Healing Torture

[Requiem of Insanity]

Ah the moon, my sweet caller of the night. How are we doing tonight my love, my darling passion? Cassandra's feet passed effortlessly on the path as she gently strolled in the darkness, allowing only the moon to guide her feet. Why do you leave? Why do you always hide your face my sweet dark prince? I can never coax you into showing me that beautiful face unless I bring tears to others. Why my darling love, why?

Adjusting her backpack Cassandra stopped at a bridge and pulled out a map of the area, studying it in the moonlight. A dark presence gleamed over her shoulder, slowly but softly muttering sweet nothings into her ear. But tonight her Dark Companion, her darker ambitions would have to wait. She was on a rampage recently and if she didn't control her urges she would have nobody to play with later. No, tonight she didn't love the Dark Harbinger of her evil intentions, tonight she was the Mistress of the Moon. And with a longing look that only a lover could give, she gazed up into the cloud covered face, and smiled hopelessly realizing she had become smitten with its presence You know you taunt me, with your beautiful cold features and your entrancing stare.

With little thought her feet began to move again towards a little town off the road a few miles. Nothing really special about this place in terms of tourism, but a few ship hands gave off rumors that people were dissapearing from the town, despite the efforts of the local town police. Cassandra's Darker half brushed her mind gently with the back of its hand, and instantly she knew something about the place was special and calling for her attentions. Though she had already promised herself that after Lavinya she was done, the least she could do was check out the place. Who knows, maybe the monster in that town would bring her out of an early vacation.

Leaves blew gently in the air as the wind made them dance like puppets on a string. Branches lashed out agaisnt the air moving back and forth casting out spidery shadows upon the earth. Howling wolves cried out for a feast, but Cassandra ignored them all as she walked onwards. Her mind was enthralled with the moon, and she had no thoughts to the fact that she wasn't safe being alone. No, in her mind she had the Dark Companion and the moon. There was no need to fear the dark with friends such as they.

Stop it, you tease! I told you I am laying low... her body shivered seductively at the muttering of her darker ambitions. I can not play yet, not without the moon's calling. She looked back to the moon with expectant eyes. Do you want me to play, do you want me to beg on my knees for your love? I will obey, I will do what you want, just send me your word my darling.

As if a higher being heard her cries the darkness of the night was drowned out by the earth shattering squeal of a man in mortal agony. Cassandra's body cringed and she fell to her knees, his bellowing of pain sweet lullabies to her ears and it was all she could do to keep herself together and focus. Oh my darling love... She quivered at the sound as the voice cried into the night, screaming again, a higher pitch, a pitch of remorse and regret and agony and pain. Somebody was being cut up and tortured, made to cry and realize they had an eternity to spend regretting all they had done. Her mind flashed with violent images of what she wanted to do. To join this monster in his hunt was what she wanted more than anything, and she looked up to the moon with tear stained eyes of pleasure.

"Where do I go!" She cried out. Her Dark Companion chuckled into her ear. Ah yes...Just follow the moon.

[Requiem of Insanity]

The sun shown out over the sky warming the earth with its rays of light, illuminating the darkness and casting out the shadows. As the new dawn approached, people began to get to work tilling their fields and running the local market. Peddlers and merchants sold their wares to those nearby as traveler's stopped in to take a look. Inside all the hustle and bustle was a lone figure, dressed in black and walking with little care for those around.

Cassandra always hated being around people. They had little concept of personal space, but felt violated should one wander into their own. As well they bickered over the most pointless issues concerning politics, women, men, and money. Hell anything could spark a conversation that resulted in an argument and heated debate. It was so silly to her, and she scraped the bottom of her black soul to find something akin to human emotions but most of her efforts came up rather flat and boring even. Despite her ability to tease a few people into doing her whim, she found more failure than success. Lavinya had been a good lesson that she had a lot to learn, not yet ready to spread her wings and fly. Leaving the arena of the demon's den she came upon this town.

The town itself wasn't anything special at all, in fact it was rather small compared to the other cities in the surrounding area. What did seem to be special about this town was the amount of unique shops. A seer promised her he could glimpse into her future and tell her who her true love would be. A blind peddler tried to sell her a cane for walking. A woman promised to make scars disappear and give potions that would enchant those that you love to love you back for eternity, even boasting to have cures for common illness and other severe diseases. Another man sold exotic items, from sacrificial daggers and the blood of virgins to desert roses of Fallien and trinkets from the Black Archipelago. Of all the peddlers in the area one caught her eye, a weapon's supplier from Emprea had Jade handled daggers that Cassandra wanted so very badly, but the weapons only caught her eye before her Dark ambitions led her back on track.

While her eyes were busy looking at the weapons, her focus was upon the woman who sold potions. While she walked by her, she took a quick profile look and walked on. She was a very attractive woman, no older than thirty or so with blond hair and the deepest of blue eyes. Her long hair balanced neatly to the side of her large breasts, a low v cut letting dirty peeper to a show they wouldn't soon forget. She wore a simple skirt that wasn't to revealing but still showed she had a great set of legs and assets men would find unbelievable. As she was done profiling the woman Cassandra's dark companion placed a very gentle hand on her shoulder and it was finalized. This woman was her new target. Now that she had a new prey, the hunt was on and the calling urges began to rise.

Yes, whoever she was her dark companion wanted her, and he was never wrong about a target. And like a loving fool, she listened to his instincts without question. Her eyes glanced back to the woman, and their eyes met. Cold hazel eyes met with steel blue and the two woman remained locked for what felt like an eternity. After a moment she lazily looked away without much fuss and she just smiled at Cassandra, nodding to her before she went about her business. With a cold smile of her own Cassandra turned towards the hostel to get started with business of her own.

[Requiem of Insanity]

The inside of her establishment wasn't the greatest she had been to in awhile. Besides a wooden framed bed with two sheets and a pillow, all in an ugly yellow color that may or may not have been white at one point. A small oak table with creaky chairs stood off to the corner, with a decent table cloth over it sat towards the middle of the room, and she had one small wash room with a bath tub but little running water. It made her long for more, but like a dutiful newly wed she grinned and bared with it.

Her pack was left exposed over the table, her knives and cutlery all laid out near the whetstone and cloth. She laid out her sneaking suit and fumbled around with a thimble and string trying to patch up a hole she realized she found. Every now and then her gaze turned to the outside world as she studied her new playmate. The woman was very interesting to Cassandra and like any monster she faced before this one was little different.

At exactly the stroke of two according to the town clock she was closed up and she made way over to a small hut near the church. Soon people began to filter up to the doorway and one at a time she examined them and performed the functions of an apothecary. She even used some items that Cassandra had never seen before, but that mattered little. After the stroke of four she stood up, stretched her body seductively and closed her little hospital to eat. What all that meant was that this woman had a very strict schedule, and those always seemed to work in Cassandra's favor.

Currently she was back at her little cart selling her wears and services, smiling to each customer and even being aggressive sexually with a few men. Cassandra knew that this was only her first observations, but experience in the past told her that she was faking the smile, and even acting to the general public. As she watched her play date act she realized her own skills were lacking and made her look damn near flat. Impressive, but why the act? she thought to herself as the small needle poked through the fabric.

Yawning herself she stood up and leaned over to touch her toes. As she returned to her vertical base she found herself looking down towards her and she jumped back in alarm. Her target just smiled to her, waved a goofy gesture of welcome, and went back to her works, grinning. Her darker half placed a firm hand on her shoulder, and she felt a little calmer.

She walked towards her bag and pulled out her coin purse and a pad of paper. She placed them both in her pocket and walked out the door into the hallway of the hostel. She smiled to herself, humming a song she was only familiar with. Time to do some field work.

[Requiem of Insanity]

Cassandra watched as the people moved about in the few hours of light left. The peddlers still cried out for sales, and she felt her tensions rise as one tried to even grab her. She moved further away from them as she walked towards her prey, and as her foot steps were very quiet despite the loud sounds, the woman turned her head towards her lazily, smiling as she did so in a very triumphant grin.

Cassandra stopped dead in her tracks, and felt a very cold wave of fear wash her body, but as soon as it came, her darker ambitions quashed them as his hand brushed against her back lovingly. With new determination running in her veins she walked towards the cart and stood patiently behind an elderly person. Ugh, I can smell your death creeping on you! she mused.

As she waited, her eyes began to scan the area. A few odd items stood here and there. A surgeons kit, a few basic vials for chemistry and then at long last, a bag filled with odd potion bottles and a few loose gold coins. Her cart was littered full minus the love potions, and as Cassandra looked over each glass she felt a very cold presence by her.

She had no clue what it was, but as she turned around she found nothing there. Her eyes scanned the area, but only her ears picked the faintest chuckle from her prey. Her eyes fixed upon hers, and as the woman finished her transaction with the elder sack of bones, she walked very gracefully towards her and smiled.

"Welcome, young lady." She said in a very grateful tone, a natural air about it. "I am Catrina Ferman, and you are?" Cassandra figured it would soon be time to reveal her name, and had her back story already figured out.

"My name is Beth," She held out her hand, smiling as she did so. Catrina took the offered hand and pulled Catrina over placing her hands upon Cassandra's shoulders.

"Beth, what a beautiful name. How can I help a girl like you?" She said into her ear. Her hospitality made Cassandra ill and she fought free of the hold. "I take it you don't like being touched?" Cassandra turned to her with a look of anger, before she dropped into a very sarcastic smile.

"Not really," The firm grip of her dark companion gently touched her shoulder, and she took a deep breath to calm herself. As she let it out Catrina placed a potion in her hand. Looking at the green liquid inside swish around as she examined it. "What is this?" She pondered loudly.

"It's a special potion, it allows one to speak with the shadows." She smiled before laughing grabbing the potion. "Just kidding, it's my newest love potion. It will guarantee devotion for up to three years." Cassandra shook her head, smiling to her.

"I assure you, my love and I are inseparable." She walked towards the surgeon's kit pointing at it. "You heal the sick as well as sell your love potions? A very conflicting style of work." Catrina shrugged to her as she walked over to the kit zipping up the leather satchel.

"I love to help people, and I cut a lot of deals with the people around here. But a girl does need to live. Don't they?" Cassandra merely nodded as she spoke to her. "I see you are a traveler. Your legs are firm and the calf muscles are very large for a girl your size. A sign you walk a lot."

"That's true, I am an actress." she said confidently. "I performed recently in Lavinya."

"Ah yes...Lavinya you said." Her eyes flashed with a hint of amusement as her tone went very light as if considering something. With a flash of her grin she snapped out of her trance and was back to moving again. Incredible...I could learn so much how to be normal around her. "I have heard there was a murder there of one of the towns hero's. Some vigilante of justice." Cassandra felt her eyes squint at the word vigilante, and she turned her back on Catrina quickly to hide her anger.

"Vigilante? Is that what they say?" She said with more anger than she intended. Catrina nodded as she began to pack up her potions and walking around. Her careless way of moving put Cassandra at ease, and as she began to feel comfortable her darker half slapped her mind and she focused herself again. Catrina was good at her verbal jousting game, knocking Cassandra off her podium twice now.

"How would you describe it?" She said nonchalantly as she wiped down her cart's surface with a rag as she moved her potions. Cassandra walked closer towards her and pondered for a moment.

"I would say he was killed by a monster, a monster just like he was. Vigilante justice is only another form of murder and even if it serves a higher purpose one must question the motives of the person running around. I heard she tortured this guy to death and he was left a bloody mess."

Catrina looked at her with a small grin behind her neutral face as she spoke in a very light tone. "So you knew about this murder huh?" Cassandra realized she was setting up a trap and carefully thought of a way to avoid springing it with careful choice words.

"Yes, I did. I left the second I heard about it..." Cassandra pretended to feel cold gripping her arms and shifting back and forth. "I don't want to be near someone so violent." Catrina nodded to her in understanding and she walked pass Cassandra dropping four vials into her large brown satchel.

"If you want my opinion, Beth," She looked around as if the words she was about to reveal were part of some secret club. Despite her dark companion trying to pull her away she leaned forward to listen in on her words. "I think whoever did this is exactly what you claim them to be, Beth. Whoever it is must be some sick twisted individual. But psychotic? No, they are completely in control I think." She walked a little closer to Cassandra. "This killer does this kind of atrocity for fun. I bet she picks her victims based not on a system of honor, but on some sick twisted scale of the screams she can get from them." Catrina shivered at the merest thought before she opened her eyes back to Cassandra.

Cassandra couldn't help herself. She found herself looking into the eyes of her prey and felt no hostility or vibe of the hunt in her body. Catrina word for word just described her method of choosing victims. No honor in her decisions, just the choicest vocal chords for the amount of screams she would hear. She was amazing to Cassandra, and her body felt an affinity for her.

"I," She stumbled in her words almost blurting that she was the killer she spoke of, but her Dark Ambitions slapped her mind, tearing at her until the point she felt a large pounding headache form behind her eyes. Doing her best to remain focused she spoke. "I think you are right. I thought nobody but me could see it." Catrina shrugged smiling to her.

"I see a lot of things," she flashed a wild grin. "Now if you excuse me Beth, I'm closed tonight and have business to attend to. But if you don't mind I'd love to chat more with you, would that be alright tomorrow night around this same hour?" Cassandra only felt herself nod. She stood, slack jawed and in awe as Catrina casually sashayed her hips away, humming a song to herself as she walked out of sight.

[Requiem of Insanity]

The evening air was a bit cold for Cassandra's normal tastes, but the moon was out shining brightly and it called to her in her tiny hostel room. Deep inside her soul she cried out to be released from her cage but she suppressed her urges expertly. Her current prey was a monster, but so far had revealed the face of a committed apothecary. The timing was not correct at the moment, and more studying would need to be done on her, something that dinner could provide expertly the following night.

For now though she was alone in her room, holding the towel to herself lazily as she watched out the window like a bored cat. The people flocked around like busy ants, but no sign of her playmate was surfacing, and sighing she decided to just take the night off. Tonight would not get her any closer to her prey, but maybe the town library would surface some darker secrets in the history of this desolate place.

Her door knocked rapidly three times followed by a voice alerting her that her dinner was ready. With a whimper of hunger rumbling from her stomach she approached the door and opened it slightly, hiding her body behind the door. She took the plate and dropped it onto the table and returned for her pitcher of iced tea. With her dinner set she slipped into the terry cloth robe provided by the establishment and sat at the table with her steak.

Her hands gently grazed over the cutlery still seated upon her table before she hovered over each of them. Her head cocked to the side as she closed her eyes before her mind began to wander. Something felt amiss inside her, and she had little clue before it dawned on her.

Where are you? she called out to her companion. Silence was all that answered back, and there was no reassuring grip on her shoulder. Her body felt anxiety seep in and she stood up, not knowing what else to do. She walked up to her window and looked over the scene before her. Where did you go my darling? She thought hopelessly. Her body turned back to her food but her stomach didn't growl anymore. Her mind was left with thoughts of a worrying wife, waiting for her kids to come home.

Not able to take it anymore she got dressed, grabbing a few knives. Her body was shaking with anxiety at the thought of being alone, but she had to do something now that her love was missing. She didn't know what she would do, or how she would do it, but sitting and waiting felt very, very wrong to her and she couldn't sit idly by anymore. Her mind made up she walked over to her door, and the moment her hand touched the knob she felt a cold shiver crawl up her spine.

A firm, gentle hand caressed her mind, but it was not the loving touch of her companion, but a bitter chill of something else. Her body froze at the feeling of violation and felt every ounce of her body squirm as the hand moved around her body to her shoulders before it left. Who...who are you? She barely managed to form the thought in her mind.

Her only reply was a dark devilish chuckle, a guttural primeval deep laugh that faded as soon as she heard it. As her body now quaked at her knees she felt her dark ambitions return to the fore, her body warming to his soothing cold touch. She felt like weeping into the embrace, despite her companion wasn't physically there with her. His hands remained firmly on her shoulders, and eventually she pulled herself together. STOP LEAVING ME! she shouted into the deeper recesses of her mind.

The only response was just her dark companion's firm grip on her shoulder. She nodded as she walked over to her dinner, but sighed in disgust swiping her hand across the table, sending knives, dishes, and chains crashing into the wall.

Disgusted with the turn of events she crawled into her bed, closed her eyes, and hoped the new day would be better.

[Requiem of Insanity]

As the early morning sun rose the rays it let off protruded through the curtains beaming upon the pillow that Cassandra laid her head upon. Her eyes fluttered open as she adjusted to the blurry vision the light offered, her mind slowly catching up to speed from the sleep. Her body let out a predatory growl as she shied away from the light, taking refuge in the shadows of her room. With less effort than she intended she began the process of preparing for the day.

Her dinner still rested upon the table, and she poked at the meet with a fork, sniffing the air. A foul odor escaped into the air, caught up in her nostrils making her want to cough in a violent fit. She moved away from the plate, grabbing her comb and running it through her hair. She hummed a tune to herself as she got ready, and then with a sudden realization she got up and walked to the window. It's late. she thought irritably. [/i]Why did you let me sleep in this late?[/i]

The only response she got was just her darker ambitions whispering softly into her ears. The message was vague and full of riddles leaving her with little else to do but accept that she slept in and had work to catch up on.

She walked out into the afternoon sun with only mild irritation, the streets alive with peddlers and shop keeps selling their goods. Cassandra walked over to the town library, stopping to glance over to where Catrina was tending to the sick. It was unnerving when she turned her head so casually towards to Cassandra, the flicker of a demonic smile fading across her face for the briefest moment. Cassandra only nodded back to her. Today wasn't about tailing her new friend, today was digging up dirt on her.

Her steps echoed among the steps up to the town library, the building looking new compared to the buildings around it. A few guards walked by to keep the peace, but for the most part only scholars and dirty fingers could threaten the texts kept hidden inside the books. Cassandra approached the black oak desk and looked to see a teenage girl messing around with her hair. With a little effort she put forth a smile and cleared her throat to get the girls attention.

As if summoned from a deep slumber the girl looked up in irritation. "Yes," she said plainly. "What can I do for you?" Cassandra had many options for the girl to do for her, but decided upon letting those thoughts run inside her head. After a gentle push from her Dark Companion Cassandra focused herself back to the task at hand.

"Yes, I am doing a report on the local town, and I wish to look at the last years worth of newspaper articles you may have." Cassandra smiled to the girl, who gave a weak smile back as she slowly stood up.

"You doing a report on the people who disappear in this town?" She asked as she moved over to a cart and dragged it over. The wheels creaked loudly as it dragged across the ground, the weight of the papers proving taxing for the contraption. Cassandra felt her dark ambitions salivate at the girls haphazard comment.

"Why yes I am, how long has these cases of missing people been going on?" The girl shrugged sitting at her desk again.

"When the new town apothecary came in. The old one was replaced by her for his twisted methods. He went insane with some freak obsession with finding a cure for this one plague that hit the town a while back. People say he kidnaps his victims to test his cures on."

"So this plague has obviously been handled correctly I take it?" Cassandra asked. The girl nodded turning in her chair to face her.

"Ya, the new apothecary, Catrina Ferman, took about a week to discover the cure and the town has had little to fear from it. Still, I think the old town medic, Regolt something or another was his name I think, he still kidnaps the townsfolk as a way to continue his studies."

"Weird." Cassandra said flatly as she looked at the stack of papers. She rolled the squeaky cart over to a table, and despite a few rude glares from the others learning around her, she got to work. Each report was the same. A person would go missing, nothing in common with the others, and nobody ever saw them again. Town officials have the one suspect, who eventually became a town villain by the name of 'Snatcher.' Yet that was Regol Belthan, the old town apothecary. Other than him nobody else fit the bill.

Cassandra stopped after three of four months back into the past and began looking for something that all the people had in common, something nobody else saw. Her mind wondered until she heard her darker ambitions chuckle in her ear in a low devilish tone, and her eyes spotted it instantly. Catrina Ferman was attending the first person who went missing. Cassandra grabbed another paper. The victim was last seen with Catrina Ferman. She grabbed another paper. Again, Catrina Ferman was attending this victim for poor health.

It was far fetched, but her Dark Companion swatted her doubts away. Catrina Ferman was the one they called 'Snatcher.' Now all she had to do was wait for her to strike again.

[Requiem of Insanity]

The rest of Cassandra's day was spent relaxing in her room until the appointed time Catrina wanted for them to meet. She felt a bit off despite the news of Catrina being linked to all the missing people. Yet her body felt little elation at the news. Her hunting instincts were not growing and she felt no thrills from this chase. Something was off and she wasn't happy about it.

She looked out the window at the setting sun, her body sighing as she sagged a little in her bed. Something about this hunt wasn't as fun. She couldn't place it, but she had a few theory's. The sudden moments where she lost contact with her Dark Companion didn't help and she was positive the fact that Catrina new her for who she was didn't really settle well. Yet as she pondered that, her mind couldn't deny that she felt something akin to friendship in the very least with Catrina. She was calm. out in the open being a monster.

It dawned upon Cassandra that she was starting to hero worship this woman. She was what Cassandra was aspiring to be in the public. Normal on the outside, a monster on the inside. This is why her hunt wasn't going so well. It dawned on her mind like a sudden light turning on inside her brain. She had no desire to kill her, she wanted to learn from her!

With that realization she came to figure out she now had a problem. Her hunt was on, and she couldn't just turn off these instincts on a whim. And now that she knew she didn't want to harm her new found friend, she felt her Dark Ambitions gruff in anger, brooding away from her. She longed for his touch, but he wouldn't come near her. She pleaded for him to understand, but her Dark Ambitions just remained in the corner.

She realized the sun was nearly set and she stood up walking towards the door. If you don't want to come, fine. She thought. She left her room, slamming the door shut and storming down the hall before she felt the calm, seductive touch of her dark companion caress her arm. She stood still shivering at his touch, silently thanking him for coming as she left to go meet with Catrina Ferman.

Who knows, she mused. Maybe she can teach me a few trade secrets.

[Requiem of Insanity]

Cassandra waited in front of the booth Catrina used to peddle her wares and she smiled as Catrina started to pack up her shop. Before she knew they were off walking towards the edge of town to a small hole in the wall restaurant.

"How was you day?" Catrina said happily. Cassandra merely shrugged as her steps matched that of her new friend.

"I went to the library today to see if they had a book I was looking for. Turns out they didn't." Catrina smiled as she adjusted her leather satchel on her shoulder.

"And what book would that be?" She said keeping up the verbal jousting game. Her lips curled into a tight smile as she waited for Cassandra to respond. Much to her surprise, Cassandra answered quickly.

"Temen-Ni-Gru," she said happily. "It's a story about a warrior who goes to seal demons in this outrageous tower of hell full of puzzles and enemies. I love the book, it's one of my favorites." Catrina's face faulted only for a moment before she smiled again.

"Must be a great read. I wish I had more time for books." The approached the restaurant and waited for a moment, still idly chit chatting before they took their seats and ordered their food. After a moment of drinking Cassandra decided to start her investigation again. She waited until the right moment before she spoke with a very authoritative voice.

"I heard this town has had a problem with people going missing." Catrina was in the middle of a sip before she choked for a moment, forcing the liquid down her throat, hitting her chest a few times before she was able to speak.

"Yes, we do." She said awkwardly. Cassandra leaned in with a look of concern.

"You know about these missing people don't you?" Her voice was barely a whisper. Catrina shook her head quickly raising her hand to calm down Cassandra.

"No, I really don't. I just...oh what the hell." She leaned in close placing her hands upon Cassandra's in a sign of trust. "Promise me you won't say anything." Cassandra felt her heart begin to beat faster. She couldn't believe she was about to hear her idol confess her monstrous nature. Catrina took a few moments before she smiled. "Okay, the reason I didn't ask you to join me for dinner last night...well I have a sort of hobby."

Cassandra's eyes burned into Catrina's as she begged her to go on. Her hand gripped tightly into Catrina's as she waited for her to mention what her darker half entailed. "I feel I can trust you with this, because I have a feeling you are the same." Cassandra's heart raced, a friend, a follower who would share in her delights. Her mind raced with ideas of how they would torture their victims together.

It was so surreal to be in the glory of a monster like herself. She could learn so much from a partnership with this woman. The idea made her tremble in pleasure, the moment nearly overwhelming her.

"Go ahead," Cassandra said encouragingly. She was practically drooling at the news she was about to hear. "I feel we are one and the same." Catrina smiled as she spoke, a new life coming into her. She looked nervous as she shifted in her seat, her body trembling with excitement.

"Cassandra," she looked around. "I go out just like you and find the bad guys. I hunt them down just like you do and try to find them. When I locate them I turn them into the town police." Cassandra's jaw dropped. YOU WHAT?!?! She was speechless as little sound escaped her mouth.

"Erggg..." Cassandra barely whispered as she fought hard to shut her mouth.

"I know...I did a little research of my own on you. I know you hunt down people, I bet you were the one that captured the vigilante from Lavinya. That's why you had to leave so quickly." Cassandra was lost again as her body swarmed with rage. Her idol, her hero was nothing more than a wannabe. Cassandra felt so dirty inside, and suddenly her thoughts turned to her own Dark ambitions.

You were wrong...you led me to her and were wrong! she felt cold and sick as she thought about her love betraying her like this. Her instincts were never wrong yet now everything wasn't going her way suddenly.

"Cassandra, I want you to join me on my hunt. I know where the Snatcher is, and he has a victim. I found him last night, but I want you to be with me. I want you to see the fruits of our work." Cassandra felt her stomach churn at the idea, but suddenly felt a cold grip of her dark companion pulling her away. She shrugged off the feeling and nodded standing up.

"I want to go." Cassandra said defiantly. You were wrong so far, so why not just do this on my own. I don't need you! she felt the grip tighten, but she ignored it. Catrina smiled, grabbing her coat and dropping a generous amount of gold on the table.

"Let's go then!" she said excitedly. Cassandra walked one step behind Catrina, and felt one last, hard grip grab her shoulders, a sense of urgency in the contact, but she fought it off and continued to walk.

[Requiem of Insanity]

The moon called to Cassandra, and her urges began to grow, and at last her body felt a yearning to give into those urges. Catrina Ferman, her idol she thought. She was nothing now. Cassandra felt so dumb to think that Catrina would make a good friend. Her dark ambitions also had proven wrong, alerting her that Catrina was a monster when in fact she was not even as threatening as a kitten. Her rage was all she could muster to feel at this point, and the urge to kill was never stronger.

She did have one thing going for her however. It was a bleak outlook on the situation, but something she could use to focus herself. The Snatcher would be nearby and she would capture him, and torment him and Catrina for the hell of it. Someone needed to pay for this gross embarrassment on her character.

"Cassandra, are you upset?" Catrina asked, looking at her with concerned eyes. Cassandra looked back at her with cold eyes, colder than she had wanted, but in the end she realized she just didn't give a damn anymore. Despite the sudden stroke on her mind of her dark companion, a sign of alarm she ignored him. Her eyes locked on Catrina and she felt the tension in the air begin to rise.

"I have a few things going through my mind, nothing you need to worry about." Cassandra assured her. "Are we near the camp yet?" It was a feeble, but honest effort to change the topic, focusing on this new hunt. Her body however, wasn't accepting the new hunt, crying to finish the first. Yet her mind cared not the wanting of her body anymore. Her dark ambitions could just take a back seat for once, let her have control. It was only fair, she had let her dark companion do all the work before. Maybe he just needed a day off.

Those thoughts only served to irritate her more. Catrina on the other hand, looked excited as she kept glancing over to Cassandra with excited, nervous eyes. "Yes we are, Beth," She stressed out her name and continued to walk forward. After a few more minutes of rummaging in the thick forest, stepping upon the fallen leaves and avoiding twigs as best as possible, Catrina motioned for her to continue up to a great oak tree and hold.

They arrived at the camp, a small area with a fire roaring in the middle, an operator's table off by a heavy area of trees. Off to the right of the table was an assortment of straps, surgeon's knives, and vials and beakers full of different liquids. There was a small lab table further to the right of that, and it looked freshly set up and prepared.

"I'm going to take a look around." Catrina breathed to Cassandra, touching her shoulder gently and moving forward. Cassandra nearly used her hands to punch her but remained calm. Her eyes followed Catrina's as she walked plainly into the camp, stretching even like a cat from a long nap. It was odd to see her act this way, and when Catrina looked up to the moon, a look of longing in her eyes, Cassandra realized she was in grave, terrible danger. Her careful, considerate, charming dark companion was right all along, warning her of the danger she just walked into. "Regol, darling. Please capture my next lab rat for me."

Cassandra felt a sudden grip of fear wash over her entire body, paralyzing her legs. She tried her best to move, but the shock of the events unfolding were destroying her focus. Suddenly, like an angel in the night, she felt a firm, cold hand touch her shoulders softly. The grip upon her constricted body was released, and she stood ready to run.

"You go nowhere." a dark voice creepily commented from behind her. Cassandra felt a sudden grip latch around her neck. She fought hard with the body that accosted her, but her own frame was to small and frail to battle this one. As she struggled she found a needle in the hand of the one who assaulted her, and the needle went deep into her neck. Before long her entire body felt light as a feather, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

So it really is dark up in there... Cassandra's final thoughts made her world black out.

[Requiem of Insanity]

It had never occurred to Cassandra that she was just a tad bit naive. Why would she believe herself to be so? She had no male crushes or any emotions that would warrant such silly concepts. It was like, her entire body, heart and soul, were immune to such trepidations of her character. Despite the growing urge to repress the idea of even thinking she was capable of such a human like emotion made her skin crawl.

However the evidence of such a thing became glaringly obvious. Her own naivety in the situation had wound herself clamped to a table and tied down as well. Her clothes were thankfully still on, but she found the inability to move a little uncomfortable. It took her a moment to open her eyes, fluttering in the night as they adjusted to being open. As she shook off the daze in her head she saw before her a tall man, plump for his size and looking towards Catrina with complete lust and affection. Catrina on the other hand was in a different outfit. The simple commoners clothes were replaced with a tight long wool shirt, her legs covered in a fine vinyl like substance that gave off great curves to her body.

"Ah, you are awake now..." Catrina smiled brightly, her eyes focusing on Cassandra's. "I was waiting for you to come around." The man next to her laughed insanely before one glance by Catrina shut him up. "I must say, you are possibly the biggest celebrity I have the honor of doing my experiments upon. I am very nervous and excited to get started."

Cassandra's head spun as she tried to focus herself. As she listed upon the words she looked to Catrina with a look of curiosity. "What do you mean experiments?" Catrina gave off a very pleased look as she grabbed a vile handing it to the man next to her.

"I am sure you already know Regolt, the old town apothecary." Her words hid no signs that it was a question. Cassandra nodded looking at him. "You see, I made it so everyone would think he was the Snatcher and thus take the heat off of me." Her voice inflected a sense of pride that she had come up with this master plan, and Cassandra had to give her credit. An endless supply of playmates, and somebody to take the fall. She could only be so lucky to have that for herself.

"Why does he do it so willingly?" Cassandra asked, her curiosity getting the best of her. Catrina smiled handing a vial of liquid to Regolt, who took it and drank it deeply.

"He drank a love potion of mine, and his devotion to me is unquestionable. He loves me whole body and soul and his life is nothing more than an insect to me." She looked to him with disgust and spit on his face. "And like a dog he stays loyally no matter how badly I treat him. Isn't that right Regolt?" The apothecary who was once Regolt was no longer inside that former shell of a man, all that remained was a hollow vassal upon which nodded dumbly looking to Catrina longingly.

"Anything for you, my love." he said in a deep tone, bowing to her. She snorted in laughter before turning to Cassandra.

"I have asked him to follow you since you came into town, and he dug up a lot of information. I was in complete shock when you didn't notice I had called you by your real name, Cassandra earlier." As Catrina spoke, Cassandra's eyes lit up in sudden realization as the moment was relived in her mind.

"Oh...shit..." Cassandra said dully. "Well, not to sound awkward or anything, but I was a little pissed off when I thought you were honestly a goodie-too-shoo. It made me and my Dark Companion fight for the first time." Catrina stepped up to Cassandra in a loving motherly way. Her hand grazed Cassandra's cheek as her steel blue eyes locked into the cold hazel of Cassandra's own eyes.

"I know...I saw it happen. He's good, a powerful predator inside you. I can't believe you two would fight." Cassandra looked to her in confusion. "Yes darling, I can see him. A loving dark passenger who follows you wherever you go. I was so shocked when you couldn't see mine. It took me awhile before I realized you are just young. Inexperienced when it comes to meeting others with the same talent as yours."

Cassandra's head spun in circles as the news washed over her. See what? She couldn't understand what Catrina meant by it all, and her face locked up with a neutral glare. "How come you can see my Dark Ambitions and I can't see yours?" It took a moment, but Catrina smiled stepping backwards as she walked over to her makeshift lab.

"Well, before I reveal all my secrets, I planned something special for you." She pointed to Regolt, and Cassandra's eyes followed her gesture. Within seconds Regolt suddenly grabbed at his heart, his hands ripping into his shirt. Before long he started to scream in agony as clawed at his entire body, ripping his flesh in areas with his own nails and teeth. Soon his painful wails intensified as he cried out for help, biting off his own thumb in some sick form of relief. As his pain refused to subside he began to claw at his eyes before blood began to pour out the cracks in his hands, his eyes gouged out by his own bloody fingers. As he fell to the ground blood poured out his ears and nose and mouth, a last gasp of air escaping his lips before he began to choke on his own blood.

"What did you think?" Cassandra turned to Catrina with a look of admiration. "You approve! I am so happy to see that!" She ran over to Catrina, dancing in step as her body touched Cassandra's as she pointed like an over excited child at the body.

"What is it?" Cassandra said full of wonder, her perpetual desire to learn how to torture the human body defeating her desires to try and escape. "You must tell me what it is!" Catrina nodded as she stepped forward grabbing a few vials.

"It's my newest creation I call Blood Sire! It's made of a few unique ingredients that are a little unusual in this area, but nothing you can't find at a market. My recipe is located in my book, but I can't reveal all my secrets." Cassandra looked to Catrina with hate filled eyes.

"Tell me," Cassandra looked deep into the eyes of Catrina. "I want to know!" Cassandra's body felt a wave of desperation wash over as the news of a new way to torture the human body became known to her.

"I unfortunately came to a grim realization Cassandra that I needed the snatcher to leave. I killed somebody who was following you, a guild member of Lavinya, but now I need Regolt to die so they don't come after me. As for you, if you die, the guild leaves me be. I cover my bases and can leave this town peacefully. I wanted to take you with me, as a child to take under my wing. But your dark companion...he is to strong to bring to heel."

Catrina walked forward and her hands flexed outwards as she cracked her knuckles grabbing a few vials and humming to herself. As she began to create something Cassandra felt her body grow cold, and a sudden grip touched her right arm gently, running down her arm. She looked over and felt the loving embrace of her dark companion, and better yet Regolt's last gift to Cassandra. The clamp on her arm wasn't locked, and as she pulled her arm she felt the clamp begin to strain upon itself and slowly open.

"I see you used my own tools...why?" Cassandra noticed her bag now sitting by the table, her knives all upon the ground in the dirt. Catrina stopped humming for a bit and looked back to Cassandra.

"I needed to have the proof that you were the monster who killed the guy from Lavinya." She turned back to her work and began humming again, looking at the moon with long sighs of lust. All these feelings she had felt in her life, and Cassandra found her body aching at the thought she needed to die despite how much they had in common.

It took a while, but when Catrina dove in deeper to make sure she had the exact levels for her concoctions Cassandra released her hand quickly released her other hand. She used both free hands to escape the rope and dove quickly to her knives grabbing the cats claws and the throwing knife. As she turned to face Catrina her face felt a sudden impact as glass shattered upon her face and a liquid let off a small explosion deafening her ears and blurring her vision.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!?!?!" Cassandra bellowed in rage, swiping wildly around her in hopes to kill something. Her arm connected into the body of Catrina, but with out her sight she easily felt her body get tossed over the hip of her foe. Upon the ground Cassandra's eyes began to re-adjust to the light and her surroundings, a low ringing sound pitching in her ears. The moon looked beautiful as it shown down upon her, and her eyes looked to it longingly.

Catrina however wasn't looking at the moon and her boot slammed hard into Cassandra's stomach. She gasped and wheezed trying to regain her breath as she hunched into a ball for defense.

"You're weakness Cassandra is your lack of communication with your Dark Passenger! Mine is always near me, always alerting me to where others are like me! I knew you the second we met, I could see our darker ambitions growl and roar at each other in challenge. All this going on right in front of you, but you remain so blind!"

Cassandra never realized just how clueless she was, not knowing her own Dark Companion was always with her, aware just as she was, but lately, he had been trying to warn her, he had been trying to communicate, become one with her more and more. It was never more evident when she killed Huang Lo only three months ago. He had been trying to show himself more, be there more for Cassandra, and she instead betrayed his love by doubting him. Catrina was right, she was blind.

I'm sorry... Was all Cassandra could think. Instead of words she just heard a dark, predatory chuckle, and then suddenly she felt very cold. Her body felt the same feeling of emptiness she had been feeling recently and it dawned on her that her dark companion had left her. But this time she didn't call for him back. He left for a good reason. She didn't deserve someone who loved her so much. Her dark ambitions were better off with someone else.

"Where did you go? Both of them, they vanished!" Catrina shrieked in terror. Cassandra's eyes locked on Catrina as she flailed around, knocking over her lab table in search for something Cassandra could easily feel wasn't there. It then suddenly dawned on Cassandra that now was her one chance to take control.

"This is the first time he left you, isn't it?" Catrina looked at Cassandra with heavy hate filled eyes.

"Give him back to me," Her tone was dark and brutal, a loose animal in search of anything in sight to attack. "I want him back, give him to me!"

"I won't give him back, not now, not ever. My dark companion has taken yours to hell to play, why should I interrupt his play time?" Catrina charged forward towards Cassandra, all the rage in her body coming to a head. She held a vial in her hand and was about to toss it when she suddenly jerked awkwardly and tripped sliding down upon the ground.

"Stop hurting him! Stop it! YOU WILL KILL MY LOVE!" she was hysteric as she clawed out into the dirt, and Cassandra felt a very firm grip upon her shoulders, however the confidence he normally gave off wasn't exuding from him like she normally felt. It was as if her darker half just watched whatever was going on with Catrina's dark desires.

Acting fast Cassandra ran over to Catrina and locked her arms around her head. She struggled, but all the fight in her body was unfocused as she screamed for her lover. It didn't take long before the sleeper hold knocked out Catrina Ferman.

Despite all that had just happened, despite the fact that events just took place she couldn't understand nor see, her urges were growing haywire. She no longer cared for all that just happened in the last few hours, the betrayal, the hurt, the sense her life was about to end. Death had just happened near her, and her body yearned to add to the tally. As the moon shined down upon the land, Cassandra began singing a song to herself as she dragged Catrina to the operating table.

[Requiem of Insanity]

"You're wondering why you are here." A calm sinister voice called out in the darkness, a dark chuckle accompanying it from another source. Catrina's eyes slowly fumbled open as she looked around. The camp fire was put out, and the only light was that offered by the moon. Off to her right was a table, all different kinds of knives displayed proudly upon the table. To her left stood a small, slender figure dressed in all black, a bit of cloth covering her mouth and nose. Two hazel eyes looked deep into her soul, and she felt the coldness of the air perk her nipples up.

"What, what is going on?" Catrina realized she was naked and chained to the operating table, rope keeping her firmly in place so she couldn't squirm to much. Just enough slack was given to induce paranoia. Again a dark chuckle came from behind her left ear, and she shivered in fear for the first time in a how knew how long. "Who, who are you?" She whispered.

The figure stepped forward, walking over to another table hidden off in the shadows near the trees. An owl hooted off in the distance, and startled Catrina began to pull against her bonds. "You're not going to going anywhere." the sinister voice said again as the slender body came back into focus. In the hands of her captor was a vial and a book. "Blood Sire, a concoction that renders the nerves to feel as if on fire, and producing hallucinations that creatures are crawling under your skin. The complete agony one feels should drive insanity to a point where they begin to claw at their own bodies until they die, eventually going to any length to end their own life." The book snapped shut with a crisp sound, the vial suddenly glowing in the moonlight.

"Yes, that's my proudest creation. It took countless victims to perfect it, but anything for my dark lover." The vial was slipped into a pocket as the book was placed on the table next to the cutting instruments.

"You told me I was too young and inexperienced to see others dark passengers. How did you come about seeing them?" Catrina felt an emptiness inside her as she felt out for her own darker ambitions, but could not find them nor hear them.

"You just need to listen for once. Learn that he is always talking to you. You can feel him, that is the first step, but now you need to trust him mind, body, and soul." Catrina laughed as she looked up to the moon in a lustful way. "You are always caught up in the thrill of the hunt that you can't hear him. You can't see him, because all you can see is the prey in your mind." There was a long moment of silence as the wind blew by. Leaves rustled as the wolves cried out into the air.

Catrina suddenly felt something very sharp cut off her right nipple, and she yelled out in pain, liquid pouring all over her body. Before she could even see what was going she lost her other nipple as blood gushed outwards. "You're a bitch, Cassandra...You're nothing but a spoiled bitch...You shouldn't have the moon! These dark ambitions are not yours! Your predator should have been mine!" A primal dark chuckle hissed into the chained up woman's ear, a laugh of defiance as Cassandra took the blade and cut beneath each of her breasts.

"I got all I needed from you," Cassandra smiled as she swished her whips sauntering over to the table and gently picking up the potato peeler. "I once worshiped you as a hero, someone who I could have fun with, but now I am done. I got all I needed from you." Cassandra walked back over to Catrina and smiled, then with a look of hateful intent she shoved the potato peeler up her prey's vaginal opening and began to turn it clockwise, the agony escaping the lips of Catrina reached a pitch so high her voice gave out. Blood and body parts gushed out as Cassandra ripped her favored torture device out, shaking off the bits she shaved off.

As Catrina looked to the moon for help, she felt a coldness inside her she had never felt. Her mind was woozy from the screaming and the blood loss as her entire lower extremities ached and burned. "Please," Catrina breathed out coughing up blood. "Stop it, I can't take this anymore." Cassandra let out a wild laugh of amusement as she walked up and behind Catrina, leaning in on her neck and using her pinky finger to dab some blood upon the end and then mixing it with her teary eyes. She tasted the mix and fluttered her eyes in ecstasy.

"I can taste your remorse, your regret. I never thought you could feel those emotions...I seriously praised an inferior being." She whispered seductively into her ear as she moved to stand directly in front of Catrina.

"Stop, no more." She breathed again. Cassandra let her head fly back as she laughed, nearly falling over.

"This whimpering coming from the monster who did experiments upon her own victims? Did you stop when they screamed for you as well? I think not, why should I?" Catrina's eyes looked upwards, hate filled teary eyes as she looked deep into Cassandra's soul.

"I did it for my lover, the same as you do now." Cassandra nodded in understanding, tapping the cats claws under her chin in a quizzical manner.

"Well, I think I can make one small professional exception for you, but that's only if you want it." Catrina looked at her eyes and suddenly they went wide with fear.

"You surely jest!" as her voice rose in tone it began to get scratchy and un-discernible. Cassandra took the cat's claws and began to cut in a circle around the neck area of Catrina, leaving shallow cuts. As she finished cutting into her Catrina's voice was spent, a horse whimper remaining.

Cassandra looked to her and smiled, lifting the vial that contained Blood Sire and holding her cat's claws in the other. "You choose when I am done playing with you." Woozily Catrina gestured over to the vial. Cassandra smiled as she gently walked over, opening the vial and lifting the contents to Catrina's lips like a lover would do for a sick companion. As Catrina drank the vial she closed her eyes.

After a few minutes of waiting her mouth opened, a horse, dry scream came out as Catrina struggled in her bonds for freedom, seeing tiny creatures crawl under skin. She could nothing about it and began to breath heavily as she looked to Cassandra. "I can cut them out, just show me where they are and I'll cut out the vial creatures inside." Catrina motioned for her left bicep and Cassandra began to lovingly cut into the skin like one would cut into a piece of meat, lifting up the muscle and all for Catrina to see and tossing it to the ground. Catrina made a weak motion for her lower right leg, and again Cassandra happily cut into the skin, removing a thin layer exposing the meats beneath as blood caked her knife.

They continued that for another ten minutes before Catrina's eyes fluttered into the back of her head, her breathing becoming very horse and shallow. Before the sun would claim the day, she would be dead. Cassandra felt her urges slowly begin to calm after she was done, taking in everything she had been experiencing.

After a moment of rest she stood up, smiling as if she had just finished a long days work, and began packing up her belongings, taking time to take Catrina's recipe book for her own delicious delicacy of death. After she was sure she didn't miss anything she grabbed and changed into Catrina's normal day clothes and began to walk away from the clearing, off into a new land.

Standing beside her, like a faithful lover was her dark companion, smiling at her with pride.

[Requiem of Insanity]

Cassandra's feet were tired of walking, but the moon kept her going as she looked up to him in a loving fashion. Her Dark Companion stood near her, and for the first time in her life she could not only feel his praise for her, but also hear him chuckle in the back of her mind. A shape emerged every now and then, but it was more like a shadow than a body. She started to understand what Catrina meant, and for that she would be eternally grateful.

However her mind still wondered what could cause her dark harbinger to flee from her, because it was also powerful enough to send Catrina's own dark passenger running as well. And whatever it was, it was powerful enough to inflict harm upon the dark ambitions of Catrina.

Her eyes scanned over the horizon, but she felt a confident hand against her back, and she smiled as she obeyed, dropping the thoughts and moving onwards. Still, the lingering feeling something was watching her never swayed from her mind. But for now, she just let the moon shine over her, and listened as her Dark Companion washed her with praise for her latest kill.

~*~*~

Farther off in the mountains stood a tall, muscular shadow. Near this physcial specimen of dominance was a dark shadow of a dog. The eyes of the dweller in the shadows scanned over the horizon, looking intently at the woman who walked so carelessly down the road. Not even two miles away from her was an encampent with two dead bodies, one her own handiwork. A dark grin pressed the lips open as the creature of the dark looked upon the shadowy companion. The dog like shadow merely looked outwards, its own eyes homing in a darker shadow that followed the woman.

My darling Cassandra. We will meet soon enough. Do not grow impatient. Trust me, The beast next to the watcher in the dark stood up and began to growl in rage. When we meet your life will change forever. The shadow dweller felt the dog companion roar in challenge over the land, but the master of the beast held it at bay. Soon my darling Cassandra. Soon.


--------

Cassandra requests the following Spoils:
The book of Catrina Ferman - A tomb filled with pages of different potions and poisons that can cause harm to the human body from flash bangs to the deadliest poison of all, Blood Sire. However, Cassandra does not know much about chemistry and thus can only gather up ingredients but not create the mixtures without aid at this level. The more potent, harmful mixtures require very hard to find, and expensive ingredients. So what I'm trying to say is Cassandra can read this book at this level, but not use the wisdom inside unless she begin to study chemistry.

[Breaker]

Healing Torture
Quest Judgement

Overall, I found this an enjoyable quick read. You've come a long way since the last time I read something you wrote, kudos on that. There are a lot of strong points in your writing. However, there are some weak points that tend to detract from that. My main focus with the comments will be helping you see how to improve these.

STORY

Continuity ~ 6.5/10. You did a really nice job of introducing the character and then slipping in facts about her past as the quest went on, not to mention the foreshadowing of her future in your last post. What I think you missed, though, is any real explanation of why Cassandra is the way she is and does what she does. Since she has such a violent personality, I continually questioned her motivation. While the idea of the "Dark Comanion" provided some perspective, as a reader I wanted to understand Cassandra's dark past, but couldn't.

Setting ~ 5.5/10. You demonstrated strong capabilities in describing settings, but often did so in obvious chunks. Try to make descriptive writing flow better with action, and remember that characters should constantly affect and be effected by the setting. I'll use post #2 for an example. In the second last paragraph, you did a decent job of describing Catrina. But when you did that, everything else became static. It almost felt like you headlined the paragraph with I am now describing the secondary character in this story. This is what she looks like. With a few simple adjustments, the description could have been much more effective. For example, her hair could wave in the breeze, her eyes could sparkle in the sunlight. Her breasts could heave as she breathes, her clothing rippling tantalizingly overtop of the attractive assets. Verbs are great for descriptions.

Also, don't forget your character has five senses to perceive the world with. As another example, Cassandra might have noted that Catrina's hair hung in such a way that it must have been painstakingly washed. Then when Cassandra actually talked to Catrina, she could have noticed the smell of flowers, or whatever, on her hair. This would not only link the two descriptions of the same character, but help the reader identify sense of smell and sight together. I know my examples are gimmicky, but hopefully they give you the right idea.

Pacing ~ 6/10. While I found your writing a little thick at times, the posts weren't too long and the plot moved quickly enough to retain my interest. See the "Writing Style" sections for more on this.

CHARACTER

Dialogue ~ 6.5/10. You used dialogue to drive the plot effectively, and a lot of it was interesting and true to character. Just the same, there were a few lines that I had trouble picturing anyone saying, let alone the characters in this story. Try reading just the dialogue out loud to yourself, it should help you find the holes. For example, the dialogue in post #6 seemed like numbered plot points. One way to avoid this is to intersperse the "important" dialogue with naturalistic conversation. Another way is to get into body language and subtext more. Think about a real-life conversation. Do people always hear each other correctly, understand exactly what the other is trying to say, and take it at face value without a second thought? I think a little tweaking in the dialogue department could really flesh out Cassandra, and even moreso the NPCs in your stories.

Action ~ 4/10. I think this was your weakest area. At times I had trouble understanding exactly what was going on, which sucked because it spoiled some of your good descriptive writing. On multiple occasions it seemed like Cassandra jumped from one place to the next, from one position to the next, without apparently moving in between. Of course, I'm not suggesting you write "Cassandra walked here, then there, then three steps to that." But I think you would really benefit from some clearer action descriptions, and generally MORE action. Think about little things Cassandra can do that help identify her as an individual. You had her hum tunes a few times; why not make them fast tnes, happy tunes, slow funeral marches, or riverdance themes? A very generic example is caressing the hilt of a dagger or tugging at garments when agitated.

Also, I had originally scored this at 4.5, but then I remembered a rather large continuity error between posts #5 and #6. Cassandra knocks everything off the table, goes to bed, then wakes up with her dinner still on the table. For awhile, I wondered if there was going to be something creepy like her dark companion or Catrina re-setting the table, but you ignore this error so I assumed that it was, in fact, a mistake. When I read the part about the dinner still being on the table I had to stop, think, then go back and re-read to see if I missed something, which is not something you should force your reader to do.

Persona ~ 6/10. Aside from the stuff I pointed out in the to previous categories, what Cassandra really lacked was motivation. I already covered this in continuity, so here I'll say that I shouldn't have to read your profile to understand why Cassandra does what she does, and saying she has "dark urges" just isn't enough. Still, you've got a decent foundation laid here and I know Cassandra will grow in future threads.

WRITING STYLE

Technique ~ 4.5/10. You used the occasional literary device, but I think you could do more. Some of your metaphors came off a little odd, except for when you described Cassandra as a "lazy cat" looking out the window. That one gave me a very vivid picture of her and her attitude. The main reason this score is so low, though, is that your writing can get incredibly thick at times. What I mean is that you'll often use 3-4 unecessary words in a sentence. Sometimes you repeat what you just said in different words, other times you use phony intensifiers. I'm too tired to pick apart any of your posts right now, but if you really want to improve and make your writing more concise drop me a PM or IM sometime, I'll be glad to help.

Mechanics ~ 6/10. At first there were only a few mistakes per post, but towards the end things got worse. They never really hindered my understanding of the story though, so I bumped this from a 5 to a 6. Spellcheck and Proofread out loud and you'll score a 9 or 10 here next time.

Clarity ~ 6/10. Like I said before, there were some rocky spots, but only really one part (the aformentioned dinner table incident) that made me think I was crazy. I think when you improve some of the other aspects of your writing (action and setting in particular) this score will rise.

MISCELLANEOUS

Wild Card ~ 6/10. As aforementioned, a quick enjoyable read. I know you can do better though, and I think it's just a matter of holding yourself to a higher standard. With regards to the stuff we discussed in the mod forum, thanks for your patience with my concerns. It didn't affect your scores at all, and the only thing I'd ask you to change in the future is the use of the term "dark passenger". But, it's up to you. Let me be the first to welcome you to Level 1!

TOTAL ~ 57/100.

EXP and GP Rewards

Requiem of Insanity receives 620 EXP and 130 GP

Other Rewards

Cassandra receives the requested spoils. Keep in mind though that any specific abilities/potions she gains from the Tome must be gained as spoils or approved by an RoG mod, or both, depending on the situation.

[Taskmienster]

Exp and GP added!

WELCOME TO LEVEL 1!