Coming to Terms
Alan paced outside the medical wing, having been kicked out by the frantic nurses. He didn't blame them. Dexi was the Lady of the manor, and if she died they would all be homeless. He was still reeling from having betrayed his master, and his heart thundered in his chest, every noise making him jump. He was expecting Azian to appear any moment, and seek revenge. The door creeked open and the elderly healer stepped out, her arms caked in blood and healing salves, her breathing labored from having used so much magic.
"There will be a terrible scar, but the Lady will live. Had she not been beast-born, I doubt she'd have survived the trek here."
Alan frowned. If Dexi hadn't been beast-born, they wouldn't be in this position. He pushed past the old woman, making his way to Dexi's side. She sat upright, her eyes dark with emotion, and the lower half of her face covered in the leafy green bandages of her people.He sighed, ashamed that he had brought this on the woman.
"I've been so wrong, Alan. The things I've done to people...all because of that damned wolf!"
She clawed at her left wrist, as if trying to rip the tattoo from her flesh. Alan grabbed her hands, bringing them up and kissing each tattoo.
"What's done is done. They are apart of you, and you must accept them. You can make amends...and I will be there to help you."
She raised her eyes to meet his, and her fingers closed around his. It would be difficult for her to come to terms with her sins, but she was a stubborn girl, and would fight to the end to redeem herself.
__________________________________________________________________
Revenge
It took them only two hours to think of a plan. Their combined knowledge of the two sides of magic working together beautifully to trap Azian. Dexi didn't want to kill him, as she could understand his reasoning, but it was clear that he was quite out of himself, and was a threat to inncoent people.
Alan placed the thick book in the center of the circle, watching as Dexi cleansed the area, admiring the grace of her movements as she drew out the pentacle with her sword, the very air seeming to become easier to breathe as she chanted. The book and circle faded, Alan remebering exactly where they were so as to avoid becoming caught in his own trap.
Dexi stood behind the circle, the bait. It was several hours before they felt Azian's presence, his aura flaring with fury. Moments later he burst into the room, his eyes aflame, and blood trickling down his face.
"Alan! You traitorous b*****d! To consort with a beast!"
His voice was pitched with madness, his eyes wild and pinned on Dexi. He growled obscenities, calling to the Goddess for power. Alan heard Dexi's laughter when Azian cried out in rage, his prayer recieving no response.
"You honestly think she will answer you? After what you did to her child?!"
Her voice was mocking, and she spat at the old man, inciting his rage even further. Alan knew it was part of the plan, but he still cringed at the cruelty of her voice. It worked well though, Azian rushing forward to attack her. The look of shock on the old man's face as Dexi raised her sword and spoke the words that would seal his fate caused Alan to flinch, his old sentiments towards the man rising, but he wouldn't save Azian, not this time.
The tattoo's on Dexi's wrist flared and the wolf and tigress appeared next to her, entering the sacred circle and pacing around the man, stalking him. Azian watched the beasts with growing fear, a paniced scream escaping his throat as they lunged, the roar of the tigress filling the room. The beasts landed side by side, each holding a piece of the man's soul in their mouths, dropping it into the book. Azian's lifless corpse fell to the ground and turned to ash, with no soul to anchor him. The tome's blank pages filled with words, the thoughts, dreams, and life of Azian. It closed silently, and Dexi stepped to the edge of the circle, speaking the words of grounding, sending the magic of the circle back to the earth.
She lifted the book, her brows dropping in sorrow. Running her hands over the binding, she sighed and turned to Alan.
"It is done."
Alan paced outside the medical wing, having been kicked out by the frantic nurses. He didn't blame them. Dexi was the Lady of the manor, and if she died they would all be homeless. He was still reeling from having betrayed his master, and his heart thundered in his chest, every noise making him jump. He was expecting Azian to appear any moment, and seek revenge. The door creeked open and the elderly healer stepped out, her arms caked in blood and healing salves, her breathing labored from having used so much magic.
"There will be a terrible scar, but the Lady will live. Had she not been beast-born, I doubt she'd have survived the trek here."
Alan frowned. If Dexi hadn't been beast-born, they wouldn't be in this position. He pushed past the old woman, making his way to Dexi's side. She sat upright, her eyes dark with emotion, and the lower half of her face covered in the leafy green bandages of her people.He sighed, ashamed that he had brought this on the woman.
"I've been so wrong, Alan. The things I've done to people...all because of that damned wolf!"
She clawed at her left wrist, as if trying to rip the tattoo from her flesh. Alan grabbed her hands, bringing them up and kissing each tattoo.
"What's done is done. They are apart of you, and you must accept them. You can make amends...and I will be there to help you."
She raised her eyes to meet his, and her fingers closed around his. It would be difficult for her to come to terms with her sins, but she was a stubborn girl, and would fight to the end to redeem herself.
__________________________________________________________________
Revenge
It took them only two hours to think of a plan. Their combined knowledge of the two sides of magic working together beautifully to trap Azian. Dexi didn't want to kill him, as she could understand his reasoning, but it was clear that he was quite out of himself, and was a threat to inncoent people.
Alan placed the thick book in the center of the circle, watching as Dexi cleansed the area, admiring the grace of her movements as she drew out the pentacle with her sword, the very air seeming to become easier to breathe as she chanted. The book and circle faded, Alan remebering exactly where they were so as to avoid becoming caught in his own trap.
Dexi stood behind the circle, the bait. It was several hours before they felt Azian's presence, his aura flaring with fury. Moments later he burst into the room, his eyes aflame, and blood trickling down his face.
"Alan! You traitorous b*****d! To consort with a beast!"
His voice was pitched with madness, his eyes wild and pinned on Dexi. He growled obscenities, calling to the Goddess for power. Alan heard Dexi's laughter when Azian cried out in rage, his prayer recieving no response.
"You honestly think she will answer you? After what you did to her child?!"
Her voice was mocking, and she spat at the old man, inciting his rage even further. Alan knew it was part of the plan, but he still cringed at the cruelty of her voice. It worked well though, Azian rushing forward to attack her. The look of shock on the old man's face as Dexi raised her sword and spoke the words that would seal his fate caused Alan to flinch, his old sentiments towards the man rising, but he wouldn't save Azian, not this time.
The tattoo's on Dexi's wrist flared and the wolf and tigress appeared next to her, entering the sacred circle and pacing around the man, stalking him. Azian watched the beasts with growing fear, a paniced scream escaping his throat as they lunged, the roar of the tigress filling the room. The beasts landed side by side, each holding a piece of the man's soul in their mouths, dropping it into the book. Azian's lifless corpse fell to the ground and turned to ash, with no soul to anchor him. The tome's blank pages filled with words, the thoughts, dreams, and life of Azian. It closed silently, and Dexi stepped to the edge of the circle, speaking the words of grounding, sending the magic of the circle back to the earth.
She lifted the book, her brows dropping in sorrow. Running her hands over the binding, she sighed and turned to Alan.
"It is done."
