Fantasy The Five Kingdoms - The Fall of Sarthenfall - Ic

[explosiveKitten]

Angie looked over to Cale-whatever-her-name-was, and was about to protest when the girl took off. Angie watched with a bored expression on her face as Princess Cale proceeded to get his-her first kill that Angie’s had seen.

After the Shade faded away, Cale complained about the way it “died” and how it was “gross”. Angie looked at her unimpressed, then cocked her left arm back and threw her trusty knife at Cale...
Right over her shoulder into the forehead of a charging humanoid Shade that was behind Cale.

She then strode passed Cale, pried a torch off the wall of a nearby building, and while staring down at the snarling, scrabbling Shade, she jabbed the lit torch into the small of its back, earning a gurgling shriek as it melted into a gross looking, wet lump of tar on the ground.

She tutted as she plucked her knife from the carcass as it suddenly bubbled and seemed to boil itself away.
“... great.” Angie said, turning to look at Cale as she wiped the blade off on the fur that was hanging around her shoulders, “Now keep your wits about you! Don’t let ONE kill go to your head! Let’s go!”
With that, Angie grabbed Cale’s arm and pushed her in the direction of the hills, following Baxter’s plan if things went south. “I already sent Aurelie that way, just follow Bax’s plans! Now get out of here! I’m going to look for Azalea!” She commanded, pointing up the hill, keeping her eyes on the princess to make sure that she does what she’s told.

Bakuyoshi

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

Teeth scrapped against steel as the Shade-Wolf bit down on her sword, the sound of it reverberating an unpleasant, cold feeling through her hands to teeth snapping as it tried Azalea parrying it’s attack as her foot connected with its jaw, shoving it back with her sword at the same time, sending the wolf stumbling back with a snarl.

As it faced her again, all she could see was the hollow eyes of Soris, taunting her back. Her hand tightened around the sword, wanting the feel the cheap, wooden jolt of the sword rather than the hard, angry thud in her chest. But all she could hear was the sound of Soris’s soft, deep laughter, reminding her that she’d never be good enough.


With an angry cry, Azalea lunged, sprinting for the wolf that leaped into the air in response, it’s black maw open, it’s legs outstretched.

Not good enough.

She brought her raised arms down quickly, the sword grazing it’s black, transulscent stomach.

Not good enough.

It’s massive form was landed upon her, and her sword was knocked from her grip, clattering across marble, its paws pinning her shoulders to the ground.

Azalea let out a pained scream as teeth tore into her shoulder, ripping through flesh, the pain burned violently through her, she kicked at the beast, her vision blinded with tears as she brought her knee up to her chest, blinding fumbling for the dagger in her boot before her hand closed around the hilt sticking awkwardly out of the boot.

Not good enough.


She plunged the dagger into it’s throat, releasing the wolf’s painful grip on her shoulder as it raised it’s head and turning it’s gaze to her, it’s body freezing up as it realized it’s approaching death. It stared her down with black eyes that were not its own. They did not gaze on her with hatred or coldness, nor defeat or triumph, but a mixture of pride and something much more intimate.

Angry and disgusted, she shoved the wolf’s body off of her, it’s form dissolving into black oil, spilling over the palm of her hands and into a puddle on the gravel road. Azalea rolled unto her knees, grimacing in both pain and annoyance at the restricting, now largely dirtied, maroon skirts, her hands pressed into the oily remains of the wolf.

Azalea raised her head and blinked.

It seemed she had garnered a small crowd. She felt a small anger grow in her chest. Yet they had done nothing but watch as her life was mere inches away from being taken. She scooped up the dagger and stumbled to her feet as she did so, her other arm pressing her shoulder wound.

Dusk had broken over the sky, illumanating the sky with hues of pink and orange, and casting a warm glow on the snow topped roofs of the village.

The crowd of perhaps five to twenty people murmured and whispered to one another as they gazed upon the Queen that stood in their unpaved roads, her hair cropped short, her dress and hands dirtied with the remains of Shades, her shoulder that bled, and the rips and tears in her once beautiful maroon skirts.

The orange sunlight that was cast on Azalea’s face made her eyes seem to glow a bright gold, made all the more ferocious as she leveled a hard stare at the crowd, raising her chin and narrowing her eyes.

“Where was your King today?” Azalea called out, spitting the word, her voice strong and unyielding, carrying over the silence, both ice and fire at the same time.

But she didn’t have time to gloat, not when they shared glances, or cast down stares at their feet to avoid her unyielding gaze, their expressions made of both discomfort, anger, and embarrassment, and the few that looked proud, as if their faith had never once wavered.

No, she didn’t have time to gloat, not when she caught a glimpse of Adrian’s scarred face, emerging from around the corner of an alleyway.

Azalea gave a mock bow, keeping her hand, now warm with red, stick blood on her shoulder as her other arm swooped behind her, “Toodle pip!” she called to the crowd, a cocky, spirited tone masking her pain and now settling in, exhaustion, before spinning on her and taking off at a sprint, quickly diving into another alleyway.

Really, all she could do was hope the abundance of alleyways didn’t run out anytime soon. They were, for the most part, narrow and dim, the setting sun casting shadows over the buildings and casting the alleyways into cool, crisp shadows.

She turned a corner and slammed into a solid wall that emitted an annoyed grunt.

Azalea, out of reflexes, had a dagger to his throat before she could even regain her own balance.

It was then, that she realized how high up she’d been holding her arm. Slowly, her gaze traveled from his intricate green vest, with golden swirls and patterns over it, up to the dagger that now looked considerably small up against his throat, to his face.

She was bewildered.

The man must’ve been 6’6” or perhaps even 6’7” with his height, his bare, tanned arms rippled with muscle as he crossed his arms. He was a lean, fit man, but quite muscular as well. His face was just as striking, handsome to say the least, with a square jaw and chilled face, along with the most unique eyes she’d ever seen, green with a almost, silvery—lilac iris, with white, almost blonde hair tousled and peaking out from underneath his brown, leather hood that sprouted from the cloak he sported.

For a brief moment, she was in awe, she didn’t think she’d ever seen anyone so beautiful, but her stance did not change nor did the knife at his throat as she commanded him bluntly; “Move.”

His expression hadn’t changed at all since she’d whipped around the corner, cold, and remotely unimpressed as if he’d been expecting this, he almost seemed annoyed.

“Put the knife down.” He said solidly, even his voice was handsome, deep and rough, but some sense of authority in it as well, just as well sounding slightly irritated as he stared her down.

She suddenly felt quite stupid holding the small dagger to a man that looked like he could throw her over his shoulder and jump buildings at the same time. Not only that, but underneath his cloak, the hilt of a obviously large sword stuck out at an angle. Azalea hated it. She opened her mouth to utter a sharp retort before he held up his hand and cut her off.

“We do not have much time before that abomination tracks you into this alleyway,” He stated, “Allow yourself to be helped.” He sounded just as displeased with the idea as she did.

Azalea snorted, “Gee, of course I’ll trust you, mysterious stranger lurking in a dark alleyway,” She said sarcastically, her voice flat, “What a wise move that’d be.”

The man looked both weary and annoyed, forcing his expression into that of stoniness as he stepped into her path. She scowled. Twice I will warn you and no more, your wound, is bleeding, they will smell it, if your wish is to lead him about then he will find you, if you do not take care of your wound, you’ll likely bleed out before he has the chance.” He sounded remotely unsympathetic nor caring.

Azalea wished he hadn’t mentioned her wound at all, now taking notice of the pain in her shoulder as the adrenaline left her body. “Well, aren’t you a peach.” She said, sarcastically cheery, before it changed to a more serious note, “But I’m not leaving my group.” She stated, crossing her arms.

It was the first time he showed something other than stoniness in his expression, looking the slightest impressed. “Your group has managed themselves just fine, the Shades have been taken care of, which matters nought if he is on your trail, you cannot return to them yet, and you cannot get far if you allow the wound to continue to bleed unattended.” He paused, waiting for her to say something, and when she didn’t his face became even colder, his jaw clenching. “Your letting your pride get in the way, you foolish child.”

Azalea arched a red eyebrow slightly. Child? She could detect the insult. Yet, he hardly looked older than her, perhaps in his mid-twenties at that. She considered his words however. She didn’t trust him, though if he truly wished her harm, she was sure there were other ways than arguing with her in an alleyway, and she needed to lead Adrian farther from herself and the group as it was, without passing out.

“I bring my weapons.” Azalea said sharply, raising her chin not a question but a fact.

His brightly colored eyes glanced to the side, annoyed, “Obviously,” he said harshly, before turning on his heel, his leather cloak whipping behind him and setting off at a jog that she, despite the easy pace, was hard to keep up with, he was so fast, it was almost inhuman to keep up with him, though perhaps it was the skirts. “Keep up.” He snapped back at her whenever she began falling too far behind, weaving there ways through the more desolate areas of the small village.

Blood had soaked into most of her corset and torso of the dress by the time, they’d arrived unto an empty, quiet street, and stopped outside of what looked to be an abandoned house.

Azalea’s eyes traveled from the dead vines that entwined it’s way through the cracks and crevices of the old brick walls of the home, to the broken windows, boarded up, the roof which had holes in it.

“You know, if you wanted to murder me, there were about five other alleyways back there to kill me in.” Azalea remarked.

He was, not amused. She was getting the slight impression he didn’t like her at all quite honestly. He ignored her, his face stoic and concentrated as he approached the wooden door and pushed it open, the sound emitting a long creak as he stepped inside, the sound of his leather hunting boots scuffing across the floor was the only sound in the room until she came clomping in behind him, accidentally slamming the door shut, earning a glare sent in her direction.

He crossed over from the floor to the fireplace, the only amount of light coming through the holes that had rotted away from the roof, vines creeping through and hanging down from them, along with beams of orange-ish light coming through the crevices in the boarded up windows, the dark, musty smelling home otherwise dim and dark.

As the man knelt in front of the fireplace, Azalea looked about and wondered what about this house had made it so nobody ever bothered to repair it? It looked to have been abandoned for years.

There was the suddenly sound of massive something scrapping heavy against wood, her head whipped over to the side as she watched the back of the old brick fireplace slowly swing wide open, sending dust flying through the air, and as Azalea swiped and coughed it away, she found herself looked at yet another back, a replica of the now open one, but instead of of floor in front of it, there was only a gaping hole, shaped into a perfect square. Dust flitted through the entrance, floating gently through the orange rays of sun that peaked through.

Azalea arched an eyebrow at the man in question, whom only crossed his arms in response, his expression stony and unreadable. The man had revealed a seceret passageway into...a hole. But she could not see where it ended, it was just...black.

Just who was this man? Azalea slowly walked over, eyeing the man and his cold expression, “what the devil is wrong with you?”

“I don’t like you.” He responded, coldly, his expression remotely bored.

“I had no idea,” She responded dryly, her face smug as she approached the hole.

As she knelt down by the whole and peered down with narrowed eyes, questions begging to be asked, yet all she could blurt was;
“There’s no way in hell your getting me to jump—AHHH!”

There was a light shove on her back, the feeling of a boot on her back, catching her off guard as she fell arms first down the hole, vaguely hearing the sound of the man jump in after her, and the sound of the fireplace shutting back once more.

And she fell into the abyess of darkness, wondering how many other things she didn’t know in this country of hers.
​

 

[Bakuyoshi]

"How about no! Like it or not I'm not letting you all do the heavy lifting. Wait, are the shades gone?" Cali pushed past Angie confused as to why on earth people were coming out before a slightly older women rushed out from her house beginning to attack one of the remains of the shades letting out all forms of obscenities. Only for two kids to run up and try and stop her.

"Get your mitts off o me! I'm sick of these things existing, one of these black shits killed Kale! I was right about these things and everyone in this village labeled me crazy. Well look at what happened they show up and start trashing our houses. I'm telling ya a ruler who uses these things is no king of mine. And the who lot of you are just cowards ready to let everything be steamrolled and destroyed. Take it from Ethel the nutcase for those of you that still accept that freak we call a king now. I wish you all die a cowards death, you deserve nothing honorable!"

Ethel grabbed Cali pushing her forward. "C'mon lass tell it to them straight. I saw ya gut one of em good. You are obviously more then you let on. Tell these fools the truth!"

Cali was not ready for this as she looked to the people. "I-i uh she is, um. T-the shades are... The shades are not your friends! They are creatures built to serve a man who refuses to die. He is not interested in you living or dying, the shades only exist to keep you as cattle alive! I have no idea who this Kale is but if he was obedient to the king why on earth would a shade kill him? He must have learned something the king and the shades didn't want him knowing! I don't know how the story behind you and, sorry Ethel. Ethel the nutcase is but she is right about the shades. I don't agree with the fact anyone here needs to die but open your eyes to the truth. See this wanted poster, it's all bullshit. I don't have the tiniest bit of magic in me. I grew up wanting to be an engineer. I lived life like most common folk. I had times where I was set for life, and others I had to scrape from the bottom of the barrel to get by! I only know how to make Crossbows and a few other inventions. Yeah I may be the biggest fool of a princess saying this but I'd rather die telling the truth and by other people then run away and let others suffer. I've done enough of that already and now I won't run any longer!" After all of that Cali felt drained and terrified. Yet another part of her stood scanning the crowd with a look of defiance on her face. She was ready to be peppered by whatever they threw first. And could only wait for what would happen next.

explosiveKitten Blackrose7 NinjaGirlGamer Xanto Ms. Sparrow (for NPC purposes)

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

Ivanna drives her flaming sword into the last shade making it wail in pain. The sword splits the shade into two when she moves the flames upward. The shade dissolved into the black oily mess, bubbling into the pavement. Ivanna observes her surroundings to see if anymore of them would appear. All was silent which meant the fight was over. There was a barrel of cleaning water against the brick wall. She dunks her sword into the barrel, putting out the fire. Sheathing her sword onto her back once more. Ivanna goes back to the last place she saw Angie and Auriele.

A big crowd was seen near the inner square. Ivanna walked closer to hear Cali’s speech. She was stationed in the back where She couldn’t really see what happened, so she pushed through the crowd. Who gave her some stares and glances. Once through, Ivanna now stood between the village folk and the members of the rebellion. Facing the crowd, she scanned each of them with a frown. A man stepped forward from the crowd with a look of white rage “Truth? Your telling us the truth? Here’s the fucking truth. If you people never came in the first place. NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED!!!!!” The man yelled at Cali then slowly everyone started to follow. “Traitors!” “Murderers!” “Fuck the royals!!” “Town wreckers!” As the crowd would throw insults and accusations, Ivanna stood tall, ready to fight anyone.

“STOP!” The shout from the little girl from earlier made everyone stop in silence. She came forward the crowd “These people saved our lives! If it wasn’t for them, the big Smokey shadows would have destroyed us all!” The crowd looked at each other, didn’t know what to say. Ivanna places a hand on the little girl’s shoulder “I’ll take it from here” stepping forward, she began to speak with a clear loud firm voice. “Now what happened today could change the way you look at us. Some of you are angry, others are scared, and the rest of you are not even sure of what to make of this. The King is not your ally. We are not the traitors nor are we the villains. We did not come here to wreck your town, but we came here to give you a choice. With the recent events, you are either with us or against us.”
Ivanna looked at each of them “If you want to be cowards and spat insults all day, be my guest but it won’t change the current state of the world. You could go back to your natural lives, however if you are all fed up with the way things are. If you want to fight against the true enemy, then start trusting in the rebellion.” She finished then turned towards Cali and Angie “This mission is obviously compromised. We need to meet with Baxter and the others.” Whipping her cloak around, walking past the crowd. “I knew this would be a waste of ti—“

“Wait” A young man came forward “I want to join the rebellion.” He spoke with confidence as another would soon follow suit “I want to join as well.” This made Ivanna stop to look at ten or more people stepping forward. “Congratulations you all have a brain, now come on and let’s move forward.” They all nodded their head.

explosiveKitten Blackrose7 Bakuyoshi Xanto Ms. Sparrow

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

After leaving the establishment and enlightening Harold about his true identity, Raymond ran out the building suddenly finding himself in the middle of a crowd listening to Cale speak. Is it over? His brows furrowed when he caught Angelo's eyes glued to Cale from a short distance. Raymond swerved through the crowd silently not trying to cause a distraction in the middle of Cale's speech. Eventually, the guy exited the crowd sighting Aurelie from the side of his eye running up to Baxter. Ivanna wasn't too hard to spot as well since she held a dying flamed sword in her grip. With that, Ray knew that the Shades either ran away or died with such a weapon in the aggressive woman's hands. Raymond continued to scour the area though double checking for any other lurking Shades. He managed to spot Annabel hugging a few kids before feeling himself abruptly halt in his tracks.

Where was Azalea.

Raymond sharply turned a corner feeling himself speed up to a jog. The Shade attack was too quick to be over. It didn't take long for the memory of the man with a scarred face to suddenly replay itself in Raymond's mind.

Azalea's with him. Raymond routinely aimed his grappling hook and launched himself up to the roof looking around for any sign of the redhead or scar man. C'mon show up. He furrowed his brows at the sight of a familiar figure running around as if on a hunt. In an instant, Ray started running and jumping over the gaps between the structures until he suddenly dropped down directly in front of Adrian. The Shade man stumbled back a few steps only slightly surprised. It didn't look like Azalea was anywhere around.

Raymond furrowed his brows stepping forward, "Where is she?" "You don't know?" Adrian glared at the human blockade hindering his path toward Azalea. "She's gone," The Shade Lord spat at Ray's feet lying with ease.

Raymond relaxed his brows, but slowly dawned a dark gaze directly pointed toward Adrian. "You really think the rebellion stands a chance?" The Shade Lord questioned walking up to the poser in front of him. Regular humans against magical Shades seemed like the easiest situation in the world. "You couldn't even keep an eye on your princess," Adrian prodded giving a challenging look at the guy.

Raymond kept his uncharacteristically dark gaze planted on the Shade Lord who leaned in a few feet toward him whispering in a low voice, " . . She's dead." Within a few moments, the Shade Lord's tough expression to turn to one of fear. His eyes widened in surprise watching Raymond somehow manage to conjure up a fire ball in his hand.

"GET OUT!" Ray growled watching Adrian almost stumble back only to take off toward the town's exit. To make sure of things, Raymond followed him until Adrian exited Fransen's perimeters and wasn't in his line of sight anymore. "Gah," Ray quickly switched the fireball to his other hand almost feeling the burn across his skin before throwing it into the snow and putting it out.

At least the scarred man wasn't around anymore. Now all he had to do was look for his partner. Raymond sprinted back into the town knowing that there was no time to waste until he found Azalea. "Angelo," Raymond jogged up to the man, "The Shade Lord is out of town." His words sounded out in his usual tone, but his gaze dropped down almost in defeat despite the short term win. "I'm going to look for Azalea," He wasn't about to give up on his search any time soon.

On that note, the guy started sprinting around town looking through shop's windows and even grappling himself around until he heard that Azalea was last seen in the alleyways. Should have not let her go. Raymond leaped down once again into the alleyways turning left and right for any sign of the redhead. "Violet?" He called out still keeping her name hidden in case anyone else heard, "Violet."

You couldn't even keep an eye on your princess. The sound of Adrian's haunting voice lingered in the back of Raymond's head causing him to furrow his brows as he sprinted down numerous alleyways. "V-Azalea?" Ray dropped all care for the temporary disguise. Their identities were all out anyway. What did it matter anymore? "Azalea!" He screamed nearly starting to ache for letting her out of his sight. That was when he paused in the middle of an alleyway intersection realizing that he had been down the same path before.

His eyes shifted down each empty alleyway prior to pushing himself to run down a random one again onto Fransen's outskirts. At this point, Ray's balled up fists were shaking. "Azalea!" He yelled out with anger lingering in his tone at no one else but himself. How could Raymond let her out of his sight? It was the first thing Baxter stressed not to do.

Soon enough, visions of the flaming blacksmith shop he lost his family in started flashing before the guy's eyes with echoes of the village people commenting about the scene. The exact same sensations Raymond felt were building up in his chest as he bolted around non-stop. She's dead. "AZALEA!" Raymond rang his whip out aggressively toward a tree and yanked as hard as he could snapping it's trunk into half.

It was his fault. It was all his fault again. "Guh!" He held his right hand in pain feeling his eyes start to water, "I'M THE GREATEST IDIOT OF ALL!" If she really was alright, the princess would have popped up somewhere by now.

Huff, huff . . . huff. After a few seconds, Raymond forced himself into immediate relaxation. Breathe! He paused, slowing his unsteady breath and quickly finding a point of peace to mentally retreat to. With a deep breath and calm demeanor, Ray pushed himself to slowly walk out the alleyway and knock on a random house.

". . Pardon, have you seen a woman with short red hair anywhere around?" He asked with a slightly bowed head before looking the stranger in their eyes. Houses were the only things Ray hadn't searched through yet. He wouldn't stop until he found Azalea dead or alive.

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten Blackrose7 NinjaGirlGamer Bakuyoshi

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

The fall had only lasted for a good ten seconds, give or take. Ten seconds of her screaming her bloody lungs out before she hit the ground, hard on her stomach, the impact of the fall sending a sharp jolt of pain through her entire body, especially her ribs. She felt hard stone beneath her as she sat up on her knees, her shoulder throbbing as she squinted her eyes and tried to see her pitch black surroundings

There was a hard thud behind her as she heard, rather than saw the man land behind her, sounding much less impactful then her own landing.

“Rotter,” she seethed irritably, as she stood on tired leg, her head pounding at the pain in her shoulder, shooting a glare over her shoulder, despite not being able to see him. The more time she spent with him, the more she regretted her decision of allowing his help in the first place.

Darkness was suddenly broken as the touch scones along the walls burst to life, blue flame illuminating the small room before her, it was a small square of a room, quaint even, with only another smaller room to her left that she supposed was the bathroom, walls were made up of old looking wooden planks, with hard cobble stone that served as the floor, adorned with a red carpet that sat in front of a small brick hearth, blue flames burning and licking away on the stacked, charred wooden logs of the flame. Her lips parted slightly in both awe until it quickly dawned on her, and she spun around on him.

“This is magic,” she hissed icy, jabbing a finger into his muscled torso as he gazed down at her blankly, “Who the devil are you?” She snapped, tired of the games and mystery.

Something in his already stony green-gold eyes hardened, turning the air around them frigid—literally. She could’ve sworn the flames of the torches and fire dimmed as he shoved passed her with his arm, his posture tense as he strode over to a large, dark wooden dresser against the far wall next to the hearth.

“We don’t give our names,” he said icily, an edge to his tone, “If your people cared to remember, then you wouldn’t be dumb enough to ask such a stupid question.”

Azalea gritted her teeth, her fists clenching, tired of being made small by this one sole stranger. She opened her mouth but was interrupted by a handful of clothes being shoved into her arms.

“Your clothes need to be burned,” he pointed an arm out to the other room, the bathroom, on her left, “Get changed so I can rid myself of your presence quickly.” His voice was just as unforgiving as his gaze.

“Gladly,” Azalea snarled, turning on her heel and storming into the smaller room, kicking the door shut with a slam, fuming and aggravated by the man whom had wanted to help her yet despised her all the same.

Her lips were pressed thin as she half undressed, half tore the filthy maroon dress off of her in front of a mirror, the bathroom lit by one torch next to the mirror, making blue flame dance across the mirrors reflection, though she hardly paid it any mind, glad for the pain in her shoulder to serve as a distraction for the longing ache in her chest for her friends and the fury the man had stirred in her.

Angrily, she kicked off her boots, the results of her actions kicking in finally, angry at herself, angry at him, angry at Soris. She hated not knowing—not doing. She didn’t know if night had fallen yet, if Adrian had harmed her friends, if they were even still in Fransen.

Her fingers quickly worked to unknot her corset at the back, the blood from her shoulder seeping through the white fabric near her shoulder, her head throbbed at the pain, blinking away spots in her visit as her corset dropped to the floor, taking a deep breath, the last of her adrenaline disappearing, leaving only pain and exhaustion in its wake as she bent down ripped fabric from the skirts of the dress that had fallen to a heap on the floor.

So tired was she suddenly, that even her raging temper cooled as she dabbed at her wound with fabric torn from the ruined dress, her eyes heavy, her movements slow as she let the red fabric soak up the blood, wincing each time her hand made contact. It was an ugly wound, but far from a death sentence when treated, with her body bare minus her underlings, and the blood mostly wiped away, she could see clearly the deep, teeth puncture marks in her shoulder, the skin around it torn and red from where it had nawed at her skin.

With most of the blood soaked up, Azalea dressed into the clothes she’d been loaned. Slipping the white, slightly blue tinted, long sleeved shirt over her head with some difficulty before pulling on the oversized light brown, leather trousers, that were far too big for her, along with the rest of the clothing. The shirt was of light fabric and hung down baggily just below her butt, the sleeves constantly sliding off her thin, frail shoulders that were obviously meant for much broader ones,though her pants gave her less issues despite the fact she was constantly pulling them up.

After lacing her black combat boots up once more, she gathered the bloody heap of clothing on the floor into her arms and exited the bathroom.

The man sat at the side of his single bed, pushed against the right side corner of the far wall, taking out what looked to be medical supplies from the bed table beside it, not bothering to glance at her as she crossed the room. In a matter of seconds, it seemed just being in husband presence had spiked her anger all over again.

Shooting him an angry, sidelong glare, which he failed to look at, Azalea tossed the dress into the hearth, watching the flames begin to lick and devour the tarnished, once beautiful dressed, now nothing but used, tainted and torn rags.

Perhaps she could relate, she thought, as she stared intensely into the flames, almost entinced it’s beauty and danger, it’s unpredictable nature.

Azalea broke out of her stare as she felt eyes on her, glancing over at the man who was watching her intently until she glanced her way, to which his expression instantly turned into loathing as he gestured to the bed, needing no words to be spoken, both equal in their loathing for each other.

Grimacing, Azalea sat down on the end of the bed in front of him, her temper a flickering ember just waiting to be prodded as she pulled down the loose sleeve of her right shoulder, exposing the injury that had just begun to bleed once more. Her hands dug tightly into the covers of the bed sheets as a warm cloth cane into contact with the wound as he cleaned it, despising the vulnerable feeling of being tended too and taken care of, made worse so by the fact she had no corset beneath her shirt but just simple wrappings instead.

Azalea broke the silence first, “If you hate me so much, then why bother saving me?” She asked bluntly, her voice coming out flatter than she intended.

“Orders were given to me that aren’t any of your concerns.” He said, less cold than earlier, but just as stoic and firm all the same.

“So your a soldier.” Azalea said boredly, goading him for more information, and hoping he had at least somewhat of an ego.

The cloth on her wound paused, “I wouldn’t say that. Yet certainly far better than a girl who knows nothing of warfare.”

Azalea was glad, that moment, that her back was to him as she gritted her teeth. “If you won’t give me your name, then what do I call you by?” She grinded out through clenched teeth.

“What would you call me?” He asked, sounding the slightest amused, surprising her so much she jolted the next time the rag touched her skin.

Azalea thought for a moment, “Frostbite.” She said dryly, and she could’ve sworn the faint huff of laughter, earning a faint smirk from herself in return. She decided that was his name for the moment.

Unfortunately it was, quite short-lived.

Frostbite turned around and grabbed a bottle of rum off the bedside table where he’d laid all his medical supplies. “Get ready.” He instructed before pouring rum over the puncture wounds.

Azalea jolted, sucking in a sharp breath, her shoulder bursting into flames upon the rums impact, and she squeezed her eyes shut until the pain subsided.

Frostbite then grabbed a needle and thread from the bedside table, before he faced her back again. “If you had used her head more than your emotions and not have charged for the beast, me and you would have never had to have crossed paths.” He pointed out, his voice stoic and cold once more.

“Your hardly older than me,” Azalea grinded out, “Stop acting like your a bloody God.” She growled, her temper on a thin line, wincing as the needle pierced his skin as he began to sow.

“If you would start acting as your position commands you to be, then we wouldn’t be here.” He said firmly, an odd authority in his voice again, as if he somehow commanded her.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Azalea seethed dangerously, tensing, though the needle resumed its graceful course as it wove through her skin.

“It means you act like a child, despite the fate of your nation that rests on your shoulders, you are nothing more than a cocky, arrogant, brat.” Frostbite said coolly, his voice harsh, nearly halfway done with the stitches, exceptionally fast.

Remarkably, the insult was not as angering nearly as much as it would’ve been a few months ago. Azalea’s expression turned cold and brittle, a cocky smile placating her lips that didn’t at all match the fire in her eyes as she drawled, “If your trying to insult me, your gonna need to do better than that.”

“Is it better for you to cope when you are insulted?” He countered wistfully, though his cold tone was of no good intention.

Azalea tensed, her stomach tightening. “Speak for yourself,” She retorted icily, “Just how well are you doing in this little shack underground? Any friends?” She asked, dangerously sweet.

“I assume it must be easy to put on that cocky mask and flaunt your scars, allow the world to hate the girl they never really wanted to know in the first place.”

Azalea flinched, pressing her lips thinly together as the thin string on her temper tightened.

“In fact,” He said, his voice frigid as he pushed and pushed her. Away from him. Away from herself. “Why let them know the real you at all? Not when they could end up dead, today, tomorrow, perhaps one of your friends is lying in the cold streets now—

“Shut. Up.” She warned, breathless.

He tied off her stitches, “Tell me, do you think you will go to some blessed Afterlife, or do you expect a burning hell? You're hoping for hell--because how could you face them in the Afterworld? How could you face the family and friends that died because of your actions? Better to suffer, to be damned for eternity and--“

Azalea turned around and slapped him, hard, across the face, the crack of it echoing throughout the small room, his head whipping to the side.

“You will not talk to me as such.” She whispered, a promise and a threat, her jaw clenched and a wild fire raging in her eyes, the last thread of her anger snapped into millions of peices, feeling as if he’d wrenched the darkest parts of her souls opening, and leaving her to wonder how he knew all that he did.

Frostbite grabbed her wrist fast enough before she could put her arm down, pulling her close so their faces were inches apart, torches along the wall went out in unison, leaving the blue hearth fire to catch harsh shadows across his face, he snarled, “You. Are. Not. My. Queen.” He growled, some hint of a feral beast in his gaze.

The strangeness of it, of him, had rendered her almost speechless for a moment, forgetting she really had no idea whom she was dealing with. “Then who is?” Azalea demanded, her eyes intently searching his own.

Frostbite released her wrist and leaned away from her before standing. “Someone you should hope to never meet.” He said icily, earning a furrowed brow from Azalea.

He adjusted his leather cloak, never once taking it off, hood and all, even in his own home, “Farewell, Queen Of Ruins and Ash, our paths will no doubt cross again someday.” He gave her a measuring stare.

“And when it does, be ready.”

Then the room went dark, and when she blinked, she found herself sitting on the floor of the abandoned house she’d been lead into, the fireplace passageway long since closed, the dust already settled. For a moment, she wondered if it had all been a dream, until she glanced down at her clothing and found it to be the same oversized clothes she’d changed into.

Azalea put her face in her palms, releasing a heavy, weary sigh. This encounter had only left her with more questions, questions she didn’t even know where to begin to question. If there was more magic in the world they weren’t aware of...

How many more possible Soris’s were out there?

She raised her head. She’d answer that tomorrow.

Tonight, she needed to find her friends, the only people she had left, get back to the encampment, and escape what was likely to be a very lengthy lecture. Tonight, she had to make sure everyone was okay.

Azalea eyed her much darker surroundings, glancing up at the ceiling and sighting the stars rather than the sun, moonlight her only source of light. She winced as she got to her feet, her arm throbbed, and her ribs ached, but she pushed herself to quickly leave the house anyway, eager to make sure Raymond and everyone else was okay, and Adrian has been successfully driven off. The success of their mission came last in mind to her.

Azalea attempted to back-track her steps to the abandoned house, which wasn’t difficult considering the size of the town.

She emerged from a shadowed alleyway, into an empty moonlight street, save for the occasional oil lamps that dotted down the unpaved streets, slowing from a jog to a walk as she caught sight of Raymond, his back to her as he stood before the house of someone she didn’t recognize from afar, her chest loosening a bit in relief, letting out a breath. He was okay. She took a couple steps closer to catch wind of his conversation with the stranger.

“...have you seen a woman with short red hair anywhere around?”

He’d been looking for her, she realized, as she stood alone in the empty, darkened moonlit streets. And even from a distance, she could see that Raymond did not look himself, not entirely. For how long, he’d been looking, she had no idea, but it seemed he was hell bent on knocking on every goddamn door to find her.

This resonation clawed at her heart strings, punching a hole in her gut. She wasn’t quite sure she’d ever been so moved in her life. So surprised and moved by this, she blinked the welling tears away in her eyes. She smiled slightly as she regained her composure quickly.

Silently she approached from behind Raymond, before coming up on his left side and propping an arm up on his shoulder, leaning a bit of her weight on him as if they’d been pals for the longest time,

“Yes, have you seen a woman with short red hair? I can’t seem to find her anywhere.” Azalea joked wryly to the woman Raymond had been asking about her too, whom now looked somewhat confused, a terrific grin plastered on her face, as she glanced side-long at Raymond, despite her injuries and weariness.

Blackrose7 NinjaGirlGamer Bakuyoshi explosiveKitten Xanto ​

 

[explosiveKitten]

Well... Glad everyone pays attention to me.

She glared angrily at Cale as the girl ran off, completely ignoring Angie as she rushed off and was promptly jumped on by an old, rambling woman, and was forced to make some kind of speech for all the people nearby.

Angie had to admit... she was kind of proud. Kind of. She would be even more proud if she wasn’t absolutely PISSED. This stupid- How dare she-! URRRRGHHH!

Her face barely managed to conceal her real emotions, the only thing showing her anger being the slight scowl and the myrderous glare in her eyes. She marched over to Cale and Ivanna, her fists clenched as she kept her temper on its tight leash.

“Are you quite done? Good, great.” Angie didn’t even give Cale a chance to say yes or no, she grabbed the girl by the arm and began to drag her in the direction of the carriage.
“And YOU.” She jabbed at a finger at Ivanna, with a commanding glare, “Carriage. NOW.”

With that, she tugged on Cale’s arm and continued to drag the princess in the direction of the carriage, the hidden , unbridled anger pouring off of her in waves as she practically tossed Cale up to the carriage, where Aurelie was waiting with Baxter.

Her scowl deepened when she glared at Cale and in a deep growl, she commanded the princess, “Stay. Here.”

With that, she turned around and charged back into the city, intent to follow Ray. But rather than that, she stopped somewhere out of sight of anyone and started to kick and scream at a wall, a bush nearby, anything really, just to let off some steam in a preferable way. Certainly was better than beating the shit out of some royalty.

Eventually, after enough time to vent, she finally made her way over to where she saw Ray and Azalea, at which point she took a breath, approached, and stared at the two as they conversed with a woman in a house.

“... alright, you two, enough flirting. Let’s go.”

Bakuyoshi NinjaGirlGamer Ms. Sparrow Xanto

 

[Blackrose7]

After saving the kids from a shade, Annabel looked around to see if there was anymore shades around. 'I guess the shades are gone now. I need to find the others.' thought Annabel.
She looked for the others in Fransen, and saw the carriage where Cale, Baxter, and Aurelie was that. "I am so glad that the mission for Fransen is over." said Annabel, as she then looked at Baxter. "I am still not giving you that book when we get back, Baxter. I know what is in that book, and I am not letting you see it."
Annabel wasn't going to let Baxter destroy the last bit of her normal life left, for if he read the royal bloodline book. Baxter might start calling her a princess just to annoy her. 'Nope. Not letting Baxter read that book, and I don't care if he sent Raymond to try to take it from me. He is still not having it.' thought Annabel.
Xanto

 

[Bakuyoshi]

Cali was left with Baxter and Priscilla. She had no idea what to say. She looked to Priscilla to back her up if Angelo got mad.

"You chose to disobey orders. Which is weird since that is my job to say fuck you to orders. And Baxter will not be happy either. Royalty or not I doubt much mercy will come from disobedience. At least I hope it's the case. I can't speak for the leaders but you fucked up, not me. So start living with it." With that Priscilla walked into one of the carts laying down and choosing to take a nap.

Cali was left with her thoughts alone, the insults that were thrown at her. The fact Soris had poisoned those peoples minds that much had thrown her off guard. It filled her with tons of emotion, some she couldn't fully understand. And Angelo, why was he so upset with her. She had to try and fight for once. Running wasn't going to help anymore. The rebellion had to step up. And hardly anyone in this whole team of royalty may not even have the idea of this being the case. Did she even want to be in this rebellion if this is all they did?

explosiveKitten Blackrose7 NinjaGirlGamer Ms. Sparrow Xanto

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

There was a small part of him that was beginning to believe Adrian's words until Azalea made her random appearance. Once Ray felt contact on his left shoulder, he immediately turned his head as a reflex still being on guard for any Shades. The gods weren't all that bad though since he ended up finding the woman he was looking for. "Azalea," Raymond wrapped his arms around the princess without hesitation, picking her up from the ground in the process. His head nudged against her's as he slowly placed her down still holding her close. He didn't know what to say other than to just savor the moment that she was there with him.

I don't think I can let go. Raymond tilted his head back examining Azalea. Endless words ran through his mind yet he couldn't say a single one. His eyes stayed on hers as he smiled bit. Pain was still written in his gaze, but his shy smile was from genuine happiness nonetheless.

The sound of the door slowly closing caught Ray's attention causing him to look over his shoulder just as it shut. Normally, he would have excused himself in front of the stranger. This time was different though. He didn't care who was watching or what else was going on around them. All he knew was that Azalea was there and that he would never leave her again. Naturally, this stood within reason.

His attention turned back to Azalea in time to get intercepted by a familiar voice. Raymond nodded at Angelo then shifted his gaze back to Azalea. As usual, the flirting comment flew over his head. The oblivious guy just assumed that the mercenary teased everyone like that.

Soon enough, Raymond's arms slowly loosened giving Azalea the opportunity to move around again if needed. "Whose clothes are these? A-are you okay?" He furrowed his brows at a detail he should've noticed earlier on. His body slightly turned as he started walking toward the rest of the group.

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten

Baxter Callahan​

Baxter . . oh Baxter. The rebel leader remained silent with a stone cold facial expression cemented to his face. His blue eyes eventually shifted away from the chaotic scene spurred by the group of amateur heroes in front of him.

A quiet shift in snow was all it took for the man to divert his gaze to Aurelie who calmly sat down joining him in silence. As of now, she was one of his favorites.

It didn't take long for Angie to follow up nearly throwing Cale into the carriage like a sack of cabbage. Baxter still didn't break his painful silence even when Annabel rubbed the secret book's existence in his face. He merely looked at her, piercing his gaze through the woman's fake disguise as if he knew all her secrets already. There was no doubt Raymond would be able to get his hands on the dang book before they left for Ezeris. His eyes moved back to the town eyeing the few lamps along the paths that remained lit.

Bax knew what the group was expecting from him. Something along the lines of an angry lecture for sure. He would save it for another time though, one he knew they couldn't easily walk out of. For now, the scolding from their own peers would suffice.

explosiveKitten Bakuyoshi Blackrose7

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

“Ack!” Azalea exclaimed, surprised as she was pulled into a fierce hug, her bruised ribs from the fall ached, but neither her ribs nor her shoulder injury kept her from hugging him back just as tightly, squeezing her eyes shut as her arms wrapping around his neck, momentarily breathing him in as Frostibite’s words echoed in her head;

“Not when they could end up dead, today, tomorrow, perhaps one of your friends is lying in the cold streets now..”

She pushed away his words as she was set down, grinning magnificently up at Raymond, her yellow-green eyes sparkling, but he didn’t let her go, and for once in her life, she did not to escape an embrace. Some part of her longingly never wished to leave it, last night had been such a whirlwind of emotions and pain, she never quite got the chance to celebrate the fact that he was still walking. But close to him, in that moment, she could take it all in.

But even through the small smile in his eyes, she could see it. Pain. Her grin softened as she examined the details of his face, of his eyes. Azalea imagined he had gone through what she had went through last night. She had known pain, and felt it, and knew exactly what it looked like because she felt, in that moment, that she was gazing into a mirror. A stab of guilt pierced her heart, pain, that she, for the briefest of moments had caused him.

Rarely did she drop her michevious, cocky exterior, but in that moment she did as her gaze intently examined his face, softening. “Hey, hey, come on,” She said with a soft smirk, her hands sliding from his neck to his arm and giving them a light squeeze, “I’m not going out without a bang, not yet anyway.” She added with a wicked grin, trying to lighten the seriousness of the situation. She couldn’t shove Frostbite’s echoing words:

“I assume it must be easy to put on that cocky mask and flaunt your scars, allow the world to hate the girl they never really wanted to know in the first place.”
Tell him. Her good consciousness urged her as Raymond got distracted by the door closing. Tell him before he gets attached.

Azalea’s grin faded into solemness, looking suddenly torn as Raymond turned back towards her, and she cast her eyes to her feet, “Raymond—“

Angelo’s teasing voice broke through the silence around the pair, causing Azalea to jolt, still slightly on edge from the Shades, she turned around, hoping the dark sky shrouded her face enough so nobody could see her now reddened face, heating at Angie’s comment, especially more so when Raymond glanced back at her, seemingly not caring or oblivious to it. She turned and scowled at Angelo in the dark, though a smile played at her lips anyway, relived he was okay just as well.

“Oh bite me, Angelo.” She retorted snarkily, smirking a little as the heat faded from her face slowly.

Raymond’s arms loosened, leaving a trace of longing in her that she instantly wanted to stamp out, chastising herself.

Azalea looped an arm through Raymond’s and decided she’d like to be close to him for one night before distancing herself. She’d spend time with Aria too. She wondered if the other would react the same. If, they were still alive by the time she told them.

How could you face the family and friends that died because of your actions?

Azalea winced externally at the echoing words. No...they’d be devastated, anyone would.

Raymond began to raise questions as they began to walk for where she assumed the others were waiting to leave.

Azalea quirked a smile, wondering how she’d explain this tale, “We—ee—el, I had a run in with this Shade,” she paused, her tone non-chalant as if she was telling a story that was nothing out of the usual, and with her free arm, pulled down the baggy sleeve on her right arm, exposing a pale frail, bare shoulder marked with large, red puncture wounds that had been stitched expertly. “—killed the Shade, met a strange guy with magic in an alleyway, he offered to help before I bled out while Adrian...” she trailed off for a brief moment, remembering Adrian. She remembered when they had been kids, when he’d gotten that scar. When they were friends.

“...was on the hunt.” She finished lamely, before continuing on, “Anyhow, I followed him to his...room? We went through some fireplace,” She gave an amused pointed look to Raymond and Angie, “don’t get me started on the irony of that, we had to burn the dress, and then he stitched my shoulder, I slapped him, got magically apperated our of his room,” she grinned and shrugged, “Just another day in our country.”

She yawned, the events of the day beginning to kick in as they the group came into sight ahead of them, as they rounded a corner. Most of them looked exhausted, weary, and Cale—the awfully good looking woman, looking depressed. Baxter just looked weary.

Gods...it was gonna be so godamn hard to tell them.

“We-ee-el,” She drawled as they approached, “aren’t you just a lively bunch.” Her lips upturned in a small smirk, “Ready to get out of here?”

NinjaGirlGamer explosiveKitten Xanto Bakuyoshi Blackrose7​

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

Raymond glanced down at his arm once Azalea almost immediately looped her's through it. For some reason, it kind of surprised him. The two continued to walk with their steps falling in sync when Azalea started responding. As an instinct, Raymond quickly turned his head away when she pulled down the sleeve on her right arm not really expecting the sudden gesture. The guy innocently inched his gaze back to her stitched shoulder. It looked taken care of at least for the moment.

His brows furrowed at the thought of Azalea following a stranger in an alleyway though. Were princesses ever taught to do the opposite? Raymond could have asked questions, but he decided against it just staying silent and listening till the end. Apparently, she even knew the Shade Lord who he threatened with a "magic" fireball.

It only took a few moments for Azalea to return to her tale about the mysterious man. Ray's eyes widened when she mentioned following the guy into his room. His lips instinctively parted ready to scold her decision, but he still didn't say a word. If anyone was going to lecture it was Baxter. Ray knew his older brother would drill it in well enough. He was still against it though.

They burned her dress? He stitched her shoulder? She slapped him? Raymond's facial expression was mixed with confusion and disbelief. What made things worse was the Azalea treated the occurrence like it was nothing. His slightly darkened gaze shifted forward eyeing the familiar crowd in the carriage. Protection was what Azalea needed, and Ray felt like he had to give it to her. His arm gently slid out from her's before moving behind her shoulders and pulling the sleeve on her opposite shoulder back up to cover her injury. Then, he helped the princess up the carriage, sat down, and shifted over leaning forward a bit to make space for Angelo.

Who's this? Ray raised a brow finding himself in front of Cale. It took him another take to realize that it was his work partner. How did he not realize how good his pal was at disguises till now?

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten Bakuyoshi

Baxter Callahan​

Baxter looked around noticing the lack of the group's other grump. Ivanna still wasn't with the rest of the gang. Thus, he decided to utilize the time to inform the group he was currently with. "When we get back, remove your disguises, and rest up for the night. Medical aid will be provided in the throne room. We are heading to Ezeris tomorrow," He calmly ordered without turning his head to view the others. His hand held the reins loosely having been ready to leave the area since the whole chaos started.

"Raymond get Annabel's book," He bluntly added. The rebel leader's indifferent nature helped him demonstrate that he didn't care if the victim was basically lodged between them. With a huff, Baxter leaned back onto the wooden planks and patiently waited for the straggling member to return.

Ms. Sparrow explosiveKitten Bakuyoshi NinjaGirlGamer Blackrose7

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

Ivanna just stared at Angelo when she pointed her finger and demanded that she return to the Carriage. As Angelo forcefully drags Cali, The townsfolk looked confused and Ivanna was left with them. “You all are retreating? What about this village.” One villager said. Ivanna had the “none caring” expression towards him.

“Repair what was damage, do what you normally do.” With that, She walks off towards the direction Angelo went. “Wait!” The little girl ran up next to Ivanna “Please take this as a parting gift.” The tiny hand holded up a crafted necklace. “Keep it kid. I don’t take rewards.” Ivanna putting it bluntly and moving on forward.

Going up to the hill where everyone was waiting on her. They all looked tired and half beaten, it was a sad sight. There was no space for her on the carriage, especially with the sword behind her back . Instead, she hoisted herself onto one of the carts near the carriage in silence. What was the whole point of this mission? Was an echoing question she had. Probably wouldn’t get a straight answer judging on the tone of everyone’s faces. Sighing and leaning back her head, She was more than ready to get the hell out of there

explosiveKitten Ms. Sparrow Xanto Blackrose7 Bakuyoshi

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Azalea Eve Windfore

She arched an eyebrow as Raymond pulled up her sleeve, re-covering her shoulder, forgetting she had not done so yet, she warmed a bit at his show of respect. Most gentlemen she’d been forced to meet would have done the polar opposite. Raymond said nothing as he helped her into the cart, though she didn’t need much help at all, she allowed it and kept her mouth shut. His expression had darkened some, and she wondered if it was because the way she went about telling her story. Perhaps she shouldn’t have told him at all.

Azalea just didn’t want anyone’s pity, or questions, or anything. She despised anything more than anyone seeing her in a state of weakness or sadness. She couldn’t push Frostbite’s words away, which just pissed her off more than anything.

“..must be easy to put on that cocky mask and flaunt your scars, allow the world to hate the girl they never really wanted to know in the first place.”

Azalea was silent on the way back, peaking out the window of the carriage, her head tipped back as she watched the stars the entire way, wondering how anything could look beautiful in the darkness.

~~
She was dying.

And she wanted too.

For days, she’d been listening to her sisters screams on the other side of the brick fireplace, and had pounded and threw herself against the fireplace until her hands were scrapped raw and bled, until she ran out of strength.

She hadn’t had the strength to cry when Karliah told her Hale had been killed. There were no laughs with her siblings through the wall, nothing except her siblings occasionally checking up on her, asking if she’d starved to death.

But today, she had not the voice to respond to them, curled up in a ball by the fireplace, her breaths slow and hoarse, the hunger pangs had stopped, everything had stopped, all the pain, all the cold. Azalea knew it was selfish, to want to die before her sisters did. But Violet would make it through this, yes, she’d make it through this and rattle the stars, just as she said she would. So would the others. Violet wouldn’t let anything happen to them. They’d be fine.

The girls were panicking, she could hear them, behind the wall, yelling her name, and then Soris’s though Violet’s was the loudest.

“Your killing her!”

“...”

“You already took Hale, what more do you want from us?” Violet sounded disgusted. Azalea was too.

But...Violet would take care of that too.

She just, didn’t want to live anymore. She was close, so close to leaving this hell. Then she could forget, forget everything.

Suddenly there was a scraping sound against the fireplace.

Someone was rubbing the fireplace.

No.

Azalea’s eyes slowly opened to half lids, her eyes heavy and vision blurred as there was a burst of light around her, shattering the darkness she’d been trapped in for days.

No, she thought, no, no, no.

“You—you—“ Violet started as the light dimmed, her voice trembling in rage somewhere behind her.

“Lea!” Hyacinthe began to wail.

“Az.” Karliah murmured somewhere to her left.

“Shut up.” Soris snapped coldly, cutting her off before she felt arms slide under her back and knees, scooping her up.

“No.” Azalea croaked out, lips dry and cracked her voice little more than a murmur as she was carried out into the light. “No.”

She was placed on something soft, a bed, she realized, as she sank back into the mattress. Someone else sank down on the side of the bed. Azalea hadn’t the energy to move as she felt a silk-gloved hand brush her matted red hair from her face and behind her ear.

“Such a shame,” He murmured, more to himself than anything. “Your so much more pleasant to talk to in this state.”

“Go to hell.” Azalea croaked.

“Don’t touch her.” Violet snapped, and Azalea opened her half -lidded eyes in time to see Violet yank Soris’s arm back, only for the back of Soris’s hand connect with her cheek, sending her sprawling across the floor.

Soris stepped over an unconscious Violet, “I will order some food brought to you.” He said as something massive and black opened the door for him, Azalea’s eyes widening in horror, before Soris coolly left the room.

Those...those must’ve been those things she was talking about, Azalea thought, watching through barely open eyes as the girls flocked to Violet on the floor.

Gods. Please let her die.
~~

The group had traveled from Fransen to the castle with no interference a little over a few hours later, now just a little past midnight. The carriage and cart rolling bumpily through the paved, icy roads of the North, the bright moonlight reflecting off the snow giving them much visibility in snow. Given their luck lately, and after hearing how they had scored some recruits with a few fancy speeches, it seemed the missions had not actually been a failure at all, in fact perhaps their luck was deciding to turn around.

This thought was squandered the moment she approached the great old, oak doors the soldiers pushed open for her, and found James waiting, pacing and looking anxious, and pissed, his eyes narrowed in on Azalea as she walked in.

“Gods, not tonight,” Azalea groaned cutting off James before he could get a word in, “Its been a really long day—“

“Are you mad?!” James exclaimed angrily approaching, earning a long sigh from Azalea as a soldier approached Baxter, looking grim and worried.

“Do you know what my home country is like, hmm, little girl? They will slit your throat the moment you get off the ship,“ James made a gesture, running his finger across his throat, “Aodren will never help you, it’s doubtful he will believe you, not without proof—“

Azalea’s brows arched up, “Aodren?”

“The King,” James said, exasperatedly, “He’s just as decieving—are you even listening?!” He snapped.

She wasn’t, her head glancing over in the direction of the soldier and Baxter.

“...lost six good men, excluding the two that went missing. Lieutentent Aria’s been patched up and combat able. She—it, has been locked up in one of the old cells. Nathanial ordered the mission, after the first two went missing, sir. It’s demanded to see...well, the royals...and you. ” The soldier glanced at everyone else, “You should come too though...just in case it gets out.” The soldier offered a supportive half-smile to the group.

James had also drawn his attention to the matter, dropping the subject of the trip to Delchistrier, his snarling expression dissolving, though she had a feeling he’d try to talk her out of it tomorrow.

“It injured Aria?” Azalea questioned in slight disbelief, arching a brow. Aria had been training to fight her entire lifetime, and though they fought with opposing styles, she had no doubt her cousin could knock her on her ass in seconds.

The soldier dipped his head, “Just a few cuts and scraps, nothing major. The two were fighting for quite a while until we knocked it out.” He looked quite pleased with himself, despite the losses they faced again.

Her curiosity was peaked and she feigned a smirk, “Well then I guess it’s time to say hello.” And without waiting for anyone to guide, nor follow her, she turned right down the hallway and started for the prison cells.

At the very end of the hall, continuing straight, she descended the dark, spiral staircase that led downwards, getting colder and colder with each step, the stones chipped away and covered with more moss and dirt as they descended. The smell of earth and the faint tongue of blood was heavy as she reached the bottom step, glancing around and taking in her surroundings.

Yes, it was obvious this had been here for quite a while.

The moment she reached the bottom stairs, the room dimly lit with only a few oil lamps hanging about the filthy, stone walls, she was faced with the bright a bright red.

The cell was gaurded by four soldiers, two positioned by the cell door, two across from the cell. All seemingly tense, and tired but visibly seemed to perk up a little at the much less scarier company that’s came down the stairs.

Azalea approached the cell door, her eyes instantly catching on the bright red cloak the seemingly feminine figure adorned, her hood shadowing her features, though long, moon-white, hung down. She was sat down and leaned lazily back against the cell, long, lithe legs extended out, covered in black leather for both her legs and boots that was obviously armor. Azalea’s gaze followed up from her legs to her hand and choked.

Slightly long, pale and feminine hands, clasped in iron manicles, were adorned with dark, long thick claws, her fingers moved eloquently as she chipped away dry blood from her nails.

Azalea’s eyes traveled up to the woman’s face, just as the woman looked up from her hands.

“What the hell,” Azalea stepped back, surprised and horrified. She suddenly felt quite ill. What the hell was Soris doing?

Bright, golden eyes stared back at her, so different from her unnaturally pale complexion that reminded her of Alex’s. She wasn’t the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen. And terrifying.

The woman grinned at her, and all her teeth pointed and long. They were made entirely out of a dark metal that seemed to almost slightly move if you stood still and looked closely enough.

“Hello, rebels.” The woman purred coldly, her voice crafted from ice itself.




~~
Half—Timeskip
Later that night: 12–1:00 A.M.
Xanto Blackrose7 Bakuyoshi NinjaGirlGamer explosiveKitten​

 

[Blackrose7]

Annabel looked down when Baxter did a piercing gaze, for she thought that he knew about her secrets. 'Oh god no. Please don't tell me that Baxter knows what I am hiding here.' thought Annabel, who was worry about that.
While they were waiting for Ivanna to arrive at the carriage, Annabel started to internally scream at what Baxter said. 'Seriously!? He wants us to go to Ezeris? I had to run for my life with my remain gang members in order to stay alive from the attack.' thought Annabel. 'I am not going back to Ezeris, since I bet they would try to figure out who I am by looking at my face.' She is pretty paranoid about Ezeris, because of all of those wanted posters, and how much they hate the royals.
Annabel also heard Baxter telling Raymond to get the book, and her face was pale from that. 'Oh hell no. Raymond isn't getting the book on my watch. I will just run to my room, and grab the book immediately before Raymond gets to it.' thought Annabel.
Once they arrived at the castle, Annabel immediately runs to her room in order to get the book from it's hiding spot. 'Please don't get the book, Raymond.' thought Annabel.
Xanto

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

Raymond nearly launched himself off the carriage after Annabel got her head start. His day wasn't over until he delivered that mysterious book to his brother. I stole it once, I'll steal it again. He thought to himself easily rounding the corner with a sprint. In all honesty, the guy didn't even know what the book was about. Raymond had the longest intention to give it a read, but the shortest intervals of time to really start.

With an extra push, Ray eventually caught up to Annabel swiftly facing toward her and blocking the doorway in one smooth motion. His arms were firmly outstretched against the door frame, while his legs were spread shoulder width apart. "What's so good about the book, anyway?" He raised a brow before slightly tilting his head toward her.

Actually, it would probably be easier if Ray allowed Annabel to take the book herself so he could simply swipe it from her. It was either that or the guy had to rummage through everything just to search for the book. At least taking an object from one person in an open area was much easier than maneuvering past royal guards, infiltrating the Ezeris castle, and avoiding laid traps.

Raymond blinked waiting for Annabel's response. He could remember stealing the book from within the Ezeris castle just to challenge himself at a run most people got caught at. Next time, he'd take a better look at an object he stole before letting someone borrow it.

Blackrose7 and whoever else chooses to join the scene

Baxter Callahan​

Once the group arrived, Baxter gave a silent sigh of relief and stepped down into the snow. It didn't take long for a soldier to approach him with some news. The rebel leader furrowed his brows at the summary of events, immediately walking toward the cells after Azalea. "Let Aria and Nathanial know we are here. Lock the gates back up," He ordered to the guards before turning down a hall.

After walking down his path aligned with what seemed to be the most depressing interior design ever, Baxter eventually found himself going down the stairs and into the dim prison area just in time to hear Azalea's expression. "What is this-," He paused when his gaze landed on the woman in front of him. His cold blue eyes momentarily studied her facial features keeping his face of indifference as if her sharp teeth weren't being exposed.

Bax wasn't going to lie. The creature looked kind of beautiful . . without revealing her vicious fangs. What exactly was the whole commotion about though? The rebel leader slightly leaned toward the woman trying to see exactly what his soldiers were afraid about. However, once his gaze caught a glimpse of her claws, only the closest people to him could see his eyes slightly widen before he forced his brows to furrow. "What brings you here?" He drew his attention away from her claws before working his way back up to her golden eyes.

Ms. Sparrow and whoever else chooses to join the scene

 

[Blackrose7]

As Annabel tried her best to out run Raymond, she thought she would make it before Raymond got to her room. However, that thought didn't last for very long. He caught up to her, and block the doorway with his arms and legs. '...Oh ok then. If he wants to be a noisy jerk towards me in order to get that book back. I will also be a jerk to him, because Raymond doesn't need to know about what is in the book.' thought Annabel.
She had a mischievous look on her face, because she would get Raymond out of her way one way or another. "Why should I tell you? You stole that book from somewhere, and here you are trying to take it from me just to give it to Baxter." said Annabel, as she put her hands out. "A thief like you should be punished for their crime, and I know a good punishment for you."
The tickling torture had began, and Annabel tried her best to bring Raymond's arms down. For is she can do that, she might be able to quickly get the book from behind the bookshelf. 'Please be ticklish, I need to get into my room, so Raymond won't try to get the book first.' thought Annabel.
Xanto

 

[explosiveKitten]

Angie had been glaring at Cale the entire ride back. She had blown off some steam, but was still horribly upset. Why, she wasn't entirely sure. Maybe she was mad at Cale, maybe she was mad at herself. Who knew? Angie didn’t.

When they finally arrived back at the castle after a long trip full of silent glares and anger, she hopped off the carriage and left pretty much immediately to go... somewhere else. Anywhere else, just... Gods, get her away from Cale or Ivanna before she punched one or both of them.

She took to wandering around, looking for something to do. Hopefully something that would help clear her head. After a while of wandering, she stumbled upon the bath room, and after a moment of thought she’s decided to commandeer it for her own selfish needs... A bath, basically.

She dragged a chair into the room and blocked the door, hopefully keeping anyone from walking in on her while she was heating up the water. While she waited, she stripped down and took a deep breath for the first time all day. Once she had the water all warmed up, she threw some soap in, grabbed a cloth and climbed right on in, sinking in and resting her head against the back of the tub and throwing her right arm over the side, keeping her wound relatively dry.

 

[Bakuyoshi]

It was a long bit before they got to the castle. Cali was quick to leave ready to call it a night. She didn't want to deal with anymore bullshit for the day. Until she passively heard Azalea talking with some guards about a prisoner. A dangerous one by the sound of it. Only sighing before returning to her own quarters. She was done for the night. She didn't need anymore excitement for her day.

And of all the times she finally fights that two faced arrogant guard just still remains upset with her. "What does he want from me. Every one of the others is allowed to be up front and make a difference. Yet me, I want to help for once and he keeps giving me hell. Does he just want me to watch as the others die. But at the same time... Dammit all me he still thinks your Cale. It's not happening and you have to live with it!"
She was conflicted. At times Angelo was so kind to her and now since that time they had to run he's been treating her like an Invalid. Someone who couldn't fight, someone who should just sit back and let everyone else fight. And in her frustration she grabbed a lone piece of metal from the forge and hurled it at the wall as she let out a shout of frustration. "Why is this so difficult!?" Was the last thing she shouted before falling into her bedroll exhausted.

"Carson a tha mi air a làimhseachadh mar an ceangal as laige?"

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

As the snowflakes fell from the sky, Ivanna was laying on the ground, on her back watching the stars in the sky. Snowed trees kept coming and going as they traveled back to the castle. The first thing Ivanna was gonna do when they got back was nap. She needed rest from all the drama and their encounter with the Shades. The carriage and others pull up to the entrance and Ivanna gets off the cart.

Looking behind her, seeing the fresh tracks from the carriage and other carts. She narrowed her eyes and listened for anything suspicious. Silence brought back the answer, thankfully they weren’t followed. Ivanna was the last to enter the castle, only catching a snippet of some mysterious guest that killed six men. Baxter and Azalea go with soldiers to “welcome” the uninvited guest.

“You should go with them” One soldier said, noticing the sword behind her back “That creature killed some good men, and we need extra eyes to watch for any tricks up it’s sleeve.” Ivanna said nothing to the soldier as she continued walking. Deciding that sleep is gonna have to wait. The venture lead her into an old castle dungeon, the atmosphere spoke of death itself. The soldiers looked at Ivanna as she appeared from the arched doorway, they all looked tense.

Intrigued by what’s got everyone so spooked, she went behind Baxter then moving to side to see one of the most creepy looking beings she’s ever seen. This “creature” looked like a woman from the top, but as Ivanna’s eyes moved down. She saw the claws and instantly put her guard up. She didn’t know what the being was trying to pull, but Ivanna didn’t like the set up. So she stayed back near the door, having a little glimpse of the red hooded woman. For a moment, it looked like the gold eyes was staring directly at her.

Ms. Sparrow Xanto

 

[Xanto]

Raymond Callahan​

Raymond felt a pang of guilt when Annabel labeled him a thief. It was true, but for some reason he felt offended this time around. "A thief like me, or a thief like you?" Raymond questioned still using his body as a blockade into Annabel's room, "How would you know if I stole it, anyway?" The only two people in the rebellion who had a hint of his criminal past were Baxter and Aria, both of which seemed to keep his reputation on the down low.

Ray was sure he didn't mention how he got hold of the dang book, "That book is mine, and now you are stealing it from me." Besides, the official owners of the book were all dead. This fact technically made Ray its rightful owner. That was unless by chance someone happened to be part of the eastern royal bloodline. . . . Wait it's Clyde's. Raymond momentarily zoned out at the realization. He still didn't know what the book contained, but he knew that it was taken from the Ezerisian castle.

It didn't take long for the thief to raise a brow in confusion when he tilted his head to see Annabel try tickling him. "You really think-" He abruptly paused letting out a laugh as his arms quickly blocked her attack.

What followed next almost made the man stumble, since he swiftly looked over his shoulder at the direction Annabel ran toward. Raymond sprinted after the suspect, wrapping his arms around her waist before spinning her in the opposite direction. As soon as he let go, Ray ran toward the bookshelf noting that the book wasn't openly displayed. Behind it. His arms tilted the bookshelf out of the way as he stuck his hand behind it finding what he was looking for.

With a smirk, Raymond stood up straight and moved the shelf back to its place. Mission accomplished. He thought after letting the book magically "disappear."

Blackrose7

 

[Ms. Sparrow]

Nox

There were few sounds she enjoyed other than the crashing of waves, but the screams of dying men were one of them. One could imagine her suprise when some fool hit her on the back of the head whilst facing that red-headed northern bitch. Only to be put into some meak little cell that looked old enough to the point where she could snap the bars in half if she wanted to.

There was another red-head, who was scowling at her, with a unique sort of red hair that reminded her of blood, cut short with bright yellow-green eyes. Beneath the thin layer of power on her face, the torch-light caught on her right cheek, barely showing some faint scars.

Soris’s, she presumed. Nox gave her a grin full of sharp, pointed, korvium teeth, causing her to recoil just as Nox got a strange scent mixed with her own one. Her gaze flicked to Azalea’s baggy clothes obviously suited for a male.

What interesting company she kept, Nox thought amusedly.


Her target however, waltzed in right after, handsome with brown hair and bright blue eyes, he looked like a prince, even as his eyes just the slightest widened, making her own grin widen to something predatory. Honestly, it was a shame she had to kill him, she would’ve liked bedding him first.

His tone was firm, unfaltering, despite her presence.

“What am I doing here?” She asked coldly, her eyes flitting to a dark-haired beauty behind both Azalea and the leader, her gaze calculating, to which Nox returned an icy stare full of death. She hadn’t been informed of that one.

Nox glanced back at Baxter, cunning, coldness and death behind her dark-gold gaze. “Your men were stupid enough to bring me here,” she held up her wrists chained with iron manicles, “As pretty as an accessory this is.”


Nox stalked to her feet and over to the bars that separated her from everyone else, her red cloak rippling straight behind her as she stared down upon both Baxter and Azalea, extraordinarily tall. “So what’s it gonna be, Baxter Callahan,” She crooned, using his full name and wrapping a clawed hand around one of the bars, the chains on her wrists rattling, causing all the guards hands to go to her sword. Nox didn’t even glance once in their direction, “One way or another, we both know what’s going to happen once I get out,”

The red-head looked at the clawed hand around the bar, then side-glanced to Baxter, than back at Ivanna, arching a brow. “Kill her?” She asked, “Right? We saw her, great, she could scare the tonsils out of anyone, nows the time to put a bloody knife in her.”

Nox examined her other hand, her claws specifically, “I don’t have magic,” she purred, “But you kill me, and everything that was put into making me is released, violently.”

Azalea gave her a searching, scowling look, as if trying to determine how much darkness it took to create her. Before looking accusingly at the soldiers, “You brought a living bomb in here, you great idiots?!” She seethed and scolded at them, angry at their predicament.

Nox’s gaze flicked past all three of them the rather short, middle-aged man leaning against the staircase, his arms crossed.

“Bring her to Aodren,” he said, his accent thick with what Nox had been told was Delchistrierian. Nox’s glare was something terrifying as they narrowed into slits on him, looking like she could eat him for dinner.

The red-head whirled on him. “I’m not traveling across an ocean, stuffed into a ship for months, with that.” She said, jabbing a thumb behind her and at Nox.

He gave Azalea a scolding look, which made Nox wonder their relationship. Her eyes danced calculatingly between the two. He seemed a old for her, she doubted Soris would be pleased if they were close at all, though she followed orders. She didn’t give a damn what Soris thought about what.

“Think about the opportunities,” he pressed, “Aodren has no proof of what you’ll claim,” he pointed a finger at her, “that’s your proof.”

The red-head turned back to Nox and Baxter. “Boff off, James.” She commanded sharply, tense without any solutions but his, which complicated things tenfold if Nox was brought along. James, annoyed but loyal, turned and walked up the stairs, his steps practiced with silent grace.

The princess was lucky she agreed. Nox gave Baxter a cold gaze, “Make your decision. I care little for those who waste my time.” She said with a voice like ice, an authority in her tone that made the soldiers around her uncomfortable, drumming her clawed fingers on the bars.

Xanto NinjaGirlGamer​

 

[Xanto]

Baxter Callahan​

Baxter folded his arms across his chest at the woman's sass. She killed some of his men. Did she expect to have five-star treatment especially at an abandoned castle? His gaze shifted when the creature stood on her feet and approached the group. Just by eyeing her for a few seconds he could tell that she was a bit taller than him.

How does she know my name? Baxter thought to himself with furrowed brows. She was a different type of creation by Soris no doubt.

Soon enough, Azalea spoke up urging to kill the creature while they could. That idea wasn't a problem, until the prisoner mentioned that something would be released if they eliminated her. Baxter stayed silent analyzing the situation, while Azalea went off in her natural ways scolding the soldiers.

It didn't take long for James to sound out his opinion, suggesting that they take the woman to Aodren. The recommendation didn't seem practical at first since the group would be placing themselves in danger. Just imagine Aurelie trying to stand in the same room with this woman. Bax quickly glanced once again at her claws. He bet she could break through the cell if she tried.

She knows that. The rebel leader thought to himself almost raising a brow. With the summary of the previous fight, he had a hint of what she was capable of. There was a reason why she didn't just break the bars and eliminate them all. Baxter looked over his shoulder at James's mention of using her as proof for Aodren. If anyone knew their current king, it was James. In fact, it would be a greater gamble to arrive at Delchistrier without proof only to have wasted months at sea. Bax wanted to get as close to success at the negotiation as possible.

Eventually the woman spoke with authority laced in her tone, forcing Baxter to make a decision right then and there. The fact that she said she even cared little about anything only highlighted her difference against Soris's other creations. "Care is a strong word," Baxter replied slowly meeting her eyes with his as he came to the conclusion, "Everyone in here is going to Delchistrier." His body turned away getting ready to head back up the stairs until he looked back at the prisoner, "Hope none of you get sea sick." With that, the rebel leader walked up the stairs ready to put an end to another hectic day.

Ms. Sparrow NinjaGirlGamer

 

[NinjaGirlGamer]

The glare of hell from the creature didn’t faze Ivanna one bit. This only made her be more on guard, having her arm in a position to quickly grab her sword if necessary. The woman standing up was even more terrifying, her height being a bit taller than Ivanna’s. The creature’s claws wrapped around the prison bars making all the soldiers having a hand on their swords already. Ivanna didn’t, she observes her opponent’s body language to know when they posed a threat.

Azalea mentions of killing the beast. To Ivanna, she would happily be the first one to chop the woman’s head off. Until the creature mentions that killing her would release something very unpleasant. Ivanna just watched as Azalea went off at the soldiers, Typical Hot Head. Then James suggested to bring the creature with them, it sounded like straight suicide.

Baxter concludes that everyone was going, including the woman who killed six rebellion members. Ivanna didn’t like this idea at all, but kept her silence as Baxter walked by her and up the stairs. Ivanna gives one final look to the red hooded woman with a glare of pure coldness. After that, she follows Baxter out of the dungeon, heading to her room, putting in a few hours of sleep before training at dawn.

Xanto Ms. Sparrow

 

[Blackrose7]

"A thief like me? Don't make me laugh, Raymond, and I wanted to get that book for a very long time. I wasn't able to do it in the past, due to a small situation I had to deal with." said Annabel. Raymond then asked her about how she knew about that, so she gave him a smile. "I know about that because it is in the book. You stole that book from the Ezeris castle, Raymond, and I would have known about that eventually. For I have seen that book before, and I did worked at the castle as a royal castle maid."
When Raymond said that the book is his, Annabel was trying not to laugh at him. "Yours? Just because you had the book doesn't mean it belongs to you. I bet you haven't gotten the chance to read it before I asked you if I can borrow it." said Annabel. "I am just stealing it back from you, and you have no idea of how important that book is."
During the tickling torture, Annabel thought that it didn't work. However, she was wrong about that when Raymond laughed from it. "I found your weakness, Raymond." said Annabel, as she opened the door with her free hand. She tried to do her attempt on getting the book behind the bookshelf, but she failed to do that.
Raymond wrapped his arms around Annabel, and spun her in the opposite direction. "AAAAAAA!" said Annabel, who was dizzy from being spun around like that. She tried to walk straight, so she can try to stop Raymond from getting the book. That didn't happen since Raymond was able to find the book before she can get it. 'No. Please don't give that book to Baxter. I don't want him to see that last page in the book, because it has my first name for some reason.' thought Annabel.
"Please don't give that book to Baxter, Raymond. I don't want him to see what is in that book, for it is a very important book." said Annabel.
Xanto