7]

“Well, I can’t think of who else would try to attack someone like this besides the shades or the criminals, Cale.” said Annabel. She was regretting about leaving her sword at the tent, because it would have been useful for this situation. ‘I am an idiot for leaving my sword in the tent during an invasion. I won’t do that again the next time this has happened.’ thought Annabel.
Cale then told Annabel to get a torch ready in case this is a shade attack, so Annabel found some flint in order to make that. Once the torch was in her hand, she followed behind Cale. “I need a weapon now, because I left my sword in the tent.” said Annabel.
Bakuyoshi

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"Fine." Cale muttered as he reached toward his boot as he pulled out a dagger. "Don't ask, let's just say the harpy made me realize something. Now get a move on and let's crash this thing!" Cale shouted rushing right into the Monestary with his Crossbow drawn. Yet everything he saw made no sense. Everyone had their weapons drawn and it appeared to be at a standstill. Yet his Crossbow was aimed at the man holding Azalea and a little Girl.

"OK fill me in here. What in the hell has happened and who is this guy?" Cale asked looking between his target and Baxter. He wanted to make a comment about Azaleas predicament but he felt it was business time. And by business more so when and how he will shoot this guy.

explosiveKitten Xanto Ms. Sparrow Blackrose7

 

[Inheritance]

Jeod Swift​

Buisness concluded, he tipped his hat, packed up his bags, and began to head off. "Let me know if you need anything from me in the future! You people seem like nice lads!"

Off he went to find this leader, Baxter. He now knew a bit of what was going on around here, which would give him at least a bit of a start.

Wandering around camp, he came to a great dining hall. He figured it was around meal time, so he strolled in merrily, all the while keeping an eye out for danger. Eventually he came upon a bit of a scene. Strange. While he wasn't sure exactly what was going on, he was pretty sure that it was very out of the ordinary. Content to watch and learn, he just leaned on his cane and watched.
Xanto Ms. Sparrow

 

[Blackrose7]

Annabel smiled when Cale gave the dagger to her. “I won’t ask you about that, Cale, and I will return the dagger once this is over.” said Annabel. She would not keep it, because this is a temporary weapon.
They eventually arrived at the monastery, and Cale just rushed into the situation without any warning. ‘Damn it, Cale. He had to rush into a dangerous situation like that.’ thought Annabel.
Not wanting to be left behind, Annabel followed Cale by walking to where everybody was at.
Once there, she saw that the man holding Azalea and a little girl hostage. “...Who is that guy, and can we attack him?” said Annabel.
Annabel was only asking that question, because for some reason. Nobody was trying to attack him. ‘Is this guy a shade or something? Because I am not sure what is going on.’ thought Annabel, who wanted to use the torch on the stranger.

Meanwhile,
After the Demonic Velvet members ended up getting what they want from Jeod. They immediately run to where the screaming was at as soon as they heard that. “Holy shit! Are we being attacked by someone, because I want to beat them up.” said Sam. He was holding a sword in one hand while holding the history book for Annabel in another.
Daisy looked that the situation with a weird look on her face. ‘Why aren’t they attacking him? He caused someone to scream, and yet they are just standing there.’ thought Daisy.
Thomas and Jerry noticed that Annabel was there. But they will not give the stuff that they got from Jeod to her until after this was over.
Bakuyoshi

 

[SandraDeelightful]

Princess Aurelie Beauchamp, Princess of Aubigine
​

Aurelie could barely process what was happening. The camp was under attack and she actually believed that this would be the day that she would die. She almost felt like she would faint. She hadn't progressed much in her combat training. She was still utterly terrified of any sort of weapon and was scared to even look at them. Even though she could tell that the camp was under attack, she was still incredibly confused. She had no idea what to do. She had the instinct to run, but she had absolutely no idea which way to run. She hadn't been paying attention to where the scream had come from, all she knew was that she heard it. So she simply began running, not even realizing that she was running towards the danger, rather than away from it.

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

Keeper’s smile was a cruel, thin line as Baxter came into view, stepping into the edge of the circle. The tent was full of held breath and curious glanced. Azalea felt hot shame and humility, mixed with the fear for her friends, she couldn’t bear to look at Baxter, and found herself eyeing the dead little girl’s mother instead, flinching at the thorny vines that were still wrapped around her neck. Because she didn’t get here fast enough.

Before Baxter could speak however, Angelo seemed to burst in like an arrow through the circle of soldiers, sword drawn and looking ready to take Keeper on himself, demanding her release. Azalea’s gaze moved to Angelo, her yellow-green eyes shooting a silent plead and warning as Baxter told him to step down. Azalea let out a silent sigh of relief.

It added to Keeper’s amusement, his cold smile and midnight eyes landed on Angelo and lingered, his smile growing as if he knew something Angelo didn’t.

Baxter spoke, interrupting the small tense moment between the two as Keeper gaze went to the rebellion leader, a soft smile on his lips.

Keeper waved his hand dismissively at Baxter’s question. “Ah, straight to the point, that is bad manners you know.” He said in his smooth manner.

Azalea gritted her teeth. He was toying with them. All of them.

“I wanted to, ah, formally acquaint myself with the members of this little...gathering of yours.” Keeper’s gaze searched the crowd before it landed back on Baxter. “And, the royals, naturally.”

He glanced around, giving another wave of his hand. “I admit, I was hoping for something a little more...impressive.” He sighed, “but this will have to do. I can not fault you for being lower than you’re ancestors.” Keeper said coolly, the last part directed to a seething Azalea.

“Lea!” Aria’s cry of suprise rang out through tent before she charged into the circle, sword drawn, her face a mask of fiery stone, looking ready to take on an entire army for her. But stayed her hand, observing everyone else doing the same, though it looked as if it pained her to do so, fixing a hate-filled glare on Keeper. Azalea’s heart bled with warmth at Aria’s fierceness, before a cold chill replaced the feeling as Keeper’s delight was evident, another cruel smile twisting his features.

“Ah, my lady,” Keeper’s voice was soft as he gave a swift and graceful bow next to Azalea, more mocking than anything. Keeper took a step towards her—before Azalea dug her heels into the ground with a hiss of breath. Keeper snapped his head in her direction, a flicker of anger passing through his black eyes until another voice interrupted the silence of the tent.

Azalea fought the urge to yell at Cale, despite her entrapment, for being a moron. Cale, from what she’d seen, had little fighting experience still. Cale bursted in, in between Aria and Baxter, aiming his crossbow directly at Keeper while bluntly asking who Keeper was.

And just as he did so, Annabel arrived behind him, a few paces behind, and asked same question as Cale.

Keeper’s features shifted from his anger towards Azalea to cold at the sudden arrivals, though his lips grew into a thin, cold smile at their questions. “Ah, now I see why Miss Azalea has become so ignorant, such manners.” Keeper tsked.

As he took the two arrivals in, he tilted his head the slightest at Cale. “Such a pity, I was hoping you’d show promise,” Keepers smile grew, “I’m sure you’re Kingdom felt the same,” he paused, “Or do they even know?” Keeper tilted his head further, Azalea’s features etched into confusion.

Keeper glanced to Annabel, his smile fading the slightest, thin and cruel as he took her in with black, rakish eyes. “So many secrets...” he murmured observationally, his attention snapping to back of the room as Azalea caught a glimpse of Aurelie’s terrified features and blonde hair as she ran into the tent. Azalea paled. Not Aurelie.

Keeper turned his attention to the tent just as the silence of the tent began to ebb. Hushed voices beginning to murmur now in confusion.

The pressure of Keeper’s arm looped through Azalea’s lessened as Keeper snapped his black-gloved fingers.

The ground beneath them shook. A little boy screamed somewhere in the crowd, joined in by a few others as vines covered in thorns sprouted from the dirt underneath them, moving as quick as lightening, Azalea let out a horrified choke while others screamed as a thorned rope of thick vine impaled one of the soldiers surrounding them through the chest, coming in through his back and out his stomach, the soldier gurgled, dropping his drawn sword as he choked on his own blood before the vine slowly retreated out of the man and back into the ground, the soldier falling face-flat into the dirt. Dead.

Azalea looked away, sickened at the smell of magic that hung in the air. The smell of a rainless thunderstorm. And the smell of blood, the coppery smell lingered as people gazed upon the dead soldier.

“Now that I have you’re attention,” Keeper began, the amusement gone from his voice along with his smile, in its place was only a cold, darkness, his black gaze the void itself as he addressed the tent. “I think it’s only fair I should be introduced.”

Keeper turned his cold gaze to Azalea, who met it with fire in her own blazing eyes, her lips pressed thinly together.

“Miss Azalea, if you would be so kind.” Keeper said, his icy tone underlaid with a menacing anger at her display.

He wanted her to appear weak in front of the people who were inspired off her. Just as he wanted to make the rebellion feel weak in his presence. She wouldn’t. Wouldn’t do it. Couldn’t do it.

Keeper pressed his lips together in irritation. “Such stubbornness,” he growled, his fingers dinging her arm painfully as the ground shook again, more vines sprouting and moving along the ground like snakes. “How should I kill next then—“ he pointed at Aria, “her,” he hissed, vines moving towards Aria’s feet, “or him,” he said, pointing at Baxter as vines moved almost teasingly towards both Aria and Baxter.

He shook a pale but defiant Azalea by the arm. “Well?” He asked, honing his black gaze on her impatiently. She wasn’t playing his game. He wouldn’t kill them, she told herself. Not when they were important players.

Keeper snarled, spinning towards Aria and Baxter, in his anger releasing Azalea as he did so, but vines suddenly shot for both parties when Azalea screamed—

“Soris!”

The vines stopped their movement, nearly touching Baxter’s feet and paused. Keeper smiled cruelly as he turned his attention back to Azalea. Waiting.

Azalea breathed out a silent relief, realizing she’d been holding her breath, her voice wavered as she said;

“Soris. Soris Calistair.” She breathed, her face flushing with anger and shame alike.

And Soris, the Mad King, gave a graceful, rippling, mocking bow to the gaping, horrified crowd.

SandraDeelightful Blackrose7 Xanto Inheritance Bakuyoshi explosiveKitten
​

 

[Bakuyoshi]

Cale was silent at first. Ready to snap back at the man before Azalea said his name. "No... your supposed to be dead! How on earth are you standing here!? The five heroes of ages past killed you. There is no chance in hell you could be Soris! Maybe a copycat wanting to take his place or something but not the real one!" Cale was shouting not in anger but in confusion and fear. His brain was scrambling for something that made sense. But as he was digging through his head for explanation he froze when Soris revealed he knew who Cale was.

"How in the hell do you know that? My family practically swept my existence under the rug. My actual father wanted nothing to do with me! I lived my whole life not knowing that until recently. Either you have on accurate Crystal ball or something else." As he said this he shot Azalea a death glare. At this point he did not trust her. How in the hell did she know the mad king? And it was convenient he was not willing to kill her yet a few others. Soris made all of the exclusive threats to her alone. And even to Cale he seemed more like someone who wanted Cale to snap. And by the gods Cale wanted to snap. He wanted to pull the trigger and have a bolt hit Soris, but if this was the real one then Cale knew the outcome of that. And even then his own internal fear was keeping him from making any action. His breathing was fast like someone on the verge of a panic attack and he could do nothing to slow it.

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten Xanto SandraDeelightful Blackrose7

 

[Xanto]

Baxter Callahan​

Baxter kept a straight face, while the guy forwardly stated that jumping straight to the point was bad manners. This statement of course didn't phase Bax one bit. After all, the stranger had little to no credibility in etiquette. Was killing a person supposed to embody good manners? It didn't take long for the murderer to finally get to his point though. Apparently, his intention was to meet with the more empowered members within their rebellion community. In which case, Baxter slightly tilted his head keeping a straight face at the request.

Shortly after, the intruder threw an unnecessary low ancestral insult at Azalea. So this is where the silver thorn came from. Bax thought to himself quickly piecing the puzzle together. Two months ago he checked Azalea's person and found a shiny thorn. After noting the thorns that penetrated the lady in addition to the hinted history the guy had with Azalea's family, it only made sense to connect two and two together.

Within a few moments, a sudden cry caught Baxter's attention. His head rapidly turned to the familiar voice with his blue eyes being drawn to Aria's eager entrance. Though Aria was naturally the calmer one of the two, her and Azalea's common blood for fighting boiled forcing her to almost jump toward the murderer. She quickly arrived to the more levelheaded reaction anyone else expected of her instead.

Soon enough, a less experienced member volunteered himself to speak up. Cale out of all people dashed to the circle pointing the crossbow straight at the guy's face. Not only was his action too belligerent for negotiation, but also his question wasn't timely at all. The secret prince somehow decided that jumping in the middle of the situation and asking about what was going on was the best thing to do in a real hostile scenario.

Really. Baxter unsurprisingly thought watching Annabel run in after Cale. Why would anyone in their right mind ask if they could attack someone in front of that person's face? Amateurs. The rebel leader furrowed his brows noting that he needed to train people physically AND socially. Now was not the time to be obnoxiously entering and carelessly asking questions. Did any one of them seriously think that public speaking out of order while a princess was being held hostage was the best way to solve the problem?

Then, the stranger hinted at Cale's top secret. During his screening, Baxter learned that Cale was the Southern kingdom's remaining prince. No one other than Angelo, Cale, and himself were aware about the prince's actual status. For some reason though the murderer knew it and whatever Annabel hid as well.

Snap. The intruder's fingers sounded prompting a minor earthquake accompanied by a rather interesting death. Armand . . . Baxter held his serious expression not showing any affect on the outside and returning his sharp gaze to the dark figure. Both awe from the magic and sadness from the loss pained his chest. His heart stung at a loss of a good friend. Undoubtedly, Raymond felt strongly toward the loss as well since Bax recalled how often his younger brother would mingle with the two guards by the General's tent.

Whoever the murderer was most likely had trouble making friends. After murdering two people, he chose now to introduce himself. It didn't help that he was trying to get Azalea to do it for him. Well, neither did it help that she was being stubborn about accomplishing such a simple task. Making sure the stranger didn't use his thorny vines to attack other people was Baxter's main priority at the moment. Just as that idea landed, the guy sent vines toward Aria and Baxter.

The rebel leader quickly glanced at the northern princess confirming that she was aware before thinking about the vines going toward him. Then in an instant, the vines shot out. Baxter immediately moved his left foot back dodging the vine as he swiftly withdrew his sword. Shing. His hands paused leaving the sword an inch away from the still vine once Azalea yelled out . . Soris?

It only seemed unimaginable for a second. This idea quickly made sense to Baxter though as his mind briefly flashed to the tales of Soris capturing people foolish enough to wander onto the thorn-shrouded palace grounds and tearing them apart. The rebel leader slightly furrowed his brows at Azalea seeing a blush rise to her cheeks. She had known this all along. Alas, Bax was sure that this was the secret kept during their screening. Perhaps telling him would have worked to their advantage to better prepare for magical thorny vines. Then again, maybe she had the perfect reason not to share the inner fear of knowing.

Baxter's brows relaxed for a few seconds in understanding before Cale started running off in his own words. Out of all the times the prince chose now to reveal his status. So if they did survive this, Cale would have this day to look back to as his royal reveal. At least his rapid breathing though let Baxter know that Cale was slowly starting to understand the essence of silence in times like these.

"I am sure you already know who the royals are," Baxter stated after observing the guy's looks toward Cale and the three princesses. "Now, might I know for what reason you wish to be acquainted with them?" Baxter calmly questioned curious of how to speed up the conclusion of Soris's visit to the community.

Ms. Sparrow Bakuyoshi Blackrose7 SandraDeelightful Inheritance explosiveKitten

 

[explosiveKitten]

OHHHH MY GODS THIS GUY IS MAGIC? What can any of us do to MAGIC?

Angie looked about ready to protest when Baxter signaled her to stand aside, getting herself prepared to launch into the fight when Cale burst in, wielding a crossbow and loudly asking questions. At which point Angie turned to him and shot her arm out, holding him back and putting at least something between him and the mystery man.

She was about to tell Cale to turn his ass around and leave when the mystery man started to speak, and something he said in particular caught her attention-
“So many secrets....”

He knew Cale was a prince. Oh, gods, what else did he know?

The normally steely calm face of Angie melted into fear. Plain old fear. Her eyes widened considerably, big and scared at the prospect of this guy, who seemed to know so much. Did he know her own secret? If he did, he could oust her in a second. Just call her a She and be done with it. Her entire reputation would be ruined, her life over.

She felt herself start to hyperventilate at the thought, but quickly forced that down, with incredible effort, mind you. Her forced regular breathing was making her shake with stress. And with even more effort on her part, she managed to wipe her face clean of the fear from before.

Once Cale was done making whatever speech he was, Angie quickly looked at him, taking notice of his current state, and in desperation to shut him up before he pissed off the MAD KING, she curtly shushed him, before turning her body more towards him and started to give him instruction in an urgent whisper.
“Cale. Cale, focus on breathing, okay? In through the nose, out through the mouth.”

Meanwhile, she kept her eyes on Soris, trying to not show the same weakness as before.

Ms. Sparrow Bakuyoshi Blackrose7 Xanto SandraDeelightful

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

Cale was the first to freak out, Azalea features shifted to concern as she watched the man nearly hyperventilate at Soris’s revelation, her brows furrowed as she listened to his reveal, the reveal Soris had so cleverly made him play into. Azalea failed to mask her confusion and suprise. Cale was—a prince? Him? She was sure she was positively losing her mind now. Azalea’s gaze widened in despair as Angelo barely contained his own mask of fear, despite his usual level-headed features. They weren’t the only ones panicked in the room either, the crowded tent was filled with fear, worry, and disbelief as they shared glances and clutched their friends and children out fo fear and support. Even the soldiers shifted uneasily.

Soris basked in it, a wide, cruel delighted smile on his face, deepening his dimples as his gaze bore into Cale’s and Angelo’s. “I am not living or dead,” Soris said smoothly, “I am simply...undead.” And it seemed it was the only response he deigned to give Cale, whom had shot her a glare moments earlier.

Something in her chest tightened painfully, the sting of betrayal, and she glared right back. Azalea wanted to shake him and scream that she didn’t want this. That she suffered with the rest of them—but couldn’t. Because deep down she knew exactly how it looked. How Soris wanted her to look.

Azalea tore her heated gaze from Cale and unto Baxter, the calm sea in a storm, if he was frightened, he certainly didn’t show it. He wasn’t the only one looking apart from everyone else. Annabel, and her gang of—whatever they were—shared equally confused glances amount each other. Azalea wasn’t sure if they were confused unto how Soris stood before them, or if they had even heard of the dreaded Mad King at all. Azalea zoned out, remembering when she had realized who Keeper really was, remembering the rest of that day she’d come into the pavilion and said she’d never come back. The day she’d realized, she’d been caught in a very thick spider-web.

~~
The dancers were still stopped, paused in their hesitation steps, but she could hardly grasp what stood at the end of the opposite row before her. Ana.

The words from stories Azalea had heard so long ago echoed through her mind.

Their souls—

The Mad King could capture souls—

Azalea choked.

The dancers joined hands, circling around them both, and turned in a reel. The music sped to a booming, drunken waltz. Jacquards and brocades spun around in a blur. Azalea stood in a mass of dancers, stunned, staring, emotions churning her.

She stepped forward, taking in Ana’s bright eyes and kind face, creased with the familiar look of pain. Her mouth seemed a blurred smile, and Azalea gaped at the scarlet lines about Ana’s lips, ringed with purple bruises. Azalea suddenly realized—

Her mouth had been sewn shut.

Azalea choked. In a panic, she ran to Ana, fumbling for the scissors she usually kept in her dress pocket. Today, however, she had dressed quickly and her pockets were empty. Her knees gave way.
Ana’s arms caught her before she collapsed to the floor. She pulled Azalea into a tight embrace. She felt solid. Nothing like the transparent ghosts she’d heard of in stories. Azalea couldn’t bear to look up as Ana pulled her even tighter, pressing Azalea’s cheek against her dress. Azalea could smell the pine smell as she took shuddering breaths. Ana stroked her hair.

Azalea choked on her words, unable to speak. Ana brought her to arm’s length, and with her thumb brushed away a tear on Azalea’s face, her own eyes wet. And even with her lips stitched and bruised, Ana still tried to smile to comfort her. That was Ana for you.

“No—!”

The dancers swept between them, breaking Azalea from Ana’s cold embrace. The room spun. Azalea fought desperately through the dancers, pushing bunches of silks and chiffons out of the way. Through gaps in the garish colors that filled her vision, Azalea struggled for another glimpse of her aunt, but saw nothing. She had vanished.

“Keeper!” Azalea screamed, enraged. “Keeper!”


Pillowed skirts shoved her to the floor. A lady’s heel stepped on her hand. Azalea scrambled to her feet, hysterical, pushing her way through the dancers. They pushed back harder.

The music faded as Azalea was shoved against to the ground, this time hitting her head. Colors burst through her vision. The hems of delicate skirts brushed over her, quiet as snowfall, slow, unfocused. Slower and slower.

The music faded.

Azalea was only slightly aware the dancers were gone. A glow of silver-white cast over her, and the pavilion slowly turned back to its magic self. Azalea lay curled, her cheek against the marble, chest heaving. The marble was wet. She did not know if it was tears or blood.

A black boot appeared in her vision, followed by a knee as Keeper knelt down in front of her. He was panting, his face drawn. Still, his eyes danced with triumph.

“Rotter. How dare you,” Azalea choked. “How dare you! I’ll kill you!”

Keeper reached out his long fingers and caught her arm, drawing his thumb across her cut. Azalea tried to summon all her strength to lash out, but she could not; as though her limbs had no blood or bones. She could only flinch as he drew his fingers to her neck.

“Hush,” he murmured. “There now. Hush.” He traced his finger along her jaw. “That is a pleasant thought,” he murmured. “Except, my lady, I cannot die.”

“You’re him,” said Azalea. And it wasn’t so much a whisper as a choke.

“Quite.”

He touched his fingers to her lips.


“I expect,” he whispered, “you are wondering what you could possibly do to keep me from hurting your aunt further. Is that not so?”

Azalea shook with rage she’d never felt, but could summon no energy to strike.

“I will tell you what I want, my lady,” he said. “My freedom. It is all I have ever wanted. Find the magic object, and destroy it. You have a week.”

He pressed his finger hard against her lips, as though to hush her. They throbbed against his finger.

“This is between you and me,” he said. “No one else. It is upon you. If you do as I say, no more harm will come to your aunt. Is that not a fair trade?”

Azalea trembled, glaring.

Soris stood, his cape rippling straight. He pulled something from the air with a flash of silver, and tossed it. It skittered to the marble with a clinkety clink clink in front of Azalea. The teacup shivered.

“And,” said Soris, his eyes cold. “You are never to refuse me another dance again.”

~~​

​

Baxter’s voice brought her to attention, his voice cool and calm, with a familiar air of authority. Azalea fought the urge to applaud him. Leadership honestly really did suit the guy, though she couldn’t help but wonder where Raymond was amongst the chaos.

Soris’s gaze mimicked Baxter’s, equally cool and calm, though his black gaze was dead as they fixated on the rebellion leader, and for a brief moment she could’ve sworn she saw hate pass through Soris’s black gaze.

“To keep up with tradition, naturally,” Soris said coolly, waving his hand dismissively, “The Five and I were...well acquainted, as you well know. It’d be a shame not have such a relationship with my new pawns.” He crooned, his gaze briefly passing over Cale and Aurelie before landing back on Baxter.

A small smile formed on Soris’s lips, a smile that never meant anything good. “After all,” He said with quiet lethality, “It’s a party isn’t it?” His smile grew, “I thought,” he said, raising his voice so all could hear him, “It’s time you met some of my friends.”

Azalea stepped back as Soris spread his arms wide—and bumped into an invisible wall—or person, Azalea realized with horror as Soris smacked his hands together, and someone appeared right before her eyes, she stumbled back a couple steps, relaxing with horror she was staring at something not entirely as human as it looked.

Both on either side of Soris, would appear the Shade Lord of the West, and Shade Lord of the East, now no longer cloaked from Soris’s magic.

And it seemed it wasn’t the only suprise Soris had hidden.

Because no less then a few seconds later, a mans voice rang out in alarm;

“Shades!” He screamed, just as the sounds of combat insued from outside the dining hall tent.

Distraction, Azalea realized with horror, Soris was the distraction as he cloaked his Shades until they were at the encampments very doorstep.

Chaos insued. People flooded outside of the tent in an instant, weapons drawn to fight of the Shades, the sounds of battle cries, arrows wizzing and the all-too-familiar inhuman shriek of the Shades insued in an instant.

Soris’s smile was cruel as he watched people run to the outside of the dining hall tent. “You have you’re orders,” He crooned to both Shade Lords. “No killing the royalties, but harm them as you will. The rest however...” Soris trailed off, and the message was clear. “Do not tarry too long, you are still needed at your Kingdoms. But for now.., do enjoy yourselves.” He waved his hand dismissively to the soldiers that ran too and fro.

Soris vanished, and Azalea didn’t have time to think of the gravity of the issue, instead diving right into the rest of the people taking up arms and running outside.

The encampment was flooded with soldiers running too and fro, takinibg up arms and preparing as fast as they could with the sudden suprise attack. None of the Shades had yet broken through the gates yet, and Azalea glanced up towards the wooden wall, where archers rained down upon their foes.

Azalea ran for the wall, bounding up the steps to get to the crowded battlements to get a better look at their opponent. What she saw paralyzed her.

It was a sea of black emerging from the trees, the swirling, black shadows of the Shades seemed all to eager to dive for the wooden gate, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before they finally reached the gates and broke it open. The numbers of the Shades seemed to reach two-hundred to three-hundred, not close to the bulk of the entire Shade army itself she knew. But with so many advantages over simple humans it was enough. The archers scrambled, thrown off from the sudden suprise, they did there best to get in order as they rained arrows upon the demonic force. Range was never a Shades best fighting position, but they were just as formidable. A black arrow hit the archer squarely in the soldier next to her, causing him to cry out, and stumble back.

A few Shades began to slam on the gates, below her, held closed by a group of struggling soldiers.

Azalea dropped down to avoid getting shot, before slinking her way down to the stairs and sprinting down them, running to her tent, desperate to get to her own bow and armor, no more than a blur as she ran and dodged her way through soldiers that flooded the encampment.

Others however, did not, ready to take arms against the Shade Lords that now plagued the encampment.

Enough to know this was an not a battle but an extermination, no—a message. And they would need a bloody miracle to save them.




Xanto Bakuyoshi - ITTTTTS SHADE LORD FUN TIME!—Ahem, scuse me.

explosiveKitten SandraDeelightful Blackrose7 Inheritance ​