Angelic Intentions

[Skie and Avery]

{All bunnying pre-approved between parties.}

Snow had come late to Concordia, the end of Winter littered the forest floor with a pure white shell. The drifts were deep against the gateway into the demon tribe's land, and while none, animal and human alike, had approached the area in days, there was still a small guard that flitted from tree to tree, keeping watch on the drowned footpaths below. They moved in shifts of two, and the newest on duty had just settled into a small bower near the gates as the sun began to rise above the line of trees and scatter spots of light across the shady grove. One of the demons appeared to be an older man, his face lined with wrinkles, his hands calloused with years of work, his eyes a fading gray. He hunched over his hands for a moment to warm them with his breath and then leaned back against the tree. His counterpart was a small-framed woman, with wild blonde hair that floated around her face in large, loopy curls. She was pale of skin, and had a way of moving that conveyed a constant state of relaxation. They were both naked, in the customs of their people, and had two large black wings that glittered with a strange light. The wings were unlike birds, but rather, like large bat's wings that fanned behind them in boredom.

"How cold do you think it will get today?" the man asked, his voice nearly a whisper in the quiet morning.

"Does it really matter?" the woman replied, shrill tones echoing around them. The man winced, but she continued. "We won't be out here long today. Not even the deer are coming through. The smart ones are still asleep in their hollows." The look on her face spoke volumes on how badly she wanted to be in a hollow of her own. The man said nothing, staring out onto the edging of the path were several tall-stemmed wildflowers staunchly refused to be pushed down. They were the only sign of the approaching springtime that the demon had seen in days, and he smiled as he stared at them, counting the petals that while small, still opened to fully take in what little sunlight managed to pass through the dense upper rushes of the huge evergreens. Smiling happily, he let his mind wander while his eyes remained locked on the small red flowers until they seemed to be getting darker. The color change puzzled him, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Hey do you see..." he started to ask when his companion stood suddenly. He looked up at the woman and then followed her enraged gaze to the other side of the small clearing, where two figures were entering. A strange smell made his eyes water and he looked down to the little patch of flowers to see that they had withered to black stems. The snow around them was melting fast, glistening as the water cascaded down the edge of the drift.

"Dominari..." he muttered before focusing on the newcomers. They were winged as well, though those appendages were covered in soft, blue feathers. They were beautiful, even by the standards of Moontae royalty, and the two demon guards found themselves speechless for a moment. Finally, the woman moved forward.

"What business do you have here? This is protected land. You know the old pact." Silence was all at was met from the beautiful women who stood before them, swathed in silks of white that seemed to be purer than the virgin snow around them. As the Moontae woman opened her mouth to ask again, one of the angels smiled, and the demons were engulfed in flame.

~~~~

Within the Moontae city, the King was sitting in a small room. His gaze was met by the three children that sat in front of him, clutching their cloaks to them in the winter chill. Even with most of their forms covered by the garb, he could tell that soon they would be adults. The twinkle of the ethereal glitter was just beginning to form on their wing tips, and each had a sheen on their cheeks that looked almost like sweat. Within the next moon, they would go through the last growth spurt of their people. Before that happened, there were things that needed to be absolutly clear to them, or else they'd fail as Moontae, and he'd fail as King.

"Why, children, is sex so important?" he asked, waiting for the giggles that used to come with the question. This time he was met with a serious silence. One child, a girl with vibrant red hair and pale blue eyes raised her hand. Avery nodded in her direction.

"Well, Sire, it's natural. When we are thirsty we drink."

"When we are hungry, we eat." piped up another, a frail boy with an elfin voice.

"When we are lustful, we should nurture our bodies, not punish them." the girl ended, nodding to the boy who had helped her along.

"Very good, children," Avery said, wondering if they really understood. They didn't feel the pull of the body yet, had never known what it was like to need to slake the fire that burned between the legs. "Now, I want you to think very hard about my next question, alright? What do you think about people saying that we are raping people when we seduce them with our pheremones and illusions?" The children looked down as they thought. Finally, the third child, a boy with sandy hair and dark eyes looked up and crossed his arms.

"We use our tools to help people stop hurting themselves. They are hurt by what the paladins tell them. If they were told to starve themselves, they would think it was strange, but they don't think about what other things their body needs. We don't rape people. We help them help theirselves." Avery nodded and moved to stand up before the girl caught him with a question.

"King Avery, what about those?" she asked in her chiming voice, pointing at the wall where a small collection of dolls sat. Their was a representative of every race sitting along the wall. He was confused about what he meant, but the girl stood and walked across, picking up a small doll. It looked human, but had two fluffs of blue feather puffing out from behind the tunic that had been quickly sewn around it. Moontae hands weren't well known for their clothes-making skills. "You've told us about every other type of creature in the world except for these. They're so pretty, I can't wait until I meet one." Avery took the small doll from her, turning it around in his hands with a frown on his face. The girl sat back in her place, watching the King expectantly.

"Kids... these are creatures called Dominari. They are servants of a goddess who is called Domina. She sits on a throne here on the world, they say, which makes her very special among gods. You know that a very long time ago, we were allowed to roam Althanas, to go whereever we were to help the masses. The Paladins of the Gods began to hunt us down, killing us in great numbers. That was when the first Council made this safe place for us in Concordia and began to gather the tribes together. At this same time, Domina's servants were going out into the world to spread the word of her great powers. They are enthralled by us, attracted and repulsed at the same time. They are very easy to seduce, even without using pheremones. But, here is where the problem lay. Domina requires that her angelic servants to be virgins. When we seduced them, they were dirtied in her eyes. She would throw them from her sight, making them mortal. These servants are so in love with their goddess that once made mortal, they would kill themselves, not eating, sleeping, drinking. They wasted away when out of her light."

"Like the Rogues," the sandy haired boy asked.

"No, not like the Rogues. You see, when a Moontae is made mortal, made human, by the Shields, it is usually their choice. Domina saw our actions as rape. She became so concerned by the fall in the number of her servants that she declared War on us. It never grew into any big conflict, but a Pact came out of it. This was a time when our people were nearly all gone. The Council asked her to leave us be, to let us find our peace in Concordia and in return, we would leave her servants alone. Every now and again you'll find a blue feather in Concordia that doesn't look like it belongs to any bird around here. She watches us, and always has."

"Why?" the children asked in unison.

"She doesn't trust us, I think. She may be insane, after all. I mean, what goddess would say she wants to take care of her children but then doesn't allow them to have sex?" At this, the children laughed, Avery grinning with them, and all four of them jumped when the door to the small classroom slammed open and a dark figure slumped inside.

"Gorial!" one of the children screamed, moving to the side of the half burned guardsman.

"My King!" he managed to yell, tears in his eyes. "Meleniel is dead. She was burned to death by Dominari. They are outside of the city, demanding to see you." His eyes, as pale as the clouds on a peaceful day, rolled into the back of his head and he collapsed. Avery turned to the children as he began to stride out the door and towards the tall gates. "Get the healers for Gorial, the shaman for Meleniel." As they raced off to fufill his wishes, he passed by the fountain in the square and screamed into the peaceful winter sky.

"SHIELDS!" his echoes came back to him, but as he opened the gate and walked into the forest of Concordia, he was not alone. From the skies, two figures landed beside him. A man with light blonde hair and warm chocolate eyes stepped forward, his arms crossed in front of his King, staring at the two angels that stood peacefully in the clearing. A woman had landed behind Avery, a frightening scythe in her hands. She had cropped dark hair with a blonde streak through some of the front tresses. Her emerald eyes were full of anger, her grip on her weapon sure. "Mansematial, Illaniel," Avery instructed as he crossed over to stand before the angels, "Watch them."

"Well met, King of Whores." one of the angels said, walking forward and running her hand through her long, dark hair. She paused, drawing her tongue across her bottom lip, but the other stepped forward and put her hand on the young woman's shoulder. She had curls of golden brown framing a heart shaped face, and her eyes were alive with dancing blue light.

"Do not get too close. They will take our Lady from us." At the accusation, Avery put his hands up and stepped back.

"Sweetheart, as far as I've heard, you came and attacked us. You know the old Pact, this forest is off limits for you."

"We've come to collect you for our Lady. You will come at once, and none shall stand in your way." the brunette said, holding her hand out to Avery.

"No, I won't. Domina may be able to sit on her ass all day and order people around, but in our village, the Cheiftain has a very intensive schedule. If your Lady wants me, she can come for me herself." Rage exploded in the eyes of the younger angel and she darted forward, lunging for the young King's throat, but stopped mid-attack. Mansematial and Illaniel both held their hands open, the fingers working quickly on their spells. The young angel screamed, scratching at her skin as she sank to her knees.

"BUGS! They're crawling on me! OH They're under the skin!" Her screams grew pitious,like those of a dying animal.

"Ignore it!" the other angel yelled, reaching out to shake her comrade, though the other woman only slipped from her grasp and onto her knees. "It's trickery! They can make you see and feel things that aren't there! It's part of their power!" Even as she tried to pull her friend through the illusions, Illaniel stepped forward, her eyes full of condescending anger.

"Shara, Servant of Domina," she addressed the dark haired angel who struggled on the ground, her indigo wings thrashing behind her as she grew more panicked.

"How do you know my name!?" she cried, tears falling fast now as her skin was bleeding under her own nails.

"The Executioner always knows the name," Mansematial said quietly as he watched the short haired Moontae grow closer to the angel. Illaniel caught his eye for a moment and they nodded to each other.

"You have been found guilty, Shara," Illaniel said softly. "For the crime of attacking the Moontae King. The People of Peace cry for you, and yours. May you find your place among the happy spirits on the Other Side." With a swipe of the scythe, the virgin snow was soiled with a crimson arc. A head fell away from the body, rolling to rest under the shade of a tree, black hair spread out like a dark halo.

"Murderers!" the other angel cried out, and lifted her own hands. Fire burst along Illaniel's skin, and as she fell with a howl into the snow, both Mansematiel and Avery leapt forward. Mansematiel was quicker, grabbing the angel's arm and jerking her, and her concentration toward him. His foot moved out and with a swift motion he pinned her, face down, across a log. Avery stepped on the back of her calf, forcing her to kneel. Her wings wildly snapped at them, fighting even as she was secured under the grip of two strong men.

"Damn wing could about break an arm," Avery muttered. Illaniel stood, sniffling and clutching her burnt arm as she took her place beside her King.

"I have an idea," she said, a bit more forcefully than usual. The men said nothing as she took her scythe again and with the ancient weapon used to bring justice on Rogue Moontae who broke the law, she used it as it was to be used. One by one, the angel's wings were cut from her body, her screams ignored, and tossed unceremoniously aside.

"What's her...?" Avery asked quietly of Mansematiel when Illaniel stalked into the village for medical attention, dragging her trophies. Mansematiel looked down at the angel, no pity in his eyes, and then looked back up at the King.

"Kayla. Do you want me to fetch Serraphiel for the execution?" he asked, knowing the glee of which Illaniel's sister would be happy to dispatch this offender.

"No," Avery muttered, "Just hold her arms." When the man had a good grip on the screaming, struggling angel, Avery bent low over the woman's back to speak into her ear.

"Kayla, Servant of Domina, hear my words. You have broken the long-kept Pact of DominAeil. As you have invaded our territory and attacked our people, so shall this day we break our treatise, and sever your thread with the Lady of the Wild Wood."

"No...please.." the angel begged, as she tried weakly to break free of the men once more. Avery ignored her, instead ripping the silk that bound her hips and began to live up to his greeting. As the angel cried up to Domina, cursing Concordia and begging it's mercy all at once, the King of Whores severed her link with the Chaste Goddess with a thrust of his hips.

[Moonlit Raven]

The cold day of winter’s end found Elena high up in the tree she called home. Huddled in her leather armor and cloak against the bite of the air, she looked up into the cloud covered sky and took a deep breath. The cold air stung her nose and throat, seemingly to clear out the taint she felt at breathing in the pheromones Avery often used on her. Barely an arm's span away, a lovely golden skinned woman with dark gold hair, cobalt blue eyes, and a matching cobalt streak running through her elaborately woven and pinned tresses perched on a branch, looking her at with a disinterested stare. Elena sighed as the woman huffed for the tenth time in half the minutes.

“If you're cold, Seraphiel, go back to your own hollow and warm up. Or go hunting, I’m sure something out there deserves killing.” Elena said quietly, biting her cheek to keep from yelling at the unwanted guardian.

“Feh, and risk having you falling out of the tree? Avery would string me up himself if one hair on your precious head was harmed.” Seraphiel faced away, leaving Elena in the far side of her perception.

Elena stared at the back of the haughty demoness and smirked, a horrible idea of how to give the demoness a hard time occurring to her. Shifting, she looked down towards the ground and gauged how to best soften a thirty foot fall. With a quick, silent prayer, she leaped forward off of her perch, the bottom edges of her cloak held to catch air and slow the fall. Slipping cleanly between the branches, Elena stared at the ground rushing towards her at an alarming pace. Oh hell, this is going to hurt, Elena thought as she let go of the cloak and grabbed at branches in a last ditch effort to slow her descent.

The shock of sinking into the snow drift and hitting the ground stunned Elena for a few moments, and snow flakes sticking to her eyelash obscured her vision as she laid there, staring up at the grey sky. Her breath caught in a chuckle as her body began to ache from the impact, she tilted her head back to look up at where she had jumped from. Her chuckle swelled into full-blown laughter. Seraphiel’s lovely face blocked her view, her dark blue eyes narrowed into venomous slits.

“Are you trying to kill yourself, you stupid bitch? Are you trying to get me killed!? I assume you're fine since you're laughing.” Seraphiel moved out of her line of vision and Elena laid there a moment longer, chuckles still trickling from her lips as she mentally checked the damage her body had taken. Finding no broken bones, Elena sat up despite the protest of soon-to-be-bruised areas. Ignoring the slowly melting snow covering her, she grined up at Seraphiel.

“Lighten up, I haven’t died and I don’t think you will today either, what a shame.” Elena looked up at the branch she had been sitting on and laughed again. “But what a rush that was, wanna do it again?”

Elena stood up, waiting for the violent demoness to explode at her baiting, and she raised a brow at the clenched hands and the boiling kettle noise Seraphiel made. As she shook the snow from her hair, she turned away from the livid demoness and decided she'd go watch Avery with the Moontae children. It was a sight that never failed to make her truly smile, even if she questioned the lessons taught. Feeling unlike her normal stoic self, Elena almost danced through the snow as she headed for the small gathering area where he taught the children. Watching Elena for a moment, a confused Seraphiel followed her, Avery’s order and veiled threat echoing in her mind as she reluctantly hurried to catch up with Elena.

A sharp breeze blew past them, tossing Elena’s hair and cloak on Seraphiel, momentarily bathing her in Elena’s warmth and scent. In reflex Seraphiel drew the scent in, and then frowned as it seemed different, it seemed as if… Seraphiel stepped closer to Elena and leaned down to the petite woman.

“Are you feeling well, your behavior has been very strange today?” Seraphiel asked while she took a deep whiff of Elena’s scent, a suspicion crystallizing in her mind. Shrugging, Elena didn’t reply for a moment.

“Do you smell burnt flesh?” Elena asked, pausing in mid-stride. Seraphiel flared her wings, backpedalling to keep from running into the woman, and a second later a single word was screamed over the wind. Elena glanced at Seraphiel then took off at a run for the classroom, quiet crunches behind her let her know that Seraphiel had chosen to follow Avery’s original order to protect her. Her chest tightened painfully as she spotted two healers hurrying for the classroom just up the path.

Elena skidded to a stop at the entrance of the classroom and flung the door open, but slammed the door behind her as one of the healers yelled at her to shut it. She stared at the Moontae on the floor, his body covered with blackened burns, a quick glance revealed the children huddled in the far corner, watching the healers work on the man. Kneeling in front of them, Elena gently touched a few shoulders, trying to comfort them and soothe the worried expressions.

“He should be fine. Can anyone tell me where Avery went?” Elena asked as gently as she could, glances were exchanged between the children, seeming to ask one another if it was okay to answer her, a girl with red hair spoke up after a moment.

“Goriel said there were Dominari outside the city. They were waiting for the Chieftain to come.” Elena lightly patted the girl's shoulder and hurried outside where Seraphiel was waiting for her.

“Seraphiel, I need you fly me outside of the gates. We need to find Avery, one of the children said that Dominari are waiting for him. What are they?” Elena grew more worried as Seraphiel closed her mouth on what Elena knew to be a phrase somewhere along the lines of ‘go to hell’ and her expression darkened at the mention of Dominari. Elena gasped in surprise as Seraphiel grabbed her around the waist and jumped up into the air, her wings opening with a leathery snap, and she clung to Seraphiel as they passed over low buildings and trees. Movement near the gate caught her eye and Elena tapped Seraphiel and pointed down at the figure on the ground.

“Illaniel!” Seraphiel shouted, as they descended towards the figure dragging something bright blue with one hand. Seraphiel released Elena as soon as they touched the ground and went to her sister, looking over the burnt arm with a worried, murderous expression. Elena spared a glance towards the sisters and ran through the gates into the Concordian forest.

She followed the sound of the begging, cursing screams, knowing that if the Shields were or had been with Avery the shrieks would lead her to him. Snow crunched quietly underfoot as Elena entered the clearing, her gaze fixing on Avery and the sobbing, bleeding woman before him then roaming over to the headless, indigo winged corpse and the head resting in the snow a few yards away. Elena shut her eyes for a moment wishing she could erase the scene before her, as if with a will of their own her eyes opened to show her the murder of one angel and the rape of another. By Avery.

Elena stared for a moment, her mouth opening and closing silently for a long moment before she finally found her voice.

“Avery.” She said, little louder than a hoarse whisper.

[Skie and Avery]

The sobs of the angel subsided enough for Avery to catch his name whispered on the wind. He paused, looking at Elena from the corner of his eye, a snarl born and dying on his lips at once. He drew out of the angel before him, using his foot to shove her into the snow. Looking up at Mansematiel, he caught the man's gaze and a telepathic question rang through his mind.

What do I need to do with her?, the Central Shield asked of his King.

Just take her away from the grounds and leave her in the forest. She's as good as gone now, anyway. If Domina loved her so, she'd save her. Mansematiel nodded at Avery's order and began to pick up the angel so he could take her away, and Avery finally turned to face his beloved. He outstretched his hands to her, but took no steps. Elena had always had a violent temper, and her claws were quick to mark his skin even in the smallest of frays. This time, he knew his actions weren't going to be counted as cause for just a small fray. As his face set into a grim frown, he felt like a man standing at the edge of his world, watching it end.

"Elena, I need you to stay calm. Let's just go back home, okay sweetheart? I'll explain everything to you." He looked over his shoulder at the gruesome scene that spread out around them. The snow, once so clean and white that it hurt his eyes to look where the sunlight fell was now marred with the life's blood of one angel and the proof of destroyed maidenhead of the other. Somehow it felt as if this spot would never be the same.

"It's not what it looks like," he finally said, in some attempt to salvage a situation that seemed more important to him in that moment than any destroyed Pact with a goddess ever could.

[Moonlit Raven]

Elena stared numbly for a long moment as Avery shoved the broken angel into the snow, discarding her as though she were nothing more than a boring toy. Am I to be eventually discarded the same way? Elena wondered, her thoughts turning to a near eternity of aging too slowly to love another human after Avery was done with her. She suppressed a chill that ran down her spine and turned her gaze away from Avery, dismissing his presence from her mind for the time being.

One last drop of anger fell into the seething ocean of frustration and rage she always carried within her, stirring her into a cool and calculating fury. Her body tingled and her vision sharpened with the changes brought on by her emotions, her inhuman heritage taking over. Every detail jumped into perfect focus as Elena turned to Mansematiel as he reached down to the angel.

“Stop or regret.” Elena said softly, simply as she walked past Avery like he was nothing more than a part of the landscape. Mansematiel paused, releasing the harsh grip he had on the fallen angel’s arm. Looking into the petite woman’s icy black eyes he took a step back. Her expression, while serene, promised a very painful and unpleasant death if he intervened.

Elena laid her cloak over the woman, uncaring of the cold air biting at exposed flesh, and gently picked her up. Looking down at the angel whimpering in her arms, she felt her expression darken and looked at Avery. Looking into his eyes, Elena was a little saddened by the defiance and the resignation she saw there. She held his gaze, a second that seemed much longer and then looked down at his blood-stained thighs.

“Monster.” Elena flung the word at Avery like a curse, turned on her heel and ran for all she was worth, away from everything behind her.

[Skie and Avery]

"Elena," Avery said with a shaking voice as she moved past him. He almost followed her to where the angel lay, but instead he reigned his emotions. She felt like a wild cat; the air crackled around her with energy and rage. As dangerous as he knew her to be in that moment, he wished she wouldn't have walked past him. He felt cold, disconnected, and he didn't want her touching the Dominari. Against the screaming demands in his mind, she covered the woman, and took her up, supporting her. One word to him, finally meeting his eyes, and she turned and ran as best she could with her broken cargo.

"Elena! You don't understand! You don't know what's going on!" he screamed, an animal cry in his voice. Before the echoes died on the wind, she was gone, a passing vision through the trees. He turned to his friend, holding his hands out to Mansematiel. The Center Shield had no answers for him, and instead moved to begin cleaning up what remained of Shara. The longer Avery stood there, staring off into the direction that she had gone, the more the anger grew until he was furious. Turning, he stalked back to the gates, snow flying around him as he kicked out each foot. His subjects avoided him as he made his way to the clinic, stepping into the open door and looking at the small mat that lay in the middle of the floor. A healer was bent over Gorial, smoothing a balm over his skin. A small fire was lit near him, a liquid simmering over it. The aroma that wafted through the room was soothing, and he felt his shoulders relax of their own accord as he took in a deep breath.

"My King?" the healer asked quietly, looking with worry at the slight stain of blood on his groin and thighs.

"It's not mine," he answered flatly, avoiding the knowing look in her eyes as he sat down near to the burnt Moontae. "I'll be bathing directly, but I wanted to check in on him. How does it look?"

"He'll scar," the healer said, continuing with her work. "But he willl heal nicely considering the circumstances." Avery nodded, and sat with her as she finished spreading the salve on Gorial's skin. Illaniel sat in a corner, rubbing the same paste into her burnt arm, and Avery nodded to her before standing up. He left the building reluctantly, not wanting to enter the crisp air again. The smells of the clinic had relaxed him, turned his mind to a fog that refused to focus on the fact that his wife had just run from him. But he did step out, and the wind came, waking him up from the haze he'd cherished so much. He made his way to the baths carefully, avoiding the major streets. The voices of the squares were louder today than they normally were, and he wondered for a moment if the Shields had told the people what had happened. He knew they had. There were no secretes among the clansmen, especially when he himself hadn't expressly ordered them not to say anything.

He finally came to the edge of the hotspring that ran around the city, and settled into the water with a sigh. As he washed himself, he watched the shadows that danced along the grass, and the reflections on the top of the water.

"She called me a monster," he said quietly to the silhouette he'd recognize anywhere.

"She doesn't know what she's talking about. She hasn't been paying attention to anything but herself since she's been here. If she had, she would have known that you did what was necessary." Seraphiel said, stepping onto the natural stone steps that led deeper into the water where her King stood. "You took a fool to be our Queen."

Avery stared at the woman for a moment, locking his gaze at her too-blue eyes. He had always known that she didn't approve, but there were so many racial differences he was sure it was just a closed mind. Her words, however, weren't about the vampire blood that raced through Elena's veins, or the fact that humans had the tendency to try and kill a Moontae on sight. It was about her understanding of the people, the lack thereof.

"I think I've made a terrible terrible mistake, Ser..." he muttered, finding a submerged rock to sit on. "I don't know if she loves me, or if she feels like she's a captive here. I have to use aphrodesiacs on her to get her to bed with me, and always I must hold back. Does she think I rape her every time? Is that why she called me a monster?"

"Nothing good has ever come of humans within this village." The woman said quietly, dancing through the currents so that the hot water rushed over her shoulders but never touched her perfectly braided and coiled hair. He had always been enthralled with the design, never quite sure where it ended or began, and now he beckoned her over. She sat beside him on the rock, their shoulders touching and he put his hand lightly on her back, feeling the muscle underneath the skin flex and relax as she breathed.

"Seraphiel..." he said, his voice hoarse and low. She looked at him, a brow arching. He had to pause for a moment, licking his lips as he struggled to continue to speak. "When we thirst, we drink. When we hunger, we eat. When we lust, we must also feed that need."

"Are you hungry, my King?" she asked. He shook his head. "Thirsty?" she asked, a sympathetic smile spreading across her face.

"No."

"That's good, because I didn't think to bring food or drink with me." she murmured, turning around and climbing into Avery's lap. He dug his fingers into the skin of her hips, pulling her onto him. As she began to rock back and forth, they kissed, the small fangs of the Moontae nipping at each other, the little pains soothed by their tongues. When she pulled back for a moment, releasing his long chocolate hair from it's tie, he nuzzled her breast, just over her heart, letting his lips move across her skin as he uttered a simple plea.

"Don't be slow, Seraphiel, and don't be soft."

"My King..." she purred as she used his his hair to jerk back his head, "I am not a mere mortal." He reached up, pulling her face down by her slender neck, and kissed her, using his teeth and his tongue to draw the slightest drops of blood from her lips. Her grin grew devilish, her claws raking down his back. Avery closed his eyes, thought of Elena, and let the steam from the spring engulf them.

Ignoring the ache in his heart for now, he moved like a demon should.

[Moonlit Raven]

Coming upon a small clearing, tightly encircled by trees and almost devoid of snow on the ground, Elena gratefully placed the woman on the ground at the base of a wide tree. She made several trips outside of the clearing, gathering armloads of evergreen branches, still laden with green, and enough wood to keep a fire burning through the night. Criss-crossing the branches to make a suitable bed, she moved the woman over to it and coaxed her to lay on her stomach.

Gently as she could Elena pulled the cloak aside and pulled up the ruined back of the woman’s garb to inspect the hideous wounds where her wings had once been. Elena tore a strip from her undershirt and used it to carefully wipe away clumps of dried blood and shredded tissue. Shaking her head at what must be done, Elena set about the tedious task of starting a fire.

Once a fire burned cheerfully, casting light and warmth on both women, Elena laid both daggers in the fire and waited. Whispering that she was sorry, Elena straddled the woman, careful to keep her weight off her. Despite the heat that burned her palms and fingers, Elena grabbed the daggers and quickly pressed them to the wounds. The hiss of cauterizing skin and the smell made Elena retch. She turned her head, wavering for a moment as the piteous cries of the woman stabbed her ears. She laid the daggers aside and wrapped the cloak warmly around both of them after settling the woman against her side, whispering her apologies the whole time.

“I’m sorry for hurting you. I’m sorry for what happened to you. I know nothing can fix it or help what has happened, but you must try to bear it and find a way to live.” Elena spoke softly to the silent, shivering weight beside her. Lightly she stroked the woman’s hair, offering what comfort she could and after a time the woman began to relax.

Elena stared at the fire, feeding it as needed, and soon the woman fell asleep. With a quiet sigh, Elena got up, making sure to wrap up the woman well, and made sure the fire wouldn’t burn out before she returned. Glancing around to make sure the clearing was as safe as it was going to get, Elena headed out to hunt down something for both of them to eat.

In the middle of following fresh deer tracks with nothing more than a hastily grabbed dagger, Elena stopped and shook her head, wiping at the moisture gathering in her eyes. Angrily, she swiped at the film of moisture that quickly gathered, obscuring her vision again. An angry sob forced its way out, then another. Giving in Elena sat down in the snow, letting the emotions she had buried come to the fore. Blinded by tears she wrapped her arms around her knees and let herself cry, a small part of her mind patiently waiting for the emotional storm to blow itself out.


“This is not going to feed that woman or myself.” Elena growled after the tears stopped. She stood up, shakily holding on to the tree for a moment before continuing to follow the deer tracks. Not long after, she tracked down the owner of the hoof marks in her den. Without a second thought Elena killed the old doe, and after it's death throes had finished, Elena softly patted its lovely head. Sorry old girl, but this way is better for you. I doubt that you would have made it through next winter. Elena thought. Her mind turned to the task of how to drag an animal heavier than herself back to the clearing.

Grimacing in distaste, she skinned the doe, laying the skin aside for use and gutted the animal. Elena took the liver and several large cuts from the haunches and back before laying them on the bloody side of the skin. Bowing her head in thanks for the sacrifice, she began the trek back to the clearing, dragging the meat-laden skin behind her.

Elena stopped just outside of the clearing to scrub her hands and the forearms of her leather armor with snow, trying to remove all traces of blood. Thankfully, the woman was still sleeping when Elena dragged the butchered flesh to the far side of the clearing; she left most of the meat there, taking only a few choice pieces with her. She speared them on stick and set them over the fire to cook. When the meat was done, carefully Elena shook the woman awake and tried to give her a piece to eat, but perplexed, she stuck the meat back on a stick when the woman refused.

“You’ll never heal and get strong enough to take care of yourself if you don’t eat.”

“I have been cast from your light, my lady. All because you wanted the King of
Whores. Please, I have been tainted but do not forsake me, my lady, Domina.” Elena stared down at the woman that pawed her knees, watching her with an insane, hopeful look.

“What am I going to do, Eddas. I just don’t know.” Elena whispered to her best friend and long-dead fiancée, as she looked up at the branches blocking out the view of the sky.

[Skie and Avery]

Seraphiel shuddered in his lap, the last of her orgasm fading. Carefully, Avery lifted her off his lap and set her on the rock beside him before he slipped into the water. As he slid under, the current washed away the sweat that had covered his back, the shallow marks stinging with the touch of salt that the water contained. They would fade fast, but as he looked at the Moontae woman in the water he felt a twinge of regret. The sensation was unfamiliar, and at first he nearly laughed it off. After a moment of contemplation, he decided that he wasn't so sorry that he'd satisfied himself with his guardswoman, but that he hadn't done so with Elena. He left the blonde to wash herself in the water as he made his way back to the square.

This time he paid no attention to his route, and as he wound his way through the crowds in the square, the reason for the ruckus was clear. The people were cheering the absense of Elena. They quieted down as he stalked through them, his eyes full of pain and anger. One or two even offered a half-hearted apology. He had known his love had been less than popular, but he was so sure that she was starting to get along with the people. Queens had always held a special place in the heart of the Moontae masses, and to see his so passive-agressively rejected tore him to pieces. It was just another reminder that the woman he had chosen couldn't have fit in less with the way his people lived, thought, and loved.

He came to the fountain where Illaniel, her arm wrapped tightly, and Mansematiel sat. Joining them, he stared at the gates, a thoughtful expression on his face until Illaniel touched his shoulder.

"Where's Sera?" she asked.

"She'll be along shortly," Avery said, his tone flat. "When she gets back, I have work for the three of you." The two Shields exchanged looks of curiousity, and pretended not to notice when Seraphiel came walking up, her hips swaying and a 'cat who got the cream' smile on her red and swollen lips. She reclined on the side of the fountain, her face turned upwards at the sky for a moment. Avery let the quiet settle over them, before he turned and stood so that he could face the guards at once.

"Earlier this morning the queen of the Moontae ran from the city into the Concordian forest without the proper authorization. For many generations, outings have been kept in check to keep those who would kill us away from our city. I am sure that our queen didn't mean harm, but her actions were foolish and.." he paused, reaching down and taking a handful of water from the fountain to drink. His stomach was turning to think of what he was asking, but he knew it was something needed. "And these actions are a cause for me to hand down a punishment. I entrust the three of you with the task of finding the Rogue queen and bringing her back." He waited while the puzzled faces of the Shields dawned into recognition.

"I want her returned to me alive, and in one piece. Aside from that..." he stopped, took another drink, and met Seraphiel's eye. "Use any necessary force to ensure her return." As the Shields dutifully filed off into the forest, Avery turned and began to walk towards the Vaults of the City, the final resting place for artifacts from the Days of War.

As he walked, he tried as he might to shield his breaking heart.

[Moonlit Raven]

Illaniel stared after Avery’s retreating back then look at Mansematiel whom shrugged and leaped up into the air, circling and waiting for the other two shields to join him.

“Come on, we have a rouge to catch, and not just any rouge a Queen of all things.” Seraphiel said gleefully as she twirled the glaive she carried with her always. Illaniel leapt into the air joining the other two shields to follow theirs orders and bring their Queen in.

“I’ll let you two handle it unless Elena becomes too much of a problem.” Mansematiel said after a moment, Seraphiel snorted derisively.

~

Elena was awakened from her light doze by several light thumps and the warmth of the woman she was caring for disappearing from her side. Elena sat up and looked at the Shields before her, she glanced around and breathed a silent sigh of relief. The woman was huddled against a tree a few yards away.

“Elena Alexi, you have been named rouge. You shall return with us to face judgment.” Mansematiel said, his voice neutral as his gaze was. Elena looked from Shield to Shield, Illaniel’s expression empty but vaguely troubled, Seraphiel’s expression curiously almost victorious, before she slowly climbed to her feet.

“So, Avery is too much of coward to come for me himself. I will not go back now, I am taking care of Avery’s mistake. Punishment is one thing but rape is another. Not everyone’s body lusts all of the time, there is beauty in pure, untouched snow.” Elena slowly slid to her left as she spoke, putting more space between her and the trees.

Illaniel stepped forward before her sister could make things worse and grasped Elena’s wrist. She stared at the foreign half demoness with a mixed expression.

“Elena, please, we have been ordered to bring you in for judgment, no mater what.” Illaniel said in a calming tone.

Incised Elena shook off the offending hand and grabbed Illaniel’s scythe, pulling hard on it. Startled Illaniel yank on her weapon, giving Elena the opening she needed. Elena tightened her grasp on the weapon and let her body go limp, falling backwards and planted both feet in Illaniel’s stomach as Illaniel over balanced and began to fall towards her. Her back hit the ground; Elena used Illaniel’s own momentum and pushed as hard as she could with her feet, launching Illaniel through the air.

Illaniel landed yards away with the sharp crack of a wing breaking and the sound of air exploding from her lungs. Elena rolled to her left and up to her feet, keeping her body ready to fight but relaxed, she welcomed the feel of her vampiric side taking over and changing her, making her faster, stronger than before. Elena grinned at them in a feral manner, barring sharp, lengthening teeth, as she twirled Illaniel’s scythe in her hands.

“Anyone else need to be convinced I don’t want to go back?”

Elena spun at a crack beside her, swinging the scythe. The blade of the scythe rang almost musically as it blocked Seraphiel’s glaive.

“I’m going to have to borrow this weapon more often, it’s easy to use. I’m sure Illaniel won’t mind.” Elena squared off against Elena, forgetting the there was a third Shield standing nearby, watching the proceedings. She gained several minor cuts as she narrowly dodged the broad, increasingly wild swings from Seraphiel.

A hand in her hair caught her off guard, Elena twisted in the grasp, against the protest of her scalp and dug her hardened nails into Mansematiel side. Elena dug until she hit bone and yanked down wards just as Mansematiel threw her away from him. Elena lost her grip on the scythe as she fell, hitting the ground and rolling to keep moving. She shook her head as she jumped up to her feet, clearing it, and pulled a dagger out from its sheath.

Readying herself as Seraphiel charged Elena stepped into the swing of Seraphiel’s glaive, a quiet gasp wrung from her as the blade cut deep into her left hip. Damn, that’s the hip that Argeneau tore open a year ago. Elena thought as she fell into Seraphiel, she grabbed Seraphiel’s hair and yanked her dagger through it, cutting out a double handful of the beautiful, silky braids.

Elena chuckled at Seraphiel’s enraged scream, even as Seraphiel pushed her away. Time slowed as Elena fell, watching the gold and cobalt stands fall to the earth, the impact of the ground pulled everything into focus once more. A kick to the lower stomach spread fire through her abdomen, Elena dry heaved as she curled her body in on itself. The grey at the edges of her vision threatened to overwhelm her. Elena weakly chuckled.

“You win, but now you have no choice but to respect me.” Elena spat as the grey turned to black and engulfed her wholly.

[Skie and Avery]

An old oaken door creaked open, leading into an underground tunnel. As Avery descended, several torches along the stone walls flared to life with a strange emerald light. When at last he came to the bottom of the stairs, a Moontae man stood to greet him. He had shaggy pale brown hair, nearly golden, and sparkling dark violet eyes. His skin was marked with strange scars, many of them resembling the runes that could barely be seen etched onto the walls.

"Demetriel," Avery said quietly, taking the arm of the man and leading him through the dimly lit halls and chambers of the vaults. "I have a very special request."

"I will do anything for you, my King. You have only to ask." the man said, his voice hoarse with many years of silence. He leaned into Avery's embrace, trailing his fingertips along his King's wing as they walked and finding no repulsion from the man. Little touches were always welcomed among Moontae, as common as a smile among friends. Avery patted his head and turned down a tunnel whose floors were thick with disuse. A look of confusion twisted Demetriel's features for a moment, though he asked nothing. As they entered a large antechamber, he knew that his Lordship's intentions would soon be revealed.

They came before a large gilded cage. It stood as tall as the men did, with a wide floor. The bars were made of silver and gold, and they entertwined like lovers did, twisting and dancing around each other so intricately that while there were few actual bars, there was no space for a person to squeeze through. The dome of it was covered with a large golden sun from which a chain grew out of. The thing radiated with power, and indeed seemed to provide it's own light, a pale hue pulsing from the metal. With every pulse, they could smell the scent of wild flowers, honey, and something far more primal.

"I need this sent back up, and onto the trial fields. Set up the arch too."

"That is a daunting task, King. The arch is nearly covered with other artifacts."

"You have an hour," Avery ordered, turning and leaving his curator scratching his head and calling for help among his scribes.

As he climbed out of the Vaults, he was greeted by his shields. They were in terrible condition, and not a single one of them looked very happy. Elena was laying in Illaniel's arms, limp but breathing. As Avery rushed forward to take her, the damage done to his guards was fully seen for the first time.

While Elena was covered in her own blood, so was Mansematiel. The man was holding his side, glaring down at the dirt. Illaniel's left wing didn't fan the breeze as her other did, and he caught sight of yellow bone jutting through the leathery covering. Only Seraphiel seemed to be untouched, but as she turned away, he saw what had been done to the hair that was her vanity. Even he had admired it for so long. Every knot had been perfect this afternoon, and now it seemed that she may be broken far more than her comrades. They were warriors, they knew pain, but this was humiliation.

"You two, go see the healers," he instructed those that had sustained physical damage. "Seraphiel," he began, but paused at the look that graced the beautiful succubus' face. "Seraphiel," he said more firmly, until she finally crossed her arms and nodded. "I need you to go to Mazzeliel. I requested an item from her skilled looms several months ago. She will know what to give to you. Also, I know she's woven some bandages lately. Get a couple of rolls of them. Then, go to the healers. I want a jar of healing salve and some mild anesthetics, both topical and oral. I need you to bring them to me quickly, at the washing waters." She turned and began to stalk into the city, not answering him.

"And Seraphiel," he called quietly after her. She paused, barely looking over her shoulder through the uneven strands of her cut hair. "No matter how you feel about this woman and what she's done to you, no matter how you feel about my orders to you to go and get her, you are to obey these orders with haste. If I feel you're not working as hard as you can to follow my orders, I will shear the rest of your hair. Am I understood?" After a moment, she nodded, and began to walk faster than before into the city.

With a sigh, Avery gathered Elena in his arms again. As she sighed, turning slightly, he prayed that she would not wake up. Slowly, carefully, he took her to the waters and laid her down on the bank. Seraphiel was already waiting for them. She had laid all the items on the bank, except for a small package that was wrapped in white cloth. When Avery nodded to her, she turned, heading towards the town and the medical clinic. The incubus took one of the sedatives, a small dose of rosy liquid, and propped Elena up against his chest as he lifted the vial to her mouth. A drop ran down the side of her chin, and for a moment he was terrified that she wouldn't take it. Then, it seemed that fortune smiled on him, and he felt her head move. The liquid drained from the vial, and her throat moved, swallowing the potion easily.

Carefully, he undressed her, leaning down to lick along the exposed skin as each garment was shed to the side. As he slid her out of her pants, he let his hands move down the sides of her legs until he held her perfect feet in his hands. He massaged them slowly, and then slid into the water, pulling her body with his. He washed her with care, pausing when her body jerked at his touch to the open wound on her hip. When she did not wake, he finished cleaning out the wound and pulled her body close to his, kissing her forehead. Her brow was tight, her eyebrows knit together in a frown. He smoothed one brow with his thumb, sobbing quietly in her wonderful two-toned hair, whispering his love and apologies in her ear. He stayed like that with her until he knew he had to continue his work or she'd wake up before he was ready for her to.

When he'd laid her again on a large warm stone, he applied the pain killer to her wound, the healing salve, and bandaged it tightly with the soft roll. Carefully, he unwrapped the package, pulling out a fine silk dress, embroidered with small black symbols. He traced them for a moment and then set about the difficult task of dressing a shivering, wet woman in a silk dress. After careful struggling and adjusting, he was dressed, and he picked her up again, heading through the streets. The people gawked, looking puzzled at the return of the Queen, her unconscious nature, and the clothing. They made way for him, and a few followed him to a large field.

Several paths of broken cobbles whipped and danced through the short, soft grass, until they came to a central circle. The base of the cage lay on the circle now, with the arch set up above it and the body of the cage nearby. Demetriel and several other men stood nearby, their wings gathered around their bodies, even though it was warm near the cage. Avery strode forward, stepping on only the stones, until he came to the center. He laid his wife gently on the base, and nodded as two men came forward and placed the cage carefully over it, twisting it so that prongs on the bottom set into place. Avery tossed the chain through a loop at the top of the arch, and all four men began to pull the chain, lifting the cage until the sun slipped into a small place at the top. It secured it cage so that it couldn't be rocked very far. There was no door to the thing along the side - the weight of the person inside the cage kept it locked into place. Though curious, the men allowed themselves to be shooed away, and Avery took to the air, lighting on the dome that would both shade Elena from the sun, and block her view of him.

"Sweet songbird..." he whispered as he leaned forward to the crest of the dome and laid his head against the warm metal. "What have we done?"

[Moonlit Raven]

Several things awoke Elena, wither it was the warmth of a breeze that tickled her skin, the lingering warmth of a touch on her forehead, the dull ache in her hip or the press of hard metal, she couldn’t decide. Taking a deep breath through her nose, she detected a faint, lingering scent, the peculiar spicy, crisp scent that the accompanied the Moontae. Opening her eyes, a smooth golden surface was the first thing she saw, slowly turning her head her confusion disappeared when she realized that was in a cage.

Using the gold and silver bars of the cage to pull her up to her feet she shook the bars, making the cage rock slightly. Elena growled in the back of her throat and spun to find no opening and an empty field laced with stones. Looking down she noticed the cage hovered just above the ground, her leather armor had been replace with a red dress, a small voice in the back of her mind noted that it was lovely. Irritated that she had been touched, her clothing changed while unconscious, Elena slammed her fists into the precious metal that made up the walls of her prison.

“Avery!” Elena screamed at the top of her lungs, her angry, shrill voice echoing across the field. “You bastard, you are worse than Argeneau. Are you listening? At least he had the guts to confront me himself. I’d rather let every bed every Moontae in the city before I let you touch me ever again.” Elena yelled, pounding at the bars uselessly. She worked herself up into a rage, yelling and throwing herself around in the cage, at times losing her footing from the rocking. Finally, her body tired and sore, Elena sank to the floor of the cage, her anger fizzing out into bitter tears.

“I hate you.” She whispered between hiccupping sobs as she cried into her knees. The gentle rocking of the cage and the warmth coming from the metal soothed Elena, drawing her anger from her and leaving her numbly resigned to wait.

The sun spanned half way across the sky before Elena stirred, her thoughts comparing the odd comfort of the cage to the dim memories she had of being held by her mother. Leaning her head back against the bars she stared out at the landscape.

“Eddas, my love, I think I’ve messed up horribly this time. I’m sure you’re shaking your head at me from where you are. I know you remember my temper getting me into trouble more than once with your father. This time I couldn’t help it, he was raping that angel. Wasn’t cutting off her wings more than enough?” After a long minute Elena laughed quietly.

“I still don’t understand how a Moontae, a sex demon of all things, managed to worm his way into my heart. But, I’m glad he did, Eddas. In my quest to hunt down the creatures responsible for your death I would have become a monster if it were not for Avery. Eddas? Do you remember the song that the baker’s wife, Joranda, taught me? I think it fits perfectly now.” Elena trailed off. She remained silent for a long time, her gaze searching the sky and landscape for a sign that Eddas still watched over her and for Avery’s return. Slowly the melody, half forgotten, returned to her and hesitantly she half whispered half sang it to herself.

Where has the light gone
I’ve been left in the darkness
I’ve lost my way
I can no longer see
The path before me.

Where is the light
I’m scared
I am lost

This fall from grace
Has left me down trodden
At the cross- roads
Here are no discoveries
I wish to see

With the light gone
I can no longer see
I know what is there
But I am afraid to touch what I remember
To walk where I’ve been before

Where is the light
I’m scared
I am lost

[Skie and Avery]

Avery clung tight as she screamed and raged, determined not to be knocked off. Her angry roars were killing him, and he placed his head against the metal and shut his eyes tightly as he waited for her to calm down. He wished his sister were here - she seemed to know just what to do when it came to problems. She'd gotten them into, but mostly out of, so much trouble in their youth that now when he felt that he was standing on the edge of something he couldn't handle, he couldn't imagine being without her. As Elena began to cry below him, whispering her hatred of him, he felt his own tears come, hot and many, to fall upon the metal. He had felt that containing her was surely the only option, and now he only felt like a fool.

As he cried above her, the day began to waste away, and he was almost ready to begin the trial that he knew must come when she began to talk quietly to herself, or so he thought. Who was Eddas, he wondered, listening carefully. She called him her love, made mention of a life together. But then he found that this Eddas was dead, and the tightness in his back relaxed. Eddas had been an old lover, or husband? Either way, he seemed to still have a hold on Elena. Was that why she was so unhappy with him? Avery was so worried about this Eddas character that he hadn't even registered her comment on being happy she'd met him.

As she sung, his shoulders slumped forward. He hated that he had done this to her, hated that she didn't understand what had to be done, but now was the time. He couldn't keep her, and he didn't want to see her unhappy. If he was going to lose it, he had better do it now. He stood on the globe, careful not to rock the cage with it, and used his mind to call the Watchers. One by one, they came, standing on small spheres of cobble that dotted the pathways. They were nude Moontae, that much was apparent, but all wore a small black veil that covered their faces. In the annals of Moontae crime, they saw all, though none could read their faces.

When they were all congregated, Avery jumped from the top of the sphere and used his flight to land softly before the cage. The Watchers lifted their hands and began to sing in baritones. The song was an ancient chant in the old language of the Moontae, before they began to teach their children the Common tongue. The stones that the incubus was standing on began to raise, until he was eye level with the cage and about five feet from it. He held up his hand, knowing that if she began to scream at him, he would never get his piece in.

"Don't say a word, yet. When I am finished, I will let you say whatever you need to say." He paused, looking to the Watchers. Their wings thrummed with the energy of the place, and he could feel it crackling in the stone pathways under them.

"Elena Alexi Nito, Queen of the Moontae tribes, Maiden of the King's Bedside, you have been called here because you have been accused for crimes against your people." Avery motioned, and one of the Watchers held up his hands. A silver sphere formed in the air near the cage. It reflected Elena for a moment and then a ripple spread across it's surface, revealing another scene. A burnt Moontae man lay, moaning in pain in a hospital bed. Three children cried next to him as they tried to give him water without touching his raw burns.

"You are the Queen of these Moontae. You are their protector, their Goddess. Today we were attacked by servants of an enemy from our past. They killed one of your people. They forever scarred another. Their actions have frightened the children of our tribe, brought troubled thoughts into the minds of those that both King and Queen swear to keep safe. These children know of the threat these enemies pose, and these children know that their Queen chose to side with one of the murderers of our people."

The sphere again shifted, and an image of the Dominari appeared.

"These enemies use an enchanted fire against us. Normal burns from fire will heal from a Moontae's skin within weeks, leaving no scars. This fire will leave Gorial's skin forever melted, twisted. He was unpaired with is soulmate, and now he never will be, even if she were to walk up to him tomorrow. Because these fires have such devastating consequence to our people, we must also strike back with something that will do as much harm. We are a peaceful people. No weapon we have would matter much to them. Death is nothing. The angel we killed will be born again to Domina within the year. Physical pain can be ignored by them, broken bones are easily mended. They, like us, do not scar easily. The only way to give them the pain they give us is to sever their link with their goddess, to rape them and take away the vow of chastity that they swore to her."

The Watcher lowered his hands and the sphere dissappeared. Avery paused, scratching his head and then motioned for the Watchers to lower the cage to the ground. As they moved from their places, the pedastal of stone crumbled back into the ground. He moved to the bars of the cage and spoke to Elena in low tones, a whisper that the Watchers leaned in to hear, though they tried to disguise their movements.

"Elena, your crime is not that you sided with our enemies. The crime that the people are calling out is that you have learned nothing of the people you are a goddess of. Even if they don't respect you, our lore holds you up to the same authority as me. We are a People of Peace, but you think us rapists, whores, things to despise and be repulsed by. If you think me a rapist, if you think me incapable of love and tenderness, I have failed you." He motioned again to the Watchers and they removed the body of the cage from where Elena stood as Avery stepped back, his hands sweeping to the direction of the gates.

"Elena, if you really think of me as a rapist, if you really hate me so much, then leave. Run as far and as fast as you can, because if you really feel that way and don't go, you'll have truly made me a monster."

[Moonlit Raven]

A figure appeared and for a millisecond Elena’s heart lifted at the thought that it might be Avery, that she would be released from her prison. The figure got close enough to reveal a veiled face and a body that was not Avery’s. Within minutes several more veiled figures appeared, standing on the stones. Curious despite herself, she watched them. Avery landed before the cage and Elena looked at him as the stone he stood upon raised eye level with her. She noticed that his eyes were reddened as if he had cried. Her anger long ago burned out, and never stirred as she wanted to ask him why he had cried. An electric thrill of apprehension raced down her body as he held up his hand for her silence. Is my punishment enough to make Avery cry? What is it? What could be that bad? Elena wondered.

Metallic, a sphere hovered before her, mirroring herself before showing her the Moontae male she had seen in the class room. She bit her tongue, tears stung her eyes as she watched the children take care of the injured man. Elena dug nails into her knees as she held herself still to quench the urge to touch the picture the sphere showed her. An ache spreading through her chest at the suffering she saw, the children’s as well as the man’s, without comment she let Avery speak, her thoughts racing.

The sphere changed to show her the Dominari and Elena looked away, absently touching her lips to remove the wetness she felt, then playing with the thick fluid that coated her fingertips. With a small thump of the cage settling on the ground Elena looked up at Avery, his final whispered words making her flinch slightly as if he had struck her rather than spoke.

“I don’t hate you, but I don’t understand you, not in the least, Avery. I still don’t know why you picked me, why you choose to push yourself into my heart, but I am glad that you did. Perhaps after a time I will tell you some of the things that have occurred to me in my stay in your lovely little cage. I am sorry that my anger pushed me, no that I let it cloud my judgment into acting before I questioned what was happening.” Elena slowly climbed to her feet, her gaze glued to the ground before her. Hesitantly, she took the steps separating the distance between Avery and herself, leaving only a few inches of space between them.

“You have been at fault too Avery, while I know nothing about your, our people, I have been taught nothing. I am half human, I was raised human, but I think that I am the monster here. If you think you can put up with me, I want to stay with you.”

[Skie and Avery]

As she spoke and came to him, he slowly let out the breath that he had been holding. She stood so close, and he resisted the urge to hold her close, to wipe away the blood that stained her lovely lips, but only for a moment. His arms wrapped around her shoulders, and he pullled her to him, letting his fingers run through her glorious multi-hued hair, placing his hands on her cheeks so that he could hold her still and kiss her forehead as he had done when she was asleep.

"I am so sorry that I failed you," he said quietly, as he closed his eyes and nuzzled her neck. Her scent was intoxicating to him, as if she had pheremones of her own that she could use against him. "Please forgive me. I thought that as you stayed among us, you would learn without the need to be guided. I didn't ever mean to toss you to the seas of our culture and leave you. Please forgive me, you'll never know how happy I am that you'll stay."

He used a moment to simply be with her, holding back tears that threatened to come from relief and exhaustion. His eyes strayed again to the cage, his mind moving over the old histories, remembering what it had once been used for. A smile danced on his lips and he turned again to his wife, using his arm around her shoulder to maneuver her towards the residencies of the city.

"I think, songbird, that a long nap is in order. Today has been a stormy one, but the spring will fast approach."

[Moonlit Raven]

A happy sigh escaped Elena as Avery pulled her to him, and she rested her head against his chest content that this fight was over. He started apologizing to her and Elena shook her head, pressing her face into his chest and hugging him fiercely. A moment later her eyes opened as an idea occurred to her. ‘What if I can find a why to become more Moontae?’ Elena wondered to herself, her mind furiously churning through different possibilities.

“What can I say? I’m a slow learner.” Elena grinned sheepishly then lightly smacked his shoulder. “Stop apologizing already! You’re forgiven, I’m forgiven, and everything is fine now.”

Elena slipped an arm around his waist and leaned into him a little as her turned them towards the City, a small smile tugged at her lips. She tugged at his waist stopping them, stretching up, she used his hair to pull his head down to hers. Her smile grew into a playful smirk.

“Avery, shut up and take me home.” She said softly before she kissed him.

[AdventWings]

Hiyas, Manda and Jenn. The staff greatly apologizes for the lateness of Judgment,

Anyways, here it is! :D

Story

Continuity - 6

I admit that I am unfamiliar with the story, but from what I could tell, you two did well to remain within continuity of your storyline and the relationship with the rest of the world. The overall story appeared to be somewhat far removed from the rest of the world timeline, but I guess I can live with that. :)

Setting - 7

At times, the setting was vivid and touchable. For some other times, it was somewhat of a mere background. You had a fair mix of both ones that worked and ones that were out of place. Sometimes, I felt it was lacking, especially during the later half of the story. An overall good job, though. A suggestion would be to try and put yourself into the surrounding of your characters and imagine what it would feel like, down to the very last tingle of your skin. It's not that hard... I think.

Pacing - 5

A character development story goes well with a slow pacing. A pulse-racing battle needs a fast-paced, action-packed scene that gets the readers on the edge of their seats. Above all, it must draw the reader in and demand their attention.

For this one, I think the overall pacing here is a bit off-beat. The fight scene is very quick, very minimal and the slow-mo at the end of the fight was a little out of synch with the rest of the battle. The ending was especially fast, which could be alleviated by a bit more internal dialogue or narration. I trust you can add more to that in your next installation, Meow~!

Writing Style

Mechanics - 5

There were quite a few errors in sentence structure, mainly with punctuation and run-on sentences. This goes for both of you, actually, so here's a little tip I think you could benefit from. If you see a long sentence starting to form, write it out. Then, read over it and see if you can chop it down to managable sizes and still retain the original meaning. Even better, see if the divided sentences can be added onto and revised for better, clearer meaning. Try that out in your next threads.

Technique - 6

Good use of techniques in the overall story, though sometimes their placement not exactly enhances the feel of the story to the highest potential. It gave me odd feelings on some occasions, that I will say. And for others, it was just redundant when one of you repeated the same visual cue as the other. Also, try mixing the types up a bit - Use a bit more Personification for the inanimates, more Metaphor for the Living. Not necessarily all in one sentence or paragraph, mind you. That would just overload the reader.

Clarity - 5

I could understand the story well for the most parts, but at times the time shift was just so sudden and with not as much as a cue. With the lack of proper punctuations and... notorious run-ons, it becomes a little hard to understand. ^_^;

Character

Dialogue - 8

Superb work on bringing your characters to life in the dialogue. There were a few things that sounded wierd coming from Elena, but the overall performance warrants you extra points.

Action - 7

Elena's care for the wing-clipped Dominari just fits her character so well and Avery's reaction to the entire event was very believable. There were a few instance that seemed a tad strange, such as the reason Elena suddenly started singing after being locked in a golden cage. Or the reason for the golden cage at all. That could be elaborated upon during your last few posts, but it was neglected and used as merely a furniture. A unique piece of furniture that could do well with a little background history. :p

Persona - 7

The way you portrayed the broken-hearted chieftain and the confused, astonished queen was very moving and believable. I was surprised, actually, that I don't really question much on the why. It could be better at points, though I'll leave it to you to advance your characters' developments.

Miscellaneous

Wild Card - 6

First time reading your works, I admit. It was also nice of you to note that there will be graphical depictions of intercourse, though I admit I was a bit... disappointed. :p Very little that was shown and mostly left to the imagination. Pretty harmless, if you have a humorous mind. Therefore... I give you a 6 for potential and good luck.

Total Score - 62!

Skie and Avery receives 1180 EXP and 100 GP
Moonlit Raven receives 1000 EXP and 100 GP

Have fun!

[Cyrus the virus]

EXP added! Sorry for the wait!