Better

[Lovely]

October 22, 2010


Day and night didn't matter much to creatures like herself or those she was going to visit, it was a long overdue mission if you asked her. Aless was glad to be chosen, to be given this very delicious task. The knife had been specially crafted for her, for this purpose and she loved the way it felt in her hand, she stood proudly as the portal opened.

It was barely a step and a second in time before she was swallowed into the dark pit of the great hall where her target was, gone were the light and serenity of where she'd been. The air hardly moved as she appeared by another woman's side, the sound of the blade slicing the air and then sinking into flesh were the only sounds between them for a few seconds. Lyeal't gasped and fell to the floor, Aless stood over her, watching with a tiny bit of a smile, appearing quite satisfied with the outcome. The knife remained in her hand, pulled free of Tessa as she fell and dripping with her blood.

It was an unexpected entrance, but not at all unwelcomed as she got the king's attention. He sat up, astonished at the brazen display, and quite pleased by the amusement of it, although Venge's prize was now damaged before he'd had a chance to play with her. What he lacked in sympathy for that fact was made up with his curiosity. "Mal, pick that up and put it in the healer's den. Make her pretty for a gift since I don't think she'll be staying now. You," he said, considering many things as he spoke to the new arrival. "Nice knife. Since you've used it so well, I think there's someone you'll need to meet."

She glanced around, none of the others in the hall tried to rush her or seize her for her act of violence against another, then she remembered that she wasn't among her kind anymore.. things were different here. Where exactly was here? She glared slightly at the one who spoke to her, looking across to him. "Who are you?" She spoke for the first time since slipping into this dark place.

He clapped, slowly, deliberately, and leaned on his sceptre, watching her from his royal seat. "Someone enjoying the show. You've unexpectedly arrived in my grand hall," he said, gesturing to the now puddled floor and wide arena around them encased in marble, stone and shadow with small fires spread along the carpeted center leading to where he sat. "You don't like her? Or do you just want what she had?"

"Lyeal't? I loved her.. she was my sister before her disgrace." She turned in a slow circle observing his hall and where she'd found herself. "Interesting.. of course they didn't tell me I was coming here.." She stopped when she came around to face him again. "Tis an honor to be in your hall and to meet you.. if you are who I assume you to be. Your legend is far reaching." The slight glare never left her eyes but she tipped her head in respect to the king of this great empire.

"No, I'm not Santa Claus, but thank you just the same," he laughed, his eyes glowing with pride and dark fire. She spoke highly of him even considering who she was. He stood and approached, assuring her she was addressing who she assumed him to be, in and out of grotesque form as he stepped between the fires. "And what is your disgrace that brings you to my humble court?"

[Lovely]

She chuckled softly and looked up at the dark void above their heads, no light shining in from her world like in other planes. With a sigh her gaze moved back to him, her shoulder shrugging slightly. "Pride perhaps.. It was not my place to judge or seek vengence, yet when it was offered, I took it upon myself to do so." She gestured to the pool of blood from where she'd plunged the knife into her sister's chest. "It seems I am not better than she was, perhaps were are not as different as I believed we were.."

"Of course you are. You're standing," he quipped, watching the blood become absorbed by the thirsty stones and the seeming carcass get picked up for delivery, as he'd requested, to the healers. "You can talk to her about it when she wakes up. I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do. You know, talk about who stabbed who in the chest, back, side... She's been a busy and delightful girl. Hopefully... we can say the same for you?"

Her eyes glanced to the blood seeping into the stones and watched how they seemed to drink it in, she nodded slowly to his words. He told her she was better than Lyeal't, it was what she'd been trying to be for a very long time. Her eyebrow arched and her gaze shifted to meet his. "It does appear my stay has been extended for longer than I expected. This place is interesting."

"Consider it home," he nodded. "For a very long time. We're not really so formal here, though, so relax, put your knife up for a while. Since you're like family, you can call me Mister B," he smiled, relaxing somewhat himself, though the piercing stare and angular grin was far from welcoming to most.

"Home." She repeated the word in a tone that was somewhat tense and reluctant, but not completely closed to the idea. She had expected to come, do what she'd been 'sent' to do and then be gone.. sometimes things didn't happen the way they were expected to. Her fingers flexed a bit and then gripped the handle of her knife more tightly for a moment before she shifted to slip it in it's sheath on her thigh. "Mister B." Her hand lifted and made a gentle sweep toward her chest. "Alessandra." She introduced herself to him.

His grin stretched. He seemed to know her already, but her manners were appreciated just the same, and somewhat foreign. He chuckled again and pointed to the doorway with his sceptre. "Like I said, I think there's someone you should meet. We'll see how deep your sisterly rivalry goes very shortly."

Her mouth curved ever so slightly, somewhat of a knowing smile that barely showed itself. "Ohhh you want me to meet... him." Her eyes flashed for a second, a surge of energy, perhaps anger pulsed through her. She didn't refuse or argue, she turned toward the doorway and reached to place her hand on his arm. She paused just before touching him, realizing the customs of her kind might not be the same as his or welcomed here. Mister B's legend was great and widely known, but she had heard the whispers of the one her sister had been arranged to keep company with in this place. She couldn't say she wasn't curious of who this being was, nearly as much as anything else in this strange place, save for it's leader who was placed above the rest in her regard.

[Lovely]

"Him? So you've met or have you heard stories? He does have an excellent, murky reputation. You're not here to 'save' him, I hope. I'd really hate to have Mal pluck you apart if you are. I don't let him have to many... sweets."

"I wasn't sent here for him.. only Lyeal't." She clarified quietly, to be sure he knew who her intentions had been toward in her visit, though that visit appeared to be turned into her own imprisonment in this realm. "I have heard stories of him.." Her sister had further disgraced their clan when it had become known that she was set to become this creature's consort.

"He'll enjoy filling you in ... with anything you don't know. Trust me," he chuckled, taking her out of the grand hall to the darker cooridor where Lyeal't had been intending to go when she was so abruptly stopped after meeting with her. "He's usually -very- attentive when he's been left alone."

Her eyes darted to take in as much of her surroundings as she could, while allowing Mister B to lead her through the darker corridors of the palace. Unlike when her sister had been brought through the first time, Aless didn't not struggle or resist or insult her company. "I would think he would not be so welcoming of me or pleased with finding how I came to be here and why she is not."

"Venge? Dark intentions please him, and please me a great deal - the darker and more cruel, the better. That's why I've already decided to let you stay. But next time you decide to stab her, play with her a little while first. It gets the heart rate going, the doubt building... will she?... won't she?... Although going right in for the kill! Mmm... that was delicious. Thank you."

"Play with her? You would allow that?" She worked those thoughts over in her mind, chewing them and mixing them with her own and her reasons for coming to this place. It was not merely to kill her sister or to give her a swift strike, no indeed... the darker and more cruel the better? "I believe I can work with those ideas." She murmured softly, the smile starting to curl up a bit more.

"I thought you might," he muttered, taking in a deep breath and sighing contentedly. "Perhaps you need no real introduction. That door there," he pointed, stopping to let her proceed on her own, confident she would manage easily.

Her tongue ran over her lips making them glisten as she rolled her shoulders, her gaze on the door before her, she turned her gaze to Mister B and offered him a small but wicked smile. "Thank you." With that she swung around and strode to the door, pushing it open to enter the room. She paused in the doorway to take in her surroundings, her eyes moving over everything as she took the next steps into the room and let the door close behind her.

His eyes followed her from where he perched in his corner. He smelled the familiar blood on her and his head turned. Now only a single gold and black eye squinted and widened to look her over with curiosity. She'd hurt his beautiful toy and he was filling with anger and questions, but sat silently as she looked about his room and his abundant toys he'd gathered for his playtime with Lyeal't.

[Lovely]

She was dressed in a similar fashion as Lyeal't had been when she arrived, Alessandra's garments were not torn and only soiled by the splatter of her sister's blood. She was also free of the bindings which had held Lyeal't in place. Aless let her eyes work over the room, stopping as she met Venge's eye, she guessed at his thoughts but didn't comment... yet. She showed him the same indifferent expression that had met the others at first, Mister B had welcomed her but Venge might not.. he might decide to attack her in his anger over what she'd done. Aless moved further into the room, reaching to the clasp that held her cloak at her neck, releasing it and letting the fabric flutter and float away from the more scant coverings that flowed around her form. "Is this what my sister fell for?" Slight play on words as her fingers ran along the closest of the toys Venge had gathered, her pristine white wings fluttering ever so softly behind her.

"No," he said plainly, releasing his form from his perch to pace along the floor around her and her glaring purity that had begun to dull slightly with her recent deeds. In his own room during his playtime, he had no wish to cover himself and did not now. "She fell and I claimed her. You've come to destroy her. Why?" He zeroed in, standing before her as he challenged her. "Why should I not do the same to you?"

Her eyes followed his form, every move studied and even admired a bit. "Because I owe it to her and I'll enjoy it." She answered just as plainly. "She wasn't worthy of you.. you deserve better.. and I'm better." She'd let him circle and faced his challenge now without backing down.

He grinned, sharp and crooked, snickering his doubt and curiosity out loud as he regarded her, seeing how she summed him to her own liking and returning the favor with no apology as he circled around her the other direction. Coming to a stop on her other side, he kicked away her robes and slithered his arm beneath her wings to embrace her, talons curling in toward her pale flesh. "Then give me what I deserve before I decide to simply take it. I was left waiting. I hate to wait. Busy... very busy. Playtime is important, hm?"

"I suppose playtime is important.. we're not allowed that where I come from." She sighed softly, arching as she felt his talons tickle as he curled them in, she pressed slightly against the sharp tips. "..and if I simply take what I want?" She asked, smiling as her arms slid up around him, her eyes sparkled as she leaned and tugged, claiming his mouth with hers.

He smiled into the demand of her kiss. No simple angel, this one. He encouraged her to take as she threatened, gripping into the pearly flesh and pressing tightly against her. Lyeal't would need time to heal and his passion would not wait another moment. He made his own demands, pressing against the thin coverings, intent on bursting through them.

[Lovely]

He tests me, came the thoughts from the shadows. Another of the attendants at Lyeal't's demise had followed down the corridor, intrigued by the newcomer enough to stay at Venge's door as their king returned to his great hall. The shimmer in his eyes deepened to a color of boiling blood as he heard the whispers and her insistence in the chamber beyond. Why should Venge get her? She should be his! He could smell her the moment she arrived. Why there were doors in the palace was a mystery to him, though he tested cautiously at the depth of the shadows before stepping through them, not wanting to be swept away by any of the king's tricks or traps that might be lurking. Finding none both amused and disappointed him. The distraction would have been welcomed at the moment. Emerging within the room he made his own insistence clear. "She's mine!" He growled, giving them the moment to make the situation easy, though he expected they would not.

The kiss and the way he pressed against her only served to tempt her further and what held her back from indulging in such temptation? She considered that with a slight smile, reaching for Venge a little more eagerly when a growling voice interupted them. Aless didn't think for a moment that the voice was speaking about her and she glanced around the room behind Venge, searching for the mysterious 'she' that he wanted. Her eyes fell on the table that was littered with remains from Venge's snacks, that could be a problem if the 'she' was among them.

His eyes were the first to be visible as Azarius stepped forth into the room, poured into form by the cracks that carried shadows and darkness between the stones and bricks. His bare shoulders steamed with anger that shed from his cool skin as he reached for Venge whose back remained turned. He pulled the man away from their guest, hurtling him across the table and the remains Alessandra had been looking over. "I said... she's mine," he said quietly, stepping into Venge's place before her.

Venge knew the voice but didn't turn. He should have, and should have expected the sudden flight minus his usual wings. He rose slowly to his feet and dabbed the deep cut on his temple that seeped red as dark as Azarius's eyes. "Please... do come in," he spat.

Aless was probably nearly as surprised as Venge was when he was suddenly grabbed and hurled out of the way, her eyes took in the creature before her now and her mouth parted in a soft gasp. He'd changed some but she still recognised him and was clearly shocked to see him now.. here in this place and trying to claim her as his. "Tsk, tsk.. that wasn't very nice." She scolded Azarius though the corners of her mouth twitched at a smile. It was amusing that he'd done it, she glanced to Venge, not sure that he was amused, her tongue dabbing her own lip where his had been cut, as if she might enjoy tending and tasting his mouth.

His head tilted. "Nice....? Why should I be? He took what belongs to me," he said, glancing to Venge with a disgusted grunt that the man was still moving. He hoped he'd break. Such was the existence in this place. Tortures meant little more than delays, nothing permanent. He looked back as Alessandra licked her lip. "You want him? I want him in pieces," he said, turning and lunging at Venge to help him to his feet and then to the other wall, ensuring the man's back struck the table more roughly on this pass.

Venge had barely gathered his balance when Azarius turned and grabbed him again. He fought for footing that was quickly lost as he was again hurtled across the room. His back had struck the implements that remained on the table, most of them sharp, making the transition to his winged form excruciating but no less necessary to elude Azarius's grasp. His wings lofted rapidly as he shrieked out his own pain and a laughing squawk of appreciation for it as he evaded the far wall and soared up alongside it into the rafters.

Aless was flattered on the one hand that the mere thought of her wanting Venge made Azarius want to hurt him, and on the other hand she was furious that Azarius thought she was his. Oh the dilemma.. what to do about these naughty boys? Her eyes closed and she took in a breath at Venge's shriek but Azarius couldn't simply say she was his. "What do you think belongs to you?" She already knew by his previous actions and purposely licked at her lips again as if longing for Venge's.

"I'm looking at her," he said sharply. "He's got the one he deserves though she's more than he should get. He doesn't get two, so now he's sharing. But I don't share."

Venge was more than willing to share, but the girls weren't part of that bargain. He dove at Azarius with his bloody feathers, talons outstretched to rip at the man's arm as he flew past and rose back up.

Azarius swatted at him like a beetle instead of a regal bird, sneering at the two sets of deep cuts on his arm left by the fly-by shredding.

"You just decided I'm yours?" She didn't bother to tell him that the King had all but said her sister would be sent away. "I say I'm not." She stepped toward Azarius with a defiant tilt of her chin and her eyes caressed over the marks Venge left on his arm and her lips curved into an amused smile. "Seems he doesn't think I am either." Azarius had size and likely much strength over her but that didn't mean she'd just let him have his way because he said so! "I'm going to undress and let him ravish me repeatedly.. so you should go.. unless you'd like to watch?"

"No. I decided the moment you arrived and you're right," he said, grinning suddenly as he looked up to the shadows above. "He doesn't think." Azarius faded from view a moment and his inky shadow flowed into the cracks again and up the wall to Venge's hiding place. From the lofting rafters Azarius said "Boo" followed by a resounding thud that echoed through the room.

Venge had hoped to keep away from the man and preen his pride back into place. He listened to the banter and Alessandra's defense only to be distracted by her desires for him and not the brutish intruder. The puff in his chest was blown out just as quickly as Azarius burst up beneath him on his perch, knocking him squarely into the wooden beams above and dazing him enough to see spirals and spots as he drifted unevenly and ungracefully to the table below.