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Realms Converge	By : Candice Category: +G through L > Legacy of Kain Views: 3562 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Legacy of Kain, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.Don't get to Nosgoth itself til chap 5

Chapter List
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Thank you again for the kind review Strive VII! I am glad you are enjoying the story!
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And another Ty to Charles_de_Mercania or Proofreader-1962. Going back through some of the chapters using your suggestions has helped me fix several things. I do appreciate it!
Thank you all for your kindness!
Chapter Forty-Nine: Masquerade Part 2
Auron's hands pushed at me almost gently when I came to a shocked halt. I found myself automatically following his touch and I felt my eyes widen behind my mask as I continued to dance with him rather than pull away. A heavy feeling of lethargy had started to settle over my thoughts and it took extreme effort of will to remain free enough that I could continue to think for myself. Had I not been expecting and prepared for the mental magics, I might well have fallen fully under the spell he was trying to weave around my mind. As it was, the momentary shock of him actually having the audacity of slipping onto the very dance-floor to dance with me wore off and I regained my equilibrium enough to notice that my body moved at his direction and will.
Well… fuck, shit and damnation, I thought in surprise as I worked to break free of his Charm Gift in an effort to regain control of my body.
"You are stronger now my l'ange," he murmured softly into my ear and his lips brushed feather light against my skin. "But not strong enough, I think, to fight me off. Such a lovely thing in your continued defiance my petite puit."
The noise of the crowd and music meant that no one could hear his softly spoken words and thus no one could tell that I was in danger, especially as my body continued to dance as if nothing was wrong. It was hard to focus on even attempting to Whisper one of the others to warn them and I had to keep my focus centered on keeping my mind safe from his. As it was, I knew as long as I could keep control over my own thoughts that I would eventually be able to fight him off in full. He guided me in an elegant twirl and I felt my lips curl up in a small, strained smile. A laugh escaped my lips as I was pulled back in close to his body and the sound of it was just slightly higher pitched than my normal laugh. Damn him to the pits of hell! He leaned in close to me once more and his lips brushed lightly against my cheek.
"You will leave the ballroom in an hour my sweet l'ange and make your way to the roof. I will be waiting for you there, my petite puit," he murmured and I felt the compulsion of his Charm Gift it tried to settle over my mind. "Say nothing to the others my pet. Write nothing to them in warning. Do not even Whisper them."
His hand caressed my cheek in a mockingly kind touch. He then handed me to the next dancer as if nothing had happened and I was spun around in several care-free circles. Finally free of his touch, the haze that had settled over my thoughts faded and I sucked in a sharp breath as if surfacing from a long time underwater. The hand in mine tightened briefly and the movements of my current partner slowed to a more sedate dance.
"You alright sheila?" a voice asked in concern. "Do you need some air?"
My current dance partner was Elijah. I shook my head as I relaxed a bit and smiled at him as if nothing was wrong.
"I am alright," I said softly. "There are just so many people here…"
I trailed off, as if uneasy with the large crowd and I looked away from my Brother to further the illusion of my unease. At the same time I reached out to brush my mind against Kain's in a careful touch, mindful of the lingering presence on the edge of my thoughts.
~Auron is here,~ I said and my mental voice reflected my anger whilst my physical demeanor continued to give nothing away. ~He just handed me back to Elijah after making an attempt at rolling my mind. He ordered me to make my way to the roof in an hour's time and said that he will be waiting for me there. He also tried to command my silence; written, verbal and mental.~
Kain's mind brushed my own in a returning caress. His own mental tone revealed plain his anger, like a thunderstorm on the cusp of releasing its' fury upon the unwary.
~It does seem that his audacity knows no bounds,~ Kain growled in a deadly tone. ~I will forewarn Brice and Altair. You are well mine own?~
~I am well, though his touch enhanced his Charm Gift, just as it does your own,~ I responded darkly. ~I fear that had it not been for our preparations and training over these long centuries with your own Gift in an effort to teach me how to protect myself against such mental magics, he might well have rolled me in truth. As it was, I could not control the movements of my body whilst he danced with me.~
Kain remained silent for several moments yet his mental touch remained an angry, contemplative and yet comforting weight against the back of my mind. Whilst his own Gift allowed him to control weak willed humans with ease, he had never been able to forcibly control me or another vampire to such an extent. At least not on par with what Auron had just managed. Elijah took my continued silence as a sign that I was yet upset with being surrounded by so many different people and he frowned at me in concern.
"If the crowds botherin' you little blister," he started in a gentle voice, "we can always go off to the side for a tic? Give you some space to clear your head?"
~I thought your laugh sounded somewhat strained a moment ago,~ Kain rumbled darkly. ~Auron's doing then, in making you laugh so?~
"I will be fine Brother, I do enjoy the dancing," I responded to Elijah with a smile and then answered my Mate. ~Yes. With his Gift being so strong… I am surprised that he did not use it to a greater extent against me over the long years of my imprisonment.~
"Just not with such a large crowd 'round you?" Elijah asked with an understanding smile.
I smiled at Elijah almost shyly rather than answer his question directly. Let him continue to assume for now that I was unused to such grand affairs. I disliked the continued illusion but at this point it would be detrimental indeed to bring him or the others in on our plans. I could only hope that my open-seeming Brother, and the others, all forgave me the deception by the continued omissions and the leading, partial answers. I found that I was rather enjoying the company of my Siblings thus far and I hoped that by the end of the evening that things would yet be well between us.
~He long wanted you to yield to him of you own choice mine own, you know this,~ Kain rumbled with a dark purr. ~It would have made your submission, the shattering of your mind, all the sweeter for him in the end. It was a mistake on his part not to use such power against you…~
~Yes, it was,~ I growled back in an equally dark tone even as I shivered subtly.
The thought that he might have forced me to yield to him when I was younger... it was a horrid thought and I found myself glad that his hubris would be used against him now. Elijah abruptly spun me around in a circle and the movement distracted me from my dark thoughts. He then nodded his head to the side when I looked back up at him. I glanced in the direction that he had indicated before I looked back at him with a faint smile. He had indicated one of the many refreshment tables.
"Need a bit of a pick-me-up?" he asked with a small smile. "These events are always stuffy but at least the spreads are usually good. They even have high-quality blood packs, chilled and labeled by blood type if you've got a personal preference."
"I… yes actually," I did feel a bit hungry now that I thought about it. "Let me signal Kain."
"Nah, let's just grab him and Joan and get off the dance floor," he interrupted with a grin.
He tugged on my hand and barged his way through the crowd towards Kain and Joan who had just started to dance together. My eyes widened incredulously. Elijah was committing a little bit of a social faux pas by doing such a thing, yet he did not seem to care one whit. I had to laugh though, as his actions very much seemed to match with his rather unique personality. Elijah grabbed Joan's hand and yanked her free of Kain's grasp. My sister let out a yip of sound, but did not seem overly surprised by suddenly being grabbed by our erstwhile brother. Kain let out a frustrated and yet faintly amused grow at Elijah's audacity and followed on our heels. I knew that his mask hid most of his curiosity regarding Elijah's actions, but the faint quirk of his lips revealed that curious amusement plainly to me at least. Elijah let both of our hands go once we were at the table and then swiftly grabbed up a rather large grilled shrimp that had been speared by a small skewer with a grip designed with an Eldar's talons in mind. He turned to me with an eager smile and held it out to me.
"Shrimp off the barbie?" he asked.
I laughed softly at the odd eagerness that exuded from him and shared a bemused smile with Joan. She giggled and I stiffened briefly when an arm wrapped around my waist. I relaxed when I realized that Kain had caught up with us despite the large number of dancers that had still been on the floor. My other Siblings all started to slip from said large crowd and made their way toward us as well. I smiled at them briefly before I turned back to the food that Elijah had held out to me.
"I'm not that fond of fish," I told him with an apologetic smile.
"Eh, s'alright. More for me then," he said.
He then popped the shrimp into his mouth and I raised an incredulous brow at his antics. Jones giggles grew louder and Benedict sighed heavily he approached us. His wing-feathers were fluffed up clearly with his agitation. He reached out abruptly and cuffed Elijah upside the head with one hand. Elijah let out a playful yelp and pouted at Benedict. He raised his hands when Benedict pointed a sharp talon tip at his chest and an innocent look crossed his face.
"Every time," Benedict hissed softly. Elijah's faux-innocent expression did not fool anyone and I had to fight back a small smile despite the hidden danger lurking in the crowd. "Every damned time there is a major event, you pull something like this unless your Mate is with you. Can you not behave yourself when you are on your own for once in your life Brother?"
"I can behave myself just fine," Elijah responded and he crossed his arms over his chest. "But each time things are getting too stressful, well... I'll keep playing the fool if only to keep a smile on our Blister's faces."
"This is her debut party!" Benedict snarled and he leaned closer to Elijah.
As my Siblings all gathered around us, I noticed that they were endeavoring to block the curious and eager seeming eyes that milled about around us. I had to hide a bemused sigh at the realization that they were used to such arguments out of the two males and had long ingrained habits to keep what they could of such spats shielded from curious eyes. It seemed that no matter the world, people loved to gossip and I was the latest thing to gossip about. Especially if my Brother's were fighting about me. I kept an eye out while seeming to focus on the growing spat between the two males in front of us. Kain did the same and he continued to hold me with an idle, almost proprietary air about him. That Auron had taken our bait was ideal but… My unease only grew stronger the longer the night dragged on.
~The roof will be a more open area then the confines of the casino proper,~ I Whispered. ~He will have an easier time escaping us from up there.~
~He may at that,~ Kain's taloned hand tightened briefly upon my hip and I leaned into that touch. ~ It is good that Brice and Altair set up defensive runes designed to prevent teleportation.~
~It is a good thing that those were put into place, as he would have had ample time to make off with me during the dance if they were not,~ I finished. ~There is also the possibility that he does not have a teleportation Gift, but I am glad that we did not take the risk. It is bad enough that he could force me to dance with him so easily…~
~Indeed,~ Kain started to say something more when a gentle wave of calm pulsed through the immediate area.
I could feel it clearly as that energy soothed both his, and my own, frayed nerves. We looked at each other, confusion in both of our eyes whilst our faces remained hidden and blank beneath out masks. I turned my attention back toward my Siblings and raised a brow at the suddenly contrite looks that were on both Elijah's and Benedict's faces. Joan looked at them with a gentle yet equally scolding expression upon her face as she moved to stand between them.
"Bene," she started in a soft voice as she looked at the taller male, "you are making more of a spectacle of things by confronting Eli as you are. You know this just as well as he knows that his own actions were ill advised in such a setting as this. There is a better time and place for such 'talks'."
Elijah started to get a smug look on his face and his expression wilted when Joan rounded on him. The gentle smile never left her lips, her stance never changed, her wings did not flare in warning and yet... somehow her kindly expression made his wings droop low.
"Eli, you know the proper way to escort your partner from the dance floor," she said.
She then reached out to touch his arm and he sighed softly at her touch. He reached up to rub at the back of his neck and he looked to the side. He shrugged his shoulder in a careless gesture a moment later.
"I know," he murmured. "I just thought she needed a reason to smile… the only one our little blister knows and trusts around here is her Mate. Hell, he's bottled his bloods worth just helpin' her the way he did. Everyone else? They've been eyeing her like dingos in heat, even knowin' that she's Mate-marked. Hell, they've been eyeing her silver-haired bloke just as much 'cause he doesn't bare her Mark and I know that a lot of the dodgy dingos are thinkin' to push for an alliance by catchin' his eye if they can. Bound to make anyone uncomfortable when someone only sees you and your bloke as a piece of meat, yeah?"
"Eli," she sighed softly and gave his arm another pat. His wings twitched upwards hopefully at the touch. "Your heart is in the right place Brother, it always is, but you need to remember your rank as an Alpha and as one of Father's Sons. We may not oft travel the political scene but that is no reason to forgot ourselves."
Eli nodded his head and my Siblings all seemed to relax once again. I shared a look with Kain, both of our expressions somewhat rueful behind our masks. I turned my attention back to those that had been nearby. The crowd that had been not so subtly around us dispersed, several with disappointment writ clear on their faces. I wondered how often my Brother's confronted each other to have garnered that kind of a reaction. I stiffened briefly when I saw a number of guests blatantly look myself and Kain over much as Elijah had just pointed out. Kain's hand tightened around my waist and I let my own hand fall to rest at the base of his back. They rapidly looked away and hid themselves amongst the rest of the crowd. I let out a faint sigh as I turned back around. The wonders of vampiric politics...
Joan caught my eye and waved away the others with a gentle shooing motion of her hands and a teasing smile. She moved to stand beside myself and Kain once they had given us a little space. My Siblings had all moved into a loose but natural defensive ring around us as they sampled the various horderves laid out on the many tables. Brice, Sigrun and Lucius all remained close to us, a clear guard but chatty seeming guard force as they talked with some of the guests that wandered over. Joan reached out and daintily snagged up two pieces of speared pineapple. She held one of the pieces to me and I took it with a grateful smile. I nibbled at the piece of fruit and fairly purred with pleasure. As good as I remembered.
"Would it be terribly presumptuous of me to assume by your reactions that neither of you know about Omegas?" she asked in that soft-sweet voice of hers.
I glanced at Kain with a raised brow in our continued masquerade. He nodded as he took the lead in our conversation.
"My own Sire was slain shortly after I was Turned," Kain rumbled in response.
He picked up one of the speared pieces of pineapple in his talons and eyed it curiously. Nosgoth did not have the acidic, yet sweet, fruit and I had missed it over the years. He slid the fruit into his mouth and chewed it thoughtfully before letting out a vaguely approving sound.
"What I have learned over the years," he continued, "was hard won and barely touched upon the nature of Omega's. Katrina's time as a prisoner meant that she knew less than I about the existence of Omega's by the time she came to reside with me."
"I see," Joan's face darkened with sorrow and anger. A moment later she offered us a small smile. "I would be glad to answer any of your questions regarding my nature."
"We appreciate your candor," Kain responded. A regal smirk crossed his lips and he picked up another piece of fruit and offered it to me. I took it from him and nibbled at it, seemingly content with remaining silent even though I was bursting with a number of questions. "Why to they defer to you so readily when you are not an Alpha? You do not seem to hold some great, hidden power to force such obedience from them."
Joan looked more amused than anything else by the blunt question. His words did border on being rude. To disparage another vampire's power so in a political setting could normally be taken as an affront worthy of a challenge then and there, but she did not seem to mind his words. Indeed, Brice too looked amused from his post and Lucius looked at Kain with an incredulous expression from his own post. Only Sigrun looked to be offended on behalf of our Sister and even then she calmed when Joan sent her a small smile.
"Omega's are the backbone of some Clans," Joan answered genially. "Most Clans are built with several Alpha's of various rank making up the backbone of the Clan whilst the rest within the Clan are all Beta class. Some Clan's, or Clan subsets, are small however and only comprised of Alpha's of various ranks and skill..."
"Which would result in the Alpha's constantly testing each other for higher placement amongst the Clan," Kain finished with a knowing nod.
"Precisely," Joan nodded. "Omega's are built to mediate and calm the tempers and confrontational natures of our Alpha's. If there is no true cause for a dispute or if the dispute in question would be detrimental to the Clan, or clan subset, then the Omega may choose to use their abilities to interfere. If it is instead a serious, true cause for dispute, then we remain silent. As the only Children of our Father, we are a Clan subset, part of the Draconian Clan but high enough ranked that we are able to stand on our own in power and politics. Thus, I am their Omega."
"And as such, you interrupted our Brother's as their tempers are only running so high due to my return and the fact that my tormentor is still on the loose," I said.
Kain's arm tightened briefly around my waist when another guest made to approach the table as if to speak with me. The woman instead grabbed an item from the table and made a hasty retreat rather than try and continue her approach. I had to fight off a smile, more than one guest had hesitated to approach me with Kain so close to my side.
"Correct," Joan nodded her head and smiled at me. She eyed Kain for a brief moment before she continued. "To give you an idea of the current ratio of Alpha; Beta; Omega, there are roughly four hundred Beta's for every one Alpha and one Omega to every two or three thousand Beta's."
"Rare creatures indeed," Kain murmured. "It is no wonder that you seemed to be prized so by your Siblings. Is there a way to tell who might be an Omega before they are Turned?"
"No," Joan responded and she shook her head. "There has been no revealed trait to tell us if one will prove to be an Alpha, Beta or Omega before one's Turning. Indeed, due to the many cultures around the world, one might not even know their true nature as it is often hidden behind the mask that is forged by one's nurture and one's cultural upbringing. I have known many a person who believed that they would be a strong Alpha upon their Turning, only to end up truly having a Beta's nature and several meek seeming people who thought they would be Beta's instead develop into strong Alpha's. When the Human societal constraints finally fall away as one's new Vampiric nature takes hold, the masks one had built over the course of their life often prove to be at odds with one's true self. Mind... this is not true of everyone who becomes a vampire. We do try to find Children who are at peace with themselves or at least know their own natures to an extent before Turning them."
"I see," Kain tilted his head thoughtfully and the tip of one talon tapped lightly against my hip. "Still, I find myself wondering what makes an Omega... I had thought they were a myth."
"Perhaps you should speak with Cu?" Joan said and she turned enough to signal our Brother closer. He perked up and approached and his wings twitched with his curiosity. "Part of Cu's studies include a number of different hypothesis. One of them is regarding if being an Omega is not tied to physical form, culture or nature but instead might be tied to one's soul. Brother dear, why don't you tell them about your Soul Theory?"
"I'd be happy to!" Cu said and his face lit up with the avid expression of one who truly enjoys his work.
Kain's own studies of magic, especially considering his recent studies centered around Mortanius' tomes meant that he was able to follow along with Cu's theories readily enough. I could follow along well enough myself but I shifted out from under Kain's grasp and moved to stand between Eli and Joan. I smiled when they both gave me a playful nudge of their wings and laughed as they both started to question me about my Mate. I kept my answers vague and most of my attentions were subtly focused upon the large crowd around us. I kept watch for a falcon-like mask that hid dark-green eyes as I did not want to have Auron sneak up on me again like he had on the dance floor.
The pressure of Auron's Charm Gift had lessened by now and was almost unnoticeable save for that sense of a ticking clock at the back of my mind. It buzzed at the back of my mind like an uncomfortable itch and it raised my hackles and left me further on edge. Joan slid her hand into the crook of my own arm suddenly and a soothing, calming pulse of energy flowed through me. I leaned into that touch unconsciously for a long moment and then gave her hand a small pat even as I brushed my mind against her own in a private Whisper.
~I do appreciate your aid Sister,~ I started in a gentle, yet firm tone, ~but please refrain from forcing calm upon me or my Mate. We need to remain alert.~
She was silent for a long moment and seemed to be focused on Eli's latest, poor, joke.
~I thought that there might be something wrong,~ she hummed thoughtfully even as she laughed at Eli's antics. ~You, your Mate, Sig, Brice, Lucius... even our King... their Aura's all feel tense to me. Eli was right about a brewing storm, wasn't he?~
~...~ I remained silent for several moments, seemingly engrossed by the event around me. ~You are very perceptive Sister.~
~I have had to be,~ she responded darkly. ~It is not merely my nature as an Omega that has made me sensitive to the moods of those around me.~
I knew immediately that she had referenced her own horrid past and I nodded my head in acknowledgement of the hardships that she had gone through. We had enough in common considering the darkness of our respective youth that I imagined that I might get on well with her during my stay on Gaia.
~I understand...~ I started.
I stiffened minutely when the touch of Auron's Charm grew stronger, as if he were close enough now to make the attempt to reinforce the command that he had tried to place upon me. Joan's hand tightened upon my arm and her soft-subtle Aura became a steadying weight that, while I did not need it, I still appreciated the aid that she freely offered. It did not chase away the sense of Auron's Gift. Indeed her Aura did not even challenge his power, something which might have alerted him to her efforts. No, it was merely something akin to a floating board suddenly appearing to someone that was stranded in the middle of an ocean. If they even noticed it enough to take hold of it. I allowed my hand to drift up to my head, as if fighting off the beginnings of a migraine. Kain took notice of the subtle signal and drew me away from Joan and into his arms.
"Is something wrong mine own?" he asked, playing the idly concerned Lord for any who might be watching close.
The pressure in my mind increased as soon as Kain drew me close. The twitching pressure grew in increments the longer he kept hold of me. Auron was attempting to reaffirm his demand for me not to warn Kain of his presence which was rapidly followed by a budding command to pull away now from Kain's grasp. I felt my shoulders stiffen as a result of that attempted order and reached out carefully to touch Kain's mind even as I responded verbally to his question.
"I am fine Kain," I muttered and I almost winced at how sullen I suddenly sounded. ~He is nearby again, but I do not see the falcon mask. He is attempting to make me anger you by shoving you away from my person in such a public venue.~
~I see. He is trying to force distance between yourself and your allies so that no one will question it if you go off by yourself in less than a half an hour from now,~ Kain's eyes seemed to narrow with subtle warning, as if he were upset by my tone. He spoke in a soft murmur that would not carry to far, what with the noise of the crowd. "Mine own, I know that a crowd as voluminous as this has made you unease in the past, but this is neither the time nor the place for you to have a fit."
I allowed the small, compelled frown to twist my lips downward. ~Shall I pull away then?~
~Yes, with care,~ Kain responded. ~He likely desires a large scene from this.~
"I said, 'I am fine,'" I repeated in a stiff tone and I pulled from Kain's grasp with a mildly affronted air. "I do not need to be coddled by you nor by my Siblings."
I straightened my shoulders and purposefully moved away from the others. The pressure of Auron's Gift faded somewhat with a sense of dark satisfaction and I had to hide a shudder of disgust. I noticed Elijah as he flashed Kain a dark look. He started for me a moment later and only Joan's hand on his stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a concerned look and deflated a bit when she Whispered something to him. Elijah shot Kain another dark look and crossed his arms as he glared at my Mate. Kain returned the look with a level expression and a raised brow, as if my Brother's anger was uncalled for. My other siblings all shared brief looks of concern and I allowed myself to bristle further still when Auron pushed at my mind again with his Gift. I took several more steps away from the group and only Brice and Lucius remained close enough at hand to assist me if there was a need. Even Sigrun remained at a greater distance, having likely been advised by Joan to keep said greater distance even as she remained on guard.
~Ah, they coddle and protect you so, don't they ma petite puit?~ Auron's voice was a serpentine slither of sound across my mind. ~They have no idea about the pains that you so enjoy. The sweet torments that you were born to endure my sweet l'ange. If only those here knew how readily you spread your legs for others petite puit, then they would not look at you so adoringly.~
I shuddered faintly in disgust at his words, just the smallest twitch of movement, and I dropped my hand away from the food that I had started to reach for. I shoved back against his power, not as strongly as I might have otherwise as we needed to keep him thinking that I was under his thrall, but still enough of a challenge to make it seem like he was winning. His power flared briefly with a pulse of command. My head jerked just slightly in what seemed like the direction that the energy came from, I almost had a bead on his location, but his power withdrew from my mind with a sickening caress.
"Are you well?" the person's voice was filled with equal measures of polite concern and disdain.
It took me a moment to place the sound of the man's voice as my mind was still rather distracted with trying to pin down the location of my tormentor. I turned to face Prince Armon a moment later with a strained and extremely polite smile. Out of everyone who had the potential to approach me whilst I was 'in a state', the Price had not even been on the list of potentials. Not when he had been outright hostile toward me regarding my accusations. He must had been able to read something in my expression though as his wings twitched with discomfort and annoyance.
"Father suggested that I speak with you and mend the bridge between us," he said stiffly.
"There will be no 'mending of bridges' if you continue to deny me the right to describe my attacker as I remember him to be," I pointed out in an equally stiff tone. I reached out and plucked up a piece of cheese delicately in my claws. I eye'd it briefly and then popped the cheese into my mouth. Smooth, crisp and a little bit of a bitter bite to it.
"..." Armon's wings ruffled in agitation. "You must understand Clan-mate... Auron is the very reason that our people survived the doom that claimed our original home-world. To accuse one such as he when he is the very reason that you and I were able to be born..."
He shook his head in frustration and I swallowed the piece of cheese in my mouth. The somewhat pleasing flavor was lost to me now and it felt like I had swallow a block of ash. Brice had told me Auron's part in saving the Vampiric species, so I already knew all of this, but it was a hassle to again have it brought up by the hero-worship blinded Prince. I let out a heavy sigh a moment later and brushed my mind against the Prince's rather than answer aloud and risk being overhead by Auron if he was yet close by.
~Perhaps, Prince Armon, you should ask Brice and your Father about the Gift that I inherited from my tormentor,~ I Whispered bitterly. ~He forced his blood upon me so much so in an effort to addict me to his blood that his Gift became mine. A Gift that I developed shortly before my escape and in truth became the key to my escape from his clutches.~
~You...~ his mental voice choked off and his wings ruffled faintly in shock even though he continued to keep his expression carefully blank. At least the Prince had some political common sense about him... ~You have a Gift...? You are still so young!~
~Talk to your Father,~ I said as I nodded my head to him respectfully. "I will take my leave."
I turned away and tried to move so that I was along the very outskirts of the crowd. I wanted to both give off the sense that I wanted to be alone and that I somehow felt helplessly alone, separated as I was from the safety of the others. All done with care in case Auron tried to approach me a second time. I watched the crowd attentively for an signs of him as I kept to the edges of the Clan gathering. Brice and Lucius continued to keep a close, yet respectful, distance and the sight of them helped to temper my disquiet. As time passed, Auron made no move to approach me a second time and yet I felt his Aura dance over mine several times in a mockery of Kain's own gentle caresses. I kept my Mate up to speed each time Auron's power brushed along my own and at other various intervals of time. Kain knew that if I did not respond properly then my mind might well have been rolled in truth.
Still, as the hour came to a close, my temper was well and truly frayed as several members of the Draconian Clan approached me to either speak to me about where I had been, what my interests and hobbies were and even a few not so subtle offers to... hnn... help Kain and I in the bedroom. It did not help that the few dignitaries from other Clans that had been allowed inside, those from the Kelborne, Stylvan and Mysvanya Clan's respectively, also tried to insinuate themselves into my affairs. I skillfully dealt with their antics but the end result left me with a migraine equal to that of one received after healing from a concussion. I raised my hand to my head when a sudden pulse slammed through me and I felt a tugging sensation that led toward the far door.
~It's time,~ I Whispered to Kain. ~I can feel the tug of his command at the edge of my mind.~
~I hear you mine own,~ Kain responded. ~Go now, we will be close at hand and ready to spring the trap when he shows himself.~
I carefully slipped in and then out of the crowd close to the door that I was being pulled toward. I had to fight a smile when I heard Brice's soft but unique swearing when he, Lucius and Sigrun lost sight of me. I moved down the halls of the casino with a seemingly single-minded purpose, though I still offered a small smile to the few that I passed. I followed the tugging pull as I was led to the doors of the stairwell and I opened the wide, ornate wooden doors. I then started up the wide, elegantly designed stairwell that led up and up. Even though this was an area not often used, it had been designed beautifully even whilst it retained proper functionality. A morbid flash of humor filled me and I brushed my mind against Kain's.
~I rather feel as if I am playing the roll of Christine at the moment...~ I Whispered in a fit of dry, nervous humor. ~Only I am being led toward the roof and not down to the hidden dungeons...~
~An amusing comparison mine own,~ Kain responded and the touch of his mind so light against my own soothed frayed nerves. ~You are well?~
~His power is increasing the closer I get to the roof,~ I started, ~I dare not risk allowing him to touch me once I am actually on the rooftop but as he has the same Gift as I...~
~He enjoys his grandstanding my own,~ Kain rumbled soothingly in my mind. ~He will try to fill you with despair before he attempts to drag you away, to play with you...~
~Likely so,~ I noticed a sign that warned that the roof was the next floor up. ~Almost showtime...~
~The other guards chosen for this mission are getting into position topside whilst Brice, Lucius, Sigrun and I are yet following from behind,~ Kain growled and his voice was filled with the sweet viciousness of a hunter on the prowl. ~Still, be mindful mine own.~
~Of course,~ I responded and my own voice was an answering growl.
As I neared the final set of sweeping stairs that led upwards, the ornate doors behind me opened and footsteps approached me from behind. I went still and turned in the direction of those footsteps and then stiffened at the sight of the one behind me. Armon had started to approach me and he had a worried frown upon his lips.
"Clan-mate... Lady Katrina. Might I have a moment of your time?" he asked softly.
What the hell was the Prince doing up here? I thought to myself in shock.
The Prince had not been included in any of our plans for this evening, beyond making sure he was out of the way and safe throughout the entire process in order to prevent a debacle in the event the King's heir was hurt. Mostly it was because Altair knew well his son's temperament and that his son was ill-suited to aid in such a trap. The older half-blood was far more suited for direct battle rather than the subtler affairs of state or cloak and dagger espionage. I stayed tense and wary as he approached me and then stiffened further still at the sound of Auron's voice echoing from the stairs above and behind me.
"Thank you for your assistance in this young Prince," Auron purred in a cordial tone.
I barely managed to twist to the side fast enough to avoid having my shoulder caught by Auron's grasp. As it was, his claws still rang against the metal pauldron. My movement put me against the railing of the stairs rather than the wall to allow myself room to get away from both males if they both proved to be a threat. Armon took another step forward, eyes narrowed on Auron.
"You said that there had to be a mistake," Armon began in an even tone. "That someone had to have committed and atrocity in your name against our Clan-mate in order to hide their deeds."
Auron made no further move in my direction and I realized that at least a portion of his Gift was now focused upon the Prince. He held out his hands in a 'I'm harmless' gesture and smiled kindly at the Prince.
~Kain!~ I hissed angrily as I warily eyed the two males. ~The Prince...!~
~We know and so does his Father,~ Kain's answering growl was enraged. ~Altair can see the fool boy on those 'cameras' of yours and is equal parts enraged and worried. Tighten the reins on your temper.~
"That is what I said fair Prince," Auron patted his hands soothingly at the air and then turned his smile on me. "Do you truly recognize me fair Lady L'ange? Do I look like your tormentor?"
I shuddered at the feel of his power as it once more roiled over the edges of my mind like sludge. Yet that power was weaker than his earlier efforts and I knew why. Once more Auron proved to be a fool.
~He is trying to roll both of our minds at the same time,~ I said to Kain. ~Do I allow the lie in order to make the Prince leave?~
Kain was silent for only a second of time and his answering tone when he responded was a cold and calculated thing.
~The young fool has made himself a part of this,~ he said. ~We are already in position and I care not one whit for the safety of the foolish boy. We spring the trap.~
~As you wish,~ I Whispered. I then bared my fangs and hissed at Auron. "Yes, you do and you know it you bastard."
Armon's head jerked toward me and the subtle glaze that had been creeping over his eyes faded. Auron's own dark-forest green eyes darkened as he turned to look at me, though his smile did not fade. Once more I felt the full force of his Charm ability as he pushed his mind against my own. He took a smooth step in my direction, hands still out to the side and I watched his movements warily.
"Perhaps your tormentor shared some... similar... features with me, my Lady l'ange," Auron purred and he took another step forward. "But surely a closer look will reveal that it was not I that harmed you."
I started to snarl at him in warning when Armon abruptly moved in front of me and his actions startled Auron enough that he backed up several feet. Armon spread his wings out wide in a shielding move to protect me from Auron's sight and I felt my brows fly up with my surprise. I tilted my head faintly and stared at the males back in surprise. This was not a reaction that I had expected out of him, especially as his mind had been clearly affected by Auron's ability. Though perhaps Brice and Sigrun had the right of it, the Prince was all but useless without a clear target placed before him and Auron had just painted himself as a pretty clear threat.
"Hold," Armon ordered in a fierce tone. "You will not touch her. You will submit yourself to Clan Justice and..."
"Young Prince," Auron interrupted with a sickeningly sweet smile and I felt his power fall away from my mind as he focused all of his energies on the male in front of me. "I have no idea what you might mean by such a statement. I have done nothing wrong and wished merely to prove my innocence is all. Your long-lost Clan-mate is merely confused and the lightning here in the stairwell must not be sufficient enough for her to see me clearly."
~Be ready to fall back with the Prince!~ Brice's voice rang clear through my mind.
"I... no... I spoke with... Father told me about her Gift," Armon bit out as he placed a hand to his head, it was clear that he was trying to fight off the Charm magic. "She... you..."
I glanced over Armon's shoulder toward the door he had come from when slow movement caught my eye. A fine mist had started to roll over the ground close to the wall and it crept up to the side and behind Auron as the male kept his attentions on the Prince. I ducked back behind Armon and shifted myself so that I could easily leap backwards over the railing and grabbed onto the closest part of Armon that I could with one hand; his wing.
~NOW!~ Brice's and Kain's voices both roared through my mind.
I wrenched myself and Armon backwards over the railing with a fierce tug and enough of a leap that we ended up on the stairs along the wall across from us. Due to the angle of the leap, and the brief struggle on Armon's part as pain flared through the limb that I had grabbed, I missed the initial scuffle between Auron and the others. As I worked to pull free of Armon's limbs, I missed what caused a sudden, massive explosion of energy and we were both thrown further down the large stairwell. Armon caught me up in his arms as we fell and curled himself around me, wings and all, in an effort to use his body as a protective shield for me.
Another explosion of sound filled the air and I abruptly felt the chill of the outside air as rubble fell around us. There was the rough thudding impact of stone hitting flesh and Armon's limbs abruptly fell limp around my form. I stiffened and squirmed beneath him in order to reach for his pulse. Thankfully I found it and it was yet a steady beat against my fingertips. I nodded to myself and started to work myself free of his limbs. I quickly glanced at his fallen form, a blow to the head had knocked him out, and then took stock of my own injuries. There were several smaller bruises that were already healing and other than that I was fine.
I glanced around the rubble of the upper staircase and took note of the damage. Whatever magics Auron had employed had acted like an explosive and had torn a massive hole through to the roof and through part of the wall that Armon and I had landed near. I could see Brice off to the side near the now-ruined wooden doors that led into the casino proper. He was half-buried under the rubble from the roof and both of his wings were bent at odd angles, clearly broken. Sigrun was leaning against the wall near him, short sword in hand and one of her own wings looked to have been broken by debris. Lucius had somehow fared better than both of his Eldar's and had his gun out and pointed toward an enraged and disheveled looking Auron. Kain stood several feet in front and to the side of Lucius. He had a blast of magic ready and aimed at Auron.
I snarled as I got to my feet and then froze when I just barely noticed a flicker of light near Kain. Auron turned to look at me and he flashed me a mockingly sweet smile over his shoulder. My eyes went wide in sudden fear.
~MIST NOW!~ I screamed into Kain's mind.
Another cliffy I know! Don't kill me!
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