Dying Breed

It was an odd punishment; feed and groom a prisoner? What the hell was Ulroke thinking?

The brass tray Amari held clattered as she descended further down into the earth. On it were two dog bowls, one filled with water and the other with dried nuts, berries and a few slices of bread dotted with mould. Another larger bowl emitted steam, and its sides dripped with condensation, it smelt like lavender and held hot water with a washrag. Finally, there was a broken toothed comb hanging precariously over the edge.

“How long am I supposed to be locked up with the prisoner?” Amari asked Advencia who walked along the dark corridor behind her.

The blonde haired succubus gave a melodic giggle that echoed as it reverberated off the empty and damp stone walls. She reached out to grasp Amari’s crimson tendrils. “Awww… Scarlet are you going to miss me that much~?” She cooed as a pale clawed hand chanced a light stroke of Amari’s cheek. “How about a goodbye kiss?”

“I'd rather keep my energy and wits about me, go fuck one of the men you keep.”

“You're no fun!” Advencia huffed as she crossed her arms over her tightly corseted chest, only accentuating her figure further.

“No, I'm not. I'm being punished for being insubordinate. I'd rather get this over and done with so Master can get over his temper tantrum.”

“You shouldn't speak so ill of Master. You have no idea how lucky y-”

“Enough.” Her words held authority over the succubus, and Advencia immediately fell silent.

Amari stopped before a large, windowless iron door. “Let me in, let me do my job, and let me worry about how I address him.”

“Tch. Bitch.” Advencia hissed through her clenched teeth. Tthere was a series of clicks as Advencia slowly undone the various locks that held the door shut, some held enchanted wards, but as to what kind, Amari did not know.

Amari stepped through and the door slammed tightly shut behind her.

There he sat. Bound in chains against the far wall. Her master didn't show fear often, but he was very wary of the man Amari knew as Seth. He had shown concern for her safety on the mission, even warning her against speaking to him. Seth could rip out her throat before she could blink, a madman hungry for blood relishing as the cries of anguish of his victims gasped their last breath…

Any injuries she would sustain… that would be her punishment.

Amari approached him and set down the tray on the ground beside her, first picking up the brush.

“Ain't it your lucky day. You're about to be pampered by yours truly, Ixian.”

She glanced at his chains. There was just enough leeway on his shackles for him to lower his arms to his lap, and for him to stand.

And enough leeway for him to snap her tiny frame in half

God fuckig damn you Ulroke

Amari approached the man, showing no fear. Amari shifted to his side and reached out to start brushing the tangled mess that was his hair. She gave a look of disapproval. “Such a shame, your hair was so lovely…”

Seth Dahlios had seen better days. His time beneath the inner sanctum had been educational, but fruitful, his grey eyes regarded the girl who reached out to brush his hair. He raised an eyebrow at her casual demeanor, sensing no fear in the girl, just mild irritation.

“You’ll have to forgive me, I seem to have misplaced my brush…” he quipped.

“I see your mind ain't broke, Master is getting lazy.” She mused, deftly combing his hair, every so often jerking his head as she pulled out knots.

“Let me show you what I showed him after a week in here,” He replied. Holding up the chains he carefully unhooked two links, giving him roughly two feet of chain per wrist, “He never came back after that. He doesn't like me shattering his illusion of control, and he doesn't like that I could lay him flat without much effort. It's probably why he brought you to the Onyx Tower…” He looked at the woman, “Have no delusions Slave, I'm here by choice. I could walk out of here any time I so wished. Are we clear?”

There was an extra hard tug on his hair. “Crystal. You're a bored fool.” She muttered as her hands snaked under his shirt and vest. “If you could escape, why not do so? Save me having to bathe your crusty ass.”

“Either he wants you dead, or he wants you cowed,” Seth mused. He looked at her before he undid his vest, carefully pulling the chain through with no hesitation. He unbuttoned his shirt as he sighed feeling the cold air touch his skin. Scars crisscrossed over his arms, back, and chest of varying depths and lengths. The shirt seemed to be more resistant and so he settled for merely having it off his body, “Normally I'd have to pay for this luxury. Does he treat all his slaves like dockside whores, or just the annoying ones?”

Her fingers danced over his scars, his skin parted ways to fresh wounds as her touch tore his skin he raised an eyebrow, “Or perhaps he's trying to punish us both…”

“One would go mad trying to understand his reasoning, just shut up and sit tight..” She hissed through clenched teeth as she turned and picked up the washcloth and ran it over his chest.

“I have known him longer than you, I assure you, he's not that hard to figure out,” He retorted as she washed the freshly opened wounds. He shook his head before he spoke up, “No salt? Disappointed. If you're going to punish me for your master relegating you to a whores job, the least you could do is make it sting.”

He pushed her, seeing the anger in her. Part of it was curiosity, the other part was boredom. He wanted to see what she’d do. As curious as he was foolhardy. The reality was, since he had burst Lye’s ego on having captured the Lavinian Demon he had seen no one, the interaction was a welcome reprieve from his normal isolation. Hell even the succubus he had seen was a welcome reprieve, and she'd have consumed his soul in a single kiss.

His comments ticked her off. Amari was quick to anger, and did not take kindly to his taunts. She dropped the cloth and the scent of sizzling flesh filled her nostrils as she plunged her hand into his chest, the volatile red crackling glow of her soul magic illuminated her hand and cast eerie shadows across the back wall.. Her body convulsed as she felt the same pain mimicked in her own chest.

“YOU are A PRISONER!” She spat at him, pressing her forehead against his as she stared him down. “Sit tight, shut up and act like one.”

“I’m here for food and company, been lacking on those two,” Seth gripped Amari by the wrist and twisted hard bringing her about. A boot swept her leg at the knee he crashed to the floor with her as a flash of metal put a dagger to her throat, he loomed over her. “Careless for an assassin, I'm beginning to think you rely on pain to cow your prey. Sloppy, sloppy….”

Amari groaned, feeling the wind knocked out of her. This was her Masters plan the entire time, no doubt. Seths words infuriated her, partly because he was right, and partly because he was goading her. Amari felt the cold sting of his blade pressed against the flesh of her throat. She swallowed and a pinprick of red formed before it ran down her neck and disappeared into her bosom. Despite her predicament she stared him down, challenging his steely eyes. Amari wasn’t afraid of the man, she knew what he was capable of and yet she refused to show fear.

“I'm more of an all-rounder than a specialised assassin, not killing an adversary? Isn't that sloppy?” Amari shot back, lifting her head just enough for the blade to poke deeper into her skin. “Tut, tut demon of Lavinya.”

She reached out to grasp his wrist. “How about I just rip through your flesh and bone. Perchance your hand would make a good back scratcher for Master?”

Again her fingers lit up in a crackling red light , her other wrist flinched as she tried to dig her fingers into his flesh.

“Or- you can sit like a good boy, and I finish my tasks.” Her tiny hand tightened its grip and blood began to pool over her fingers and palms. It dripped down onto her cheeks, creating red splatters across her face.

He looked her in the eyes before he let out a soft snort of mirth, “I don't kill you, because you're interesting and amuse me. Even now you still fight. Got a name? Slave gets old fast…” he carefully disengaged before the blade seemed to disappear.

“Scarlet.” Amari replied with her own smirk loosening her grip. “Or Red. And likewise.” She sat up and wiped her hand over the black dress she wore.

“That's a color, not a name,” he replied.

Amari shrugged, used to hearing the comment, she wasn’t too fond of it, but it's what her Master had called her. “It can be both.” She craned her neck and with a sigh picked up the dirtied wash cloth and dipped it into the bowl. “Water was warm when I first came down, but now you deal with lavender scented tepid instead. Consider yourself lucky, even I don’t get such a luxury.”

Amari went to wash his chest but paused, he was still bleeding. With her free hand Amari traced his fresh wounds, healing him with a soft, warm golden light. She steeled her breath as the pain, two fold tore at her own chest.

Now he had been healed, she went back to running the cloth over his torso.

Scarlet as she called herself continued to wash him after healing him in an odd turn of events. His eyes watched as she gently scrubbed the dirt and sweat from his body even as the cool water evaporated from his skin, causing him to freeze. He didn’t flinch in the cold, denying her even that small victory. He shook his head softly as he spoke, “So a slave named Scarlet and a washed up thief named Seth…”

He let the joke sink in before he continued, “...makes me wonder why Lye wants me dolled up. Could be for show, but I doubt that, not after I showed him what his security meant for me.” His gaze looked about the room as she continued to work before he spoke, “You aren’t doing downstairs right? Cause I’ll just lie and say you did if you want to skip that part…”

“The succubus would tell on me.” Amari said dryly, her eyes glancing toward the door. “There may be no window out, but she has a nose for that sort of thing. Literally. If you’re so shy, do it yourself.” She seemed to ignore his joke, setting herself into a steeled and stoic manner. “Not like I haven’t done this before.” Amari leaned back, turning to the bowl she dipped the cloth into it again and wrung it out. Dirtied brown water trickled over her hands. “Now, remove your pants.”

Seth carefully removed his boots with a wry chuckle as he shook his head, “If I had a copper everytime I heard that line…” He next undid his belt as he carefully slid his pants down and looked at her, “I assure you that I’m not getting fresh with you...you’re about as old as my daughter. That’s kinda awkward…”

That caused the redhead to smirk, and give her head a slight shake as she reached out and spread his legs, running the cloth over his more intimate areas. “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t jump on every cock I see, even with the temptation that bedding you would piss my Master off. This is just my punishment.” Her hand paused over his shaft, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Although it is tempting to rip it right off.”

He raised an eyebrow, “I see you think you can handle it. I’ve heard that one a few times as well.” A soft chuckle left his lips as he waited for her to finish before pulling his pants on a twinkle in his eye as he buckled his belt. He relaxed against the stone wall with his shirt off still as he closed his eyes, “You done Scarlet? I’m not calling you Red, at least I can pretend Scarlet is just some parent’s fucked up method of trying to be clever…”

“Call me what you want.” She said as she pushed the tray to him. “Your meal. I assume Master intended you to eat 'like the dog you are’ but-” she stopped and glanced at his useless shackles. “You can eat however you want, I'm not your damn babysitter. I'm here for the night.”

He frowned at the information as he spoke up, “For the night?” He shook his head in disbelief as he shrugged his shirt over his head but left it unbuttoned. “What, as punishment you have to sleep in the same room as me? What the fuck does that accomplish? Cause sorry, you’re not my type, I’m not snuggling up to you.”

but he hopes I'm roughed up by you. Few broken bones, bruises, maybe more.” She shifted to a more comfortable position, placing her legs underneath her. “ Don't worry princess, I don't need a kiss goodnight.”

He looked over at her as he spoke, her black dress looked to be made of thick velvet, but the high split up the side of it, plunging neckline and lack of sleeves lead little to the imagination, and little warmth. “Want my coat for a blanket? I tend to dress warmly.” She shook her head in response. He nodded looking over at her before he shrugged, “Sorry, habit. I don’t really have partners for the night often and when I do it’s more...bumping uglies…”

The girl laughed. “You're not going to rip me to shreds? Even after what happened at the tower?” She shifted her weight. “And do you really wanna bump uglies with an enemy? Especially one as young as your daughter?”

“Please, if I was that petty it would be a rage engine not a wrath engine. I’m not so short sighted I’m going to beat the tar out of you because you helped Lye beat me. Just means one of two things, if I decide it’s Lye’s time I kill you or knock you out, then I go after him,” Seth looked over at her before he said, “Not the only time I’ve encountered someone who’s calmed my rages…”

“Guess I am talented at calming men who have hissy fits.” She joked before her demeanor changed. “I'd die defending him he stilled and her tone took on a serious note, her words denoted that it wasn't just out of duty, and that she may have cared about Ulroke. “I’d try to rip you to shreds if you lay a finger on him. I won't underestimate you, Seth… I know what you are capable of, and capable of withstanding, but it won't stop me from trying.” She lifted her head to glance at him, golden and emerald eyes studying him.

“That’s quite the loyalty, what did he do to earn your faith? If I can be so bold,” Seth asked curiously. His stormy grey ones meeting her golden irises.

The girl fell silent, and minutes passed before she spoke again. “He gave me the tools to be who I am now. I suppose you could say he created me.” She pulled her gaze away. “I was nothing before. Now, I can do so much more. I see him, and his own struggles, and I promised I would help him.”

“And you’re satisfied with this? Tell, me can you even touch someone without hurting them?” Seth asked his gaze never wavering.

“Healed you, didn't I?” She shot back. He had hit a nerve.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be nasty about it. I just, find it hard to think that corrupting yourself is a good thing...even when I did it it scared me…” Seth replied honestly.

“Doesn't matter what I feel. I'm stronger now. 'Good’ is just a matter of perception.” She bought her gaze back to his, studying him. He wasn't the beast she had encountered at the tower. If anything, he was more human than her. He showed her kindness and consideration, even though he was a captive of the hand.

Lye did mention that Seth would try to sway her, was this it? Was he just trying to play her emotions?

“How did you do it?” Amari asked, praying for information, and to sate her own curiosity. “I will tell you more about my own in exchange.”

“I am a Hex Magi, my magic requires me to shred my soul and use the torn off piece to fashion magic. It gives me power and flexibility I have yet to be matched in. The problem is, as you do this, you lose your sense of self. Eventually you just become power hungry and lose who you were, sometimes you forget what you even took the power to do,” His voice trailed off as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall, “Don’t worry, Lye found most of that out, you needn’t worry him with that. He knows, even stole some of my magic for himself. Have you seen him harvest sins? That’s mine.”

“I've felt it.” She muttered. Amari was no stranger to the absolute will that was her Master, nor his abilities.

“I’m sorry then, It’s not particularly nice…” Seth said genuinely.

“Don't be, I'm used to it.” She said, not quite understanding what he was pulling. He was working some sort of angle, Amari was sure of it. Seth being an enemy Amari couldn't help but feel for the man, having your soul ripped to pieces? She couldn't imagine it.

“I heal souls, and could probably fix yours, if temporary.” Amari said nonchalantly, wondering how he'd react, before he could however, she continued. “My soul is marred, dripping in beautiful shades of black and red. I am a being made of pure mana, one not meant for harm.” She shrugged, “apparently my species have all but died out- no doubt due to such weak, pacifist natures.”

“Not a weakness by the way. Destruction is easy, even a villager with a knife can do it. How many people can create, or prevent destruction? That’s where power lies…” He held up a finger and tapped her shoulder with it.

Amari bat his hand away. “So says the man who reveled in the destruction he sought, fuckin’ hypocrite.”

“You’d think that makes me the expert on that,” Seth countered, “It’s true.”

The conversation was going nowhere fast, Amari sighed, shifting it to another topic. She gestured to the bowls before him. “That's all you're getting this week, by the way. Eat up, or not. I don't give a damn.” Amari sighed rubbing her temples. “This was not how today was supposed to go.”

“Does it ever?” Seth returned as he began to dig into the tray, “Same time next week?” He said as he offered up the empty tray to Amari.

“I doubt it, if I am not punished. He will do so himself, and if I come back with no information, then this little tit for tat would be considered a failure in his eyes.” Amari said as she took the bowl and carelessly tossed it to the tray. “I don’t get you.” Amari muttered, bringing her knees to her chest. “What’s gotten you so docile? Surely being around me doesn’t have such an...instantaneous effect on you.”

“Don’t care honestly,” Seth replied, “I mean, sure you could sit here and make my life hell, but that's not you. You only did that because I goaded you. So obviously it's not what you are about. That means, no matter how hard you try, you’re still a mana spirit devoted to life,” Seth answered.

Amari thought about his response. She probably should make his life a living hell, she should be attempting to rip pieces of flesh off him, break his fingers, pull out clumps of hair...hell, anything other than sitting there like the useless, apathetic waif she was. “Mmmm…” Amari lowered her gaze to the floor, mumbling more to herself than to her cellmate. “And that is a weakness I must fix…”

“Weakness? No, its caution. You know I could murder you, you’re not being stupid about it,” Seth offered to the Ar’Tuel.

Amari grinned. “So what if you did? They’d drag my lifeless corpse outta here and I’d be back on my feet in a matter of hours.” Amari stood, and stretched, arching her back with her hands held high. “Really, if nothing is to come of this, me being here is a waste of time.”

“Tell him Liliana gave up on me, and that when she left, it was her telling me she was done. I don’t have her anymore…” He said firmly, “That should tickle his fancy. The thought I am suffering will blind him to how useful it actually is.”

“The bitch on the stairs?” Amari asked, “Right. Noted.” Amari sat herself back down on the floor, still sitting opposite Seth. “Then I suppose it’s just a waiting game till time's up, no?”

“That Bitch, is the mother of my daughter, and someone who stood by me when I almost let my corruption eclipse me. Give her some respect,” Seth replied firmly.

“Call it how I see it.” Amari responded. “She left you, and your daughter no? Sounds like something a bitch would do to me. You don’t just abandon someone when shit hits the fan, tch...not very loyal is she?”

“You seem keen on loyalty,” Seth responded, “I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”

The conversation began to grow more volatile, and Seth wasn’t sure if she was doing it out of boredom or to prove a point. “Pray tell, what do you think it means?” She asked.

“It certainly doesn’t mean giving someone the keys to destroy themselves,” Seth replied firmly. He then sighed as he looked up, “She was loyal, until I betrayed that loyalty. Keep in mind, that was the first time she saw me since the night our daughter was taken. How loyal would you be to that? The fact she told me at all without backstabbing me is a Thayne blessed miracle.”

Scarlet didn’t respond, she gripped her legs tight and placed her chin in her knees. “Mmm.” Her eyes lowered and it seemed that the fire she had moments before had extinguished.

“I will never lie about how terrible a person I am. I know what my actions have done and I accept responsibility for them. At the end of the day, if me being a monster out here means one less person is after Cassandra, and by extension after my daughter I would drench my blade in the blood of infants to keep my daughter alive,” He said firmly. His tone softened as he spoke almost to himself, “No parent should outlive their child…”

“Master outlived his.” Scarlet mused as she crawled over to Seth, now sitting between his legs. Seth watched warily, his hand splayed out as if preparing to draw a blade. As the woman reached out to place her palms on his chest, she pressed down onto his scarred skin and he felt his heart race in anticipation. as her fingers lit up in that same soft golden glow, it seeped into his skin.

His hand gently folded over hers as he spoke, “What are you doing?”

“Shut it. Gotta concentrate.” She muttered, the glow crackled and he felt a sedated heaviness set into his muscles and bones, it was calming but slightly alarming. Then, the warmth felt as though it was tugging at his very core. He knew the feel of something messing with his soul, he had done it enough himself. Immediately he shoved yet back as he hissed;

“You're a damn fool for taking pity on a Hex Magi...don't mess with their soul, you don't know the consequences.”

She looked a little worse for wear, her eyes were covered by a curtain of crimson locks, and beads of sweat dripped to the floor in small plops. Her breathing became heavy and he could feel the heat radiating from her body. Still, she simply laughed at him and repositioned herself to continue, once again her hands fell to his chest and he could feel pieces of his soul become pressed together, the cracks and patches being filled.

“Stop it!” He said as he carefully gripped her wrist and pulled her hand off his chest, “That’s enough, we’re through. You’re helping the enemy, for all your talk of loyalty…”

“Am I?” She asked, her voice wavering as she pushed herself to a seated position. “Despair burns brighter when fuelled by hope.” She muttered as her head lulled forward. “S-sides, I can take that all away. Destroy what I have mended….Like it would matter. He doesn’t exactly seem to care what I do, never good enough.”

“You aren’t that dark, I’ve seen true evil, you’re more tepid than cold,” Seth replied looking at her callously. He let out an amused snort as he carefully pulled her hand off his chest again, “Also, while you might be able to rescind what you took, I can use it as well. Remember what I use to fashion my spells…”

“Is that a threat?” She asked, still fighting back even in her weakened condition.

“No, It's just letting you know what you’re doing,” Seth replied.

“That’s a shame, this is getting a little dull.”

“Would you prefer I stab you? I mean, I could do so, you’ve seen how I can. If you need to get stabbed I can make that happen, hell I’ll throw in a broken bone free of charge…”

She shrugged, “Honestly. We have a lot of time to kill, let’s face it, Master Ulroke didn’t throw me in here so we could get all buddy buddy, he assumed you would have mutilated me, that’s what he wants. If I come out of this unscathed, it’d piss him right off.” She smirked, “I do enjoy pissing him off, but I don’t enjoy his punishments.”

“Three Questions, with three follow ups per question,” Seth replied candidly.

“Oh?” Amari perked up, this was a little better. She could ask him anything she wanted. She had to be careful, and word them correctly. She stared at him, trying to catch the nuance of a joke.

“Choose ‘em wisely. I’m not keen on giving insight,” He replied confirming her suspicions.

“Right..” He was being serious, “I suppose I shall offer you the same courtesy afterward then. It’s only fair.” Amari mused.

“I’ll even promise not to lie,” He said a wry tone entering his words.

“Lucky me.” Amari replied sarcastically. She knew the first question, “Right….” Her words were spoken slow, and pensive, as though she was attempting to word them very carefully. “You clearly don’t fear my Master, and you could quite easily go walkabout. Why do you stay here when you can easily walk free?”


“I need time to think,” Seth replied his voice cracked slightly at the words. They were swift immediate and without any sense of hesitation. He then held up three fingers and spoke, “Three follow ups.”

Amari pursed her lips, she figured this might happen. Her first instinct was to ask why but she had to bite her tongue. That would yield no answers. “What are you reflecting on? Will it adversely affect the Crimson Hand?” There was a pause before her final question. “How long do you plan on ‘thinking’?”

“My daughter. I could give two shits about Lye’s little club, and until I’m ready or the world needs me,” Seth replied as he looked over at Amari, “Question two.”

“Urgh… “ Amari groaned. He was keeping it very short, she would get nowhere. She knew she wasn’t the most keen person, if only Noel were here...he had a tactical mind. “Dammit... “ She muttered, clearly frustrated.

“I’ll give you this one free,” He replied firmly, “My daughter was kidnapped by the Cult of Blessed Torture, and I haven’t been able to locate her. Lye got a free chance at me for telling Liliana where the Cult’s main base is. I may not care about his club, but right now I’m deciding if wading through it is worth it to find out where my daughter is,” He looked Amari in the eye, “I will get myself killed over a hundred times if it meant I could save my daughter from Cassandra Remi, and I would murder every last member of this compound to procure her freedom.”

Amari fidgeted, she wasn’t used to hearing such emotionally fuelled words. “My experiences with my father are unpleasant. You show much conviction. Alright....” Amari knew she shouldn’t be making deals with the enemy, but she also knew Lye’s pride would have the compound destroyed. “Second question, what would you do in exchange for learning her whereabouts?”

He moved and crouched looking her dead in the eyes his tone chilled the Salvar air, “If you know where she is, and I find out you withheld that information? You will find out what Cassandra Remi taught me about torture...Lye is a sadist, but pain is my art. I’m just in need of a new canvas.”

Despite his threat, and the heavy thickness of his anger lingering in the air, Amari still showed no fear. She met his gaze with a defiant one of her own. “The first I heard of her was that night in the tower. I have inclinations at best - but I assure you, you don’t scare me with your threats. How about answering the question?”

“I think that was an answer. I would do whatever it takes, dip my hand in whatever blood was necessary to acquire that information. I don’t give two shits about anyone but her, and I will destroy anyone that gets between the Demon and his daughter.”

“Right, right. Follow up questions then. Would-” She was interrupted.

“You get two more.”

“What? Ugh, that shouldn’t count. Fine. You said Master knows where their base is; I may be able to get that information from him and relay it to you. If I do that, would you give your word not to harm him in any way.” Amari held up her hand to reiterate she was not finished. “I mean any way. Emotional, physical, torture, reputation, his assets.”

“I will defend myself. You’d be asinine to ask such terms and not expect me to gut him when he comes at me. I remind you he sought out Liliana to get at me. He could have hid in this shithole and never seen me again.”

“Fine, if you have to defend yourself against him you can not kill him, I can heal most any wound - but I cannot bring him back from death.” Amari took a deep breath, trying to calm herself at his words. “Deal?”

He stood up and stretched before he spoke, “Not killing him is going to be hard. That bastard doesn’t make it easy. I will do all I can, but at the end of the day, it’s going to be up to your master to remember when he bites off more than he can chew. However, one stipulation. You don’t come to his aide. If you help him fight? I’m going to call it off and gut him quick to prevent this fiasco from ever happening again.”

Amari gave him a wry grin as she crossed her legs. “Aww, I’m flattered. I believe I have one more question…” She trailed off, trying to think of anything more she could ask, she sighed, knowing that the last question was a bit of a stretch. “Do you have any information that would be relevant to Masters interests in obtaining control over the Slavic region?”

“Denebriel is the heart of the Church of the Ethereal Sway. Godhand wouldn’t shut up about it. She’s a Forgotten One that used to craft and control elementals as her forces. Point is, the sway is tap based perversion that’s eating away at Salvar like a cancer. With Denebriel gone it’s just biding it’s time, and one day, when she returns to lead them on their crusade, there won’t be a single mage to stop her. If he’s going to take over, he has to assassinate the church...and I don’t mean their leader.”

Amari blinked, not expecting such an elongated answer, she expected a ‘Yes.’ and then she’d have to work around her follow up questions. “Fuck me…” She muttered as she ran a hand through her hair. “I knew we’d have to take the church eventually... “ She started thinking out aloud, “I wonder how things would have panned out if I did end up being sold to them…” She shook her head. “Follow up questions….”

“You’d probably be turned into their newest mage hunter,” He replied, “Two more again…”

“What the fuck is a mage hunter?” Amari spat, completely wasting one of her questions. Her eyes widened at the realisation, Seth grinned at her lost opportunity.

“Mage hunters are Denebriel’s insidious way of prevent anyone from stopping a return of the Forgotten ones. See, all mages to some degree use the Tap to fuel their spells. The concept is simple, kill all the tap users, no one can stop you from using the Tap. No one stops you from using the tap, you win a war because they’re waving around metal sticks, and you’re wielding magical fire that incinerates them alive,” Seth replied. “To actually answer your question, they’re mages that are trained to use their connection to the tap to sense other tap wielders and murder them. You’d be an assassin of a different stripe, and that’s about it. Of course like all mad dogs, they’d work you into a frothing rage, and when you become too unstable, you get let off the leash and hunted by your replacement. Kinda a sad way to go, you’re kinda cute. Course you frown too much…”

“Excuse me?” Amari asked, “I swear you said I wasn’t your type.” She huffed, crossing her arms. “Losing your mind in your old age are we?” She said with a small smirk. “Do you know of a way to infiltrate the church?”

“You’re excused,” Seth responded. “I guess that’s all three. You want more questions you gotta earn them now.”

“What? That’s bullshit, that wasn’t a question. It was an exclamation at best. Fine… I know you won’t budge. Your turn.”

“I mentioned that a parent shouldn’t outlive their child. You replied your master had. What happened?” Seth asked, immediately on the attack.

Scarlet shot him a dark look, unhappy with his question. “He had a daughter, and she died. Three follow up questions.” Amari said, keeping the same short answers that he had given her.

“Is the killer dead now?”

“I’m not sure, Master hadn’t mentioned in full detail, I believe the people he thinks are responsible are dead.”

Seth nodded as he muttered, “Good. Next follow up, Is the mother dead as well?”

Scarlet glanced away, her voice quiet. “His Ex wife? Yes.”

“Final follow up, does he think I’m involved?”

She was quiet for a few moments, her fingers nervously playing with the velvet material of her dress. She gave a small sigh, “If he believes you are, he has not mentioned it, but he does have an unabashed hatred for you so it is quite possible. Next.”

Seth gave her a wan smile before he spoke, “I don’t have any reason to hide my kills. If I killed Ulroke’s kid, I would have taken ownership of that. I assure you, I had no clue he even had a family. Second question, You claim to be loyal to Ulroke. You wear it as a badge of pride, yet you constantly wish to harass and annoy him to the point he tries to get you killed washing the cock and balls of a notorious killer. Why?”

Scarlet smiled at this, she closed her eyes as she started to rub her hands together to bring warmth to them. “Easy. Because I want to see his emotions. Prove he isn’t the heartless man he claims to be. It’s almost like a game between us.”

“Did you know I’m the reason he tries to be a heartless bitch?”

She glanced at him with questioning eyes, but to her credit, she held back instead she gave him a stoic answer. “I see... Two follow ups.”

”Is your loyalty because he rescued you?”

“Partly. He made me what I am today, and partly, because I made a promise not only to him, but to myself. That I’d make him one day smile in earnest.” She said as she turned away from him. “A feat I feel is nigh impossible, but, I’m stubborn. I don’t know when to quit.”

“Obviously…” Seth chided. He got up and in a motion grabbed his Jacket and deposited it about her shoulders. A tuneless hum escaped his lips as he contemplated the actions of the woman behind him. Finally he threw out his final follow up, “What would make you lose your loyalty to him?”

“Eh?” Scarlet tilted her head as she grabbed the corners of the jacket. She seemed off put by the question. Still, she answered it with conviction. “At this point in time, I can think of nothing that would sway my loyalty. I may act on my own accord at times, I may do things he dislikes, but I won’t abandon him nor his cause, no matter how foolhardy it may be.”

“Pity,” He replied honestly, “He’s not worth your loyalty, but that’s an argument for another time.” He buttoned up his shirt as he picked up the vest and buttoned it up as well. Once again dressed as he normally was he paced about the woman contemplating his final question as he looked at her and snorted softly and shook his head, “Why don’t you have weapons?”

“I am a weapon.” She said as she tilted her head up toward him with a goading smile, she reached out her hand, holding up two fingers. “You know the drill.”

“I haven’t asked a follow up yet...I still have three. Unlike you I can keep my mouth shut when I need to…” He admonished as he looked her square in the eyes, “Soul magic, I noticed it. I’m somewhat familiar with the concepts as it’s a branch of magic that shares remarkable similarities to Hex Magic. Is your soul magic the reason you can’t use traditional weapons?”

“I assume so, I know little of my race but that is the conclusion I have drawn.”

“You and me both,” He muttered as he looked at the ceiling, “What happens if you do grab a weapon?”

“I’ve tried, and I’ve trained in a few sword and dagger techniques… but it seems no matter how hard I try, I remain beginner at best.” She shook her head, “One time I tried shooting bow and arrow, half the time I’d hit myself in the face with my hand or the drawstring. Not exactly the finesse an assassin would need. I have good range with what I do.”

“So it’s not that you can’t, it’s that you’re magically inept…” He mused. His eyes looked about his cell as he casually wrapped the chains about his wrists and began to do a few practice punches about him. He pondered his final follow up before he spoke, “Are you trained in your magic, or are you floundering around while Ulroke tries to figure it out for you?”

“I train myself, Master Ulroke and myself wish to know more, and I am currently looking into that, but for now-” There was a pause as she pursed her lips, before she finished she stood, letting the jacket fall to the floor, and approached him. Scarlet approached Seth and pushed him back till he hit the far wall. His hand moved up to disengage her in a practiced maneuver his eyes hardening in an instant as he prepared for a fight.

She turned and stood on the opposite side of the cell to him, and with a crackle and snap four tentacles rose up and out of her back, sizzling with a thick and dark manifestation of her soul. “It comes somewhat naturally to me.” She said, extending her arms in a sweeping motion. “As you can see.”

“It’s soul magic, that’s the point. That’s why Hex Magic is BASED on it…” Seth retorted, “But you don’t even know what those are capable of. Hell no one should know, I mean you are literally manifesting your soul as a weapon. Something happens to those tentacles and you’re going to get a front row seat to my life…”

“I know a few things of what they’re capable of, but why waste time explaining, or showing? You clearly have a solid idea.” She narrowed her eyes. “Calm down, I’m not going to attack you unprovoked.”

“Excuse me for being on edge when a woman has literally drawn weapons on me to show me all the neat shit they can do…” His tone dry, “Now put them away, this isn't a pissing contest…” She shrugged, and they flickered out of existence. He relaxed, “What concerns me more is that you can’t even control it and it comes out even in idle touch...Soul Magic requires you have your soul under lock and key, and well that means actually experiencing life. I always envy Soul mages, they just get what their life is about and do it. Maia was always confident for that reason…” His tone became wistful as he looked at Scarlet, “The fact that you don’t have your soul figured out is why you’re bleeding that energy into you hands normally. If you just lived your life how you want, and not how someone else wants, you’d actually be able to use those better…”

“Don’t care.” She responded stubbornly, sliding back down to a seated position.

“That’s a lie, the magic doesn’t lie. You’re terrible at it, or you could lie to yourself and pretend to be happy. Instead you’re this angry girl who is stuck in a room with a renowned murderer who has admitted he wants to kill people and has shown no remorse in doing so. It’s not my place to, but I’m just pointing out what your soul is screaming…” He said.

“And yet I’m not afraid of you. I know my soul is screaming. I feel it burning, I feel the cracks. You can SEE the cracks, but I do what I need to do to survive. This world is no place for the pure.” Amari muttered. She wasn’t sure if he was trying to help her or goad her into attacking him so he had a reason to retaliate, but that didn’t seem right. If he wanted to, he’d just do it.

“I see Ulroke sold you his tripe and you gobbled every bite...hate is the only thing that’s pure. The weak only live to justify the strong, You cannot change fate you are stuck by it. Woe is me, I had bad shit happen and caused more of it, but I refuse to accept responsibility for my life,” He replied each word more bitter and harsh than the last. “You sound like me before I died...grow a fucking pair and accept your goddamn life. It’s not perfect but it’s yours. You can play passive till you’re blue in the face, but not choosing is still a choice. Get the fuck over yourself.”

Amari crossed her arms, she didn’t appreciate being scolded by the man. “Stop projecting your own fuckin’ problems onto me.”

“You’re so bland and passive it's too easy to, It’s nothing but “Master this” and “Master that”, you even blew several questions for Lye. Either put a ring on it or move the fuck on,” He retorted.

Amari’s fingers gripped her arms tightly and her jaw clenched. “Why the fuck do you care?” She hissed through clenched teeth, “Why get so bothered by what I do? It has no effect on you whatsoever!” She snapped.

“Because I see a bit of myself in you, and if there’s one thing I hate, it’s myself,” Seth replied as he crossed his arms.

“Then continue hating your goddamn self, but fuck off and leave me the fuck alone and away from your self hating downward spiral. It’s almost dawn so just sit tight, you won’t have to see me again after this.”

He looked up at the ceiling before he spoke, his tone soft, “Once again the point flies right over your fucking head…” He seemed to let it hang, finally he broke the silence, “You could be so much stronger than what Lye has planned for you. You want to settle for mediocre, by all means go ahead Scarlet. I can’t stop you from being mediocre. But if there is one fate that’s worse than death is Mediocrity. Mediocre is forgotten, it’s the background of what’s going on. That you not only choose it, but revel in it is frustrating beyond belief. I wish I could train you, get you to actually control that damn magic, help you understand it. I won’t get to, because you’d rather be mediocre...and that’s a damn shame, because I think you could have been great…”

A silence hung in the air as Amari fumed, trying to calm herself down. “You sound just like Taka.” She mumbled under her breath. The words were vastly different but the notion behind them were the same, offering her help, offering her a different path - away from Ulroke. “Like you’d actually train an enemy.” Amari mumbled again as she glanced up at him, “I won’t leave Ulroke. I want to help him, and I want to ensure something like Eiskalt doesn’t happen again.” She said in a quiet tone.

“Oh, we’re enemies? That’s news to me...enemies have to be more than mediocre, otherwise they're cattle to the slaughter…” Seth goaded. He pushed, “Eiskalt happened because Lye didn’t know what he was looking for. So he decided to do things until something worked. Problem was he let his mediocrity get the better of him and look who was branded the Butcher of Eiskalt. I assure you people forget Lye was there already, they’re only talking about Madison Freebird...that’s mediocrity in a nutshell. He couldn’t get his shit together, so he doesn’t get to claim HIS accomplishment. He told her to do it and she gets all the credit rather than him unleashing her upon Eiskalt. He’s not even in the equation.”

“Shut it.” Amari hissed. He kept hitting nerves, Amari was trying to be calm, and trying to be the better person but the damn man just kept on pushing. “All you’re going on about is mediocrity, fuckin’ shut up.”

“You’re afraid, good. There’s hope for you yet…” He replied as he sat down and let his hair hang before his eyes, hiding his gaze from hers.

“Like I’d be afraid of someone like you!” She snapped, arking up, she lifted herself up off the floor as though she would pounce him. “Just because I’m not a bloodthirsty madman you think I’m afraid? FUCK. YOU.”

“You’re afraid. I’m a predator, I know fight or flight when I see it. You’re puffing your chest out and preparing to fight because that’s how you work through your fear. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, it's one of the few things that’s endearing about you,” He replied as he didn’t even flinch at her tirade, “There is no shame in admitting fear.”

She lunged, Amari had enough of his goading, his teasing and his mirthless grins and smirks. Their encounter was bound to end up like this, the two of them knew it, they had been antagonising each other from the beginning, Amari would never admit it, but she played right into Seth’s hands, and in doing so, played right into what Lichensith wanted. For her to be brutally injured and for Seth to be scathed. Two tentacles protruded from her back and whipped out to the demon, one wrapping around his throat and the other hitting his chest.

In her defence, Amari kept out of arms length from the man, knowing better than to walk into striking distance. Something Taka had said to her, and something that had stuck with her.

Chains uncoiled from his wrists as he swung one around and brought it about her waist. With a jerk he roughly pulled her towards him and brought both hands to either side of her head. Finally he forced her gaze to his as he muttered, “You don’t know the true meaning of pain.” He clamped down on the thought of incinerating alive all those years ago in the Serenti as he sent that pain to Amari and decided to show her he would not be cowed.

Amari gave a bloodcurdling scream and without her concentration the tentacles flickered out, leaving behind small burns on his body. Her skin prickled and her body contorted in his grasp. She struggled to stand, and struggled to breath. Her vision blurred. “F-Fire…” She gasped, almost believing she had been set alight.

But something wasn’t right...he stood over her, his strong palms against her temples, he was not affected. This was some sort of Hex Magic. She was sure of it.

Any normal person would have collapsed from the pain, but Amari had her bones shattered and her flesh torn apart on a daily basis, she often found herself gutted and her entrails left out to hang whilst she was forced to live. Pain was the norm for her.

Amari’s knees buckled and if it weren’t for the demon holding fast to her head, she would have crumpled to the floor, despite this she reached out to him and placed her own shaking hands to his temples. Forcing him to relive her own painful memories.

Pain exploded from about his body as he actually let out a hiss of discomfort. She had gotten him to react to pain. While a rather odd development he had a few lessons to teach her as the pain coursed through his body. A chain-wrapped fist shot for her face as he processed the forced load of emotions.

He was aroused, he was hurt, and he felt betrayed. While each of those had participated in the night, all three at once was not how he had experienced them. It was overwhelming to say the least and he decided to vent one of them into Scarlet as he pulled her in and gave her a lust fueled kiss. Her warbled cries faltered into the kiss as her body trembled in his grasp, her eyes shut and there was a low and pained moan, with nuances of the same frustration that was coursing through himself.

He pressed her against the wall as he hungrily ground against her, the lust finding its match in the fiery red head. He was glutting in sin as his hands roughly traced the contours of her body. He aggressively bit her neck at the base as he growled lowly, “Tempting me like that was a bad idea…”

Her body shook against his as his hex magic long outweighed her own. Her body twitched and the thick velvet dress clung tightly to her body, her head lulled forward to rest between the crook of his neck. He felt her inhale deeply and could hear her holding back gentle murmurs betraying her own arousal at his advances. “F..fuck you…” She hissed.

He roughly grabbed her by the chin as he looked deeply into her eyes and whispered, “Thought you'd never ask…” Another lust laced kiss was unleashed upon her as he pulled the dress lower.

She pressed shaking hands to his chest, and it was difficult for Seth to ascertain if her body was reacting from his advances or the feeling of being set on fire. She feebly tried to push him away, but failed, instead her hands fell, one of her fingers caught the hem of his pants. “H-How does it f...feel being skinned alive?” She chided.

He kissed her roughly again as he whispered, “It was nothing compared to electrocution. But you unleashed some pent up needs. Didn't know you were into rough sex…”

“D-Didn’t ask…” She replied, her trembling voice goaded him to graze his teeth along her collarbone and she arched her back, hissing in response.

He nibbled an ear whispering, “Tell me what you want…” he nibbled down her neck before he gently tweaked a nipple, playing with her exposed flesh. Still grinding into her.

Her hand shot to the back of his shoulder, her touch burned his skin, she had no way of concentrating and under the duress of pain and pleasure her soul magic was unstable. Seths skin prickled, parts of it reddened and tore away as she pressed him further into her. “Be r...rough…” she muttered, her eyes clouded.

Finally his mind wrapped about the magic and discarded it. He had ridden one of the lines of experience and managed to derail the others as he leaned into her, feeling the cold stone of the walls. A hand slammed against the wall by her head as he gritted his teeth and got back under control.

His eyes were hidden by a curtain of hair as he breathed heavily, bringing himself under control. He pulled away from her and she crumpled to the floor, gasping for air. He could see the desire and confusion in her eyes before he turned his back on her and said firmly, “Fix yourself. Your chest is exposed…”

He could hear her whimpers, even with the feeling of being burnt alive she barely screamed. He closed his eyes before he turned to her as she righted her dress and said firmly, “Look at me, it's in your head. It's going to leave shortly and your body won't know what to do with it because the pain isn't real. It's going to feel like a rush, like you are at the top of the world...just focus, you're almost there…”

Fucker….” Amari hissed. She didn’t need to be talked through it, she guessed it was all in her head, she used similar magic. Although hers thrust him into the viewpoint of her memories, his just seemed to inflict pain.

“What the fuck was all that about?” She snapped between heaving breaths, sweat dripping down her forehead. “What the FUCK?” Amari spat again, more fire in her voice. “You fuckin’ goad me into attacking you? You pull that shit and you ram your tongue down my throat? What the fuck?”

“That was me dealing with the shit you put in my head, you got no one to blame but yourself,” He replied pointing at her before he tossed his coat over her.

“You started it with what you put in my head.” Amari grumbled, shifting to press her head to the floor. She was exhausted and her skin still prickled with the residual effect of his hex ability. “Ugh..” She welcomed the cold of the stone. Amari wasn’t sure how much time had passed, nor how long it was till morning. Seth was getting on her nerves, he kept pushing her buttons and it was infuriating. “Wasn’t my intention to get you off.”

“I could say the same thing!”

Amari laughed, “I suppose I did get some reactions outta you, just because I was being burned alive, don’t think I didn’t notice.” She slowly lifted her head, then using the wall as leverage, pushed herself back to her feet. “Do you have any semblance of time in here?”

“Day and night get fuzzy round here,” He replied truthfully as the burns began to fade and disappear from his skin. He looked up at the ceiling before he moved back to the walls, “Hear boots, probably your pet succubus back from sucking a soul through a dick.”

“Shit.” Amari hissed. She knew what would come if she didn’t return injured. “Shit. Shit. Shit.” She glanced up at Seth, “This waste of time is your fault.” She shifted her hand to her arm, and it lit up in the same crackling red energy from before, the light tore through her skin and her arm twisted violently, snapping the bone in her forearm. Amari cried out, but caught herself. She shifted her good hand to her chest, splaying out the palm, her skin eroded away into angry red welts and purple bruising.

“You know, I could have just broken your jaw. He'd have said something about finally getting some quiet and probably accepted I did what he wanted to do…” Seth offered. His gaze showed a bit of sympathy, even as he moved away from her and the door opened. He seemed to take on a whole new persona as he stiffened, readying for battle. He glared balefully at Avencia before he put on a show, “Tell Ulroke next time, I won't be so gentle.”

Avencia’s nose flared and she narrowed her eyes at Seth, then down at his still semi erect dick. “I smell the lingering scent of lust in the air.” She glanced down at Amari, then kneeled down to her to help her over her shoulder. “And I smell your skin on hers. If I find you’ve done anything to Mistress-”

“Advencia, Enough.” Amari breathed, surprisingly still conscious, although the amount of blood that steadily poured from her wounds would soon put an end to that.

“You want a ticket back to the abyss? Keep pushing succubus. Don't you have a dick somewhere to suck like a straw?” Seth replied.

“Jealous?” She hissed back, her tail flicking side to side. Unlike Amari, Advencia was incredibly adept at avoiding attacks, and was deadly skilled with not only her fists, but with a blade. “You want to fight? I’ll….” Advenia’s bright blue eyes widened as she turned to Amari, giving the redhead a small shake. “Mistress?” Amari’s head lolled side to side. The succubus frowned, the anger dissipating. “Couldn’t she have been the one person you just left alone?” She muttered quietly. “Just her.” Advencia shook her head as she turned to leave the cell.

“I am a demon, you tell me? Ulroke is the one at fault, after all this is what he wanted, isn't it? Don't blame a demon for acting in its nature…” He shot back.

Advencia paused, her back to Seth. “I expect this from Master Ulroke, not always from you.” And with those final words Advencia swung the heavy iron door shut behind her, such a feat showing how strong the lithe demonness was. There was a series of clicks as all the locks slid into place, and once again, Seth was left alone in darkened silence.

Silence.

He closed his eyes as he roughly grabbed his coat and draped it across his shoulders. The lie was easy enough to sell, Avencia was sold a story of a man who would brutalize all in his grasp. When Scarlet hurt herself to avoid punishment, Seth added in the unrepentant sinner garbage he knew the succubus would be familiar with. Her ignorance of Seth sold the rest of it.

It galled him he lied to protect the girl, and that's what she was. She had some dirt on her boots, but she didn't know enough to realize she was in trouble. Lichensith Ulroke was a man notorious for his schemes, even when Seth was constantly running into him. This smelled of a larger scheme, and Scarlet had hinted he wanted Salvar.

Truth be told, he was honest when he explained the Church. They were the largest threat to anyone trying to rule the icy wastes of Salvar. It was information he knew Lye lacked, and information he'd act on. It was also another piece she could use to justify seeing Seth again. That, was the true reason she hurt herself.

It wasn't loyalty to Lye’s orders. Coming out unscathed would have made this a non-punishment. At that point the Crimson Assassin would have chosen a different means of punishing his pet soul mage. Seth wasn't sure why the vested interest in the girl, but perhaps with another round of questions he’d get to the bottom of it.

He curled up in a corner, feeling the adrenaline of preparing to fight Avencia wear off and with it fatigue gripped him. How often he'd see the girl, he didn't know, but he knew one thing fasting wasn't his idea of a good time. He had maybe a month at this rate before he would waste away.

The Demon grabbed sleep, fitful as it was. He still wasn't sure if going for Lye would be the right play yet or not. Either way, preparing to leave meant he'd have to prepare to fight Ulroke. The Crimson Assassin wasn't stupid, he'd probably feed Seth just enough to keep him going and hope his body would atrophy to the point he’d be a true captive. That much he grasped, and yet Ulroke didn't leave him to starve. That meant he wanted Seth ready for something…

The succubus was another issue in and of itself. She was a true demon, but maintained some strength, above that of others like her. She didn't rely merely on seduction and soul devouring, she could fight. Her demeanor changed and for a brief moment he saw that much. Unlike Scarlet’s posturing Avencia had been a predator. The two circled each other looking for weakness. That was information he'd need, especially when he left.

Seth slept, and the Demon dreamed, always the same. Always the passed out girl with white hair, being held by the Dark Mother’s ghouls. Always being forced to disarm, before his jaw was shattered by Cassandra. Always the feeling he had failed her, when she needed him most.

The room warmed as the wrath engine ticked to life, and the Mana began to build…

******

A few weeks had passed since her last encounter with Seth, and Amari wasn’t exactly looking forward to seeing him again. She’d be satisfied if she never saw him again, he was rude and he was a hypocrite. So why is it that she found herself staring at the door to his cell?

A promise, one that would ensure her Masters protection.

“Goddammit…” Amari said with a sigh as she ran her hand through her hair and adjusted the emerald shawl she wore over the same dress she had worn in their previous encounter.

Amari practically kicked down the door with a leather booted foot, “Right!” She commanded. “Listen up old man, I ain’t got a lotta time, but I got some shit you want, and you got some shit I want. I can’t be fucked dealing with the same pain manifesto as last time.” The door swung shut behind her and the reverberated within the small cell. It was clear that Amari had been through quite a lot the past few weeks, the thick cracks that adorned her skin were thicker, and she held herself with a more confident air. She had more clarity, sense of worth, and was not ready to be pushed around or manipulated by the man.

The Lavinian Demon didn't even flinch as she came into his cell. The chains were wrapped about his wrists and he didn't even pretend to be a chained beast anymore. He let a soft grin light up his face as he said, “We going for a walk? I promise to behave if you let me off the leash for a bit…”

Amari’s eyes narrowed. “No can do, we’re not leaving this room, I assume you can already do this, but-” Amari paused as she broached the gap between them. As usual, unafraid in the very real face of danger. She took his hand and wriggled her finger in the gap between his skin and the metal of his shackle. Amari was more precise, more practised with her soul magic. She was able to concentrate it on certain areas, leaving Seths skin unmarred. The metal hissed and groaned as it melted away from her finger before dropping to the floor. Amari repeated the process with the second one. “That’s all I can offer you.”

Seth rubbed his wrists as he looked up at her and nodded, “I suppose this will have to do. Nice work by the way, you're learning quickly…” His tone held a bit of genuine thanks in it as he looked up at her, “So you're here for a reason, let's get to brass tacks.”

Amari nodded, unclipping the shawl, she let it drop to the floor before sitting on it, well within arms reach of the man. It didn’t bother her, anything he could do to her, he’d do regardless of the distance and Amari was confident she’d bounce back from it. “It’s amazing what one can do when not being goaded into fits of rage, isn’t it?” Amari chided. “Same as last time, 3 questions and 3 follow up questions. Then, I want to discuss another matter.”

He scratched his hair as he nodded sagely, “I see. Well I suppose you can go first again, unless you want time to figure out what you're going to ask. I suspect the new business is the true reason you're here, you just want the questions to justify it to Ulroke.”

Amari gave a wry smile, “You know he keeps his subordinates on a tight leash. I believe it is your turn to go first, oh Demon of Lavinya.”

His eyes looked at her before he spoke candidly, “Your name isn't Scarlet. I know that much, who are you really? Not this ‘I'm Scarlet bullshit.’”

The woman grinned, and Seth knew she was going to keep her answers short and concise. “My name was Amari L’Olfsden.”

Seth carefully sussed out her name before he spoke, “Noble family. Salvarian, I almost broke into their library to steal some books during my year long rampage. Decided against it, figured they didn't have anything I hadn't already read…” He mused before he nodded, “That’s your game...alright. I forfeit my three follow ups Amari.”

“Shame.” Amari mused, “There was a book there that may have interested you, but I digress. You probably were right. Fine, next question.”

“I was looking for books from Mordechai, I doubt your family even knew who that was. I digress, next question,” he replied and looked at her, “You a masochist?”

She furrowed her brows, confused by the sudden subject of the question. “Hmm. I did willingly come back here.” She joked, “I suppose I am, yes. Your follow ups?”

“Lye abuses that fact, doesn't he?” Seth asked calmly. The Demon did find some humor at the joke, but he needed to know how much Ulroke had abused the girl.

“Master does punish me for insubordination, but we don’t exactly jump in the sack each time…” She trailed off and adjusted herself, trying to get comfortable, a futile effort. “He abuses, to put it simply, if anything I think the fact I retain some enjoyment from it bothers him at times. Two more.”

“Is that what you want? To be used and abused till you can't help him anymore? I'm not judging, well I'm lying I'm judging. I'm just trying to gauge who you are Amari L’Olfsden,” he hid his eyes behind his hair.

“I’d prefer if you went by Scarlet, but I see that is an effort in futility…” She muttered, absently playing with her long crimson hair. “That’s a bit of a wasted question. Who in their right mind would want that? No, I don’t, I still want to, and will help him, but I’m not to be tossed aside or disposed of. Last question.”

He looked at her deadpanned as he seemed to be studying her silently. He's tilted to the side as if he was deciding something even as the wheels in his head continued to turn. Finally he spoke, “That's good to hear. I was worried for a second you'd just let him use you up for selfish pride of duty. Thank you for proving me wrong.”

He let the words hang in the air before he finally breached the final topic, “Where is my gear?”

“Don’t know, I guess in underground storage as a spoil of war.”

“Did he try to grip Ebony and Ivory?”

Amari gave him a confused look. “I’m….not sure. I don’t exactly ask him about those sort of things. If doing so caused something detrimental to him, he’d probably try to study it, or have it destroyed though.”

His eyes went dead before he shook his head. He bristled, “If he damaged those blades I will rip his spine out his asshole and beat him to death with it…” He wrestled with the concept before he clenched his fist and said, “That means they're with him for now. Good to know.”

Amari’s eyes narrowed and her amused grin fell as he told her of what he would do. He knew she had some sort of loyalty to the man, and did not like to hear such things, but it was truth. He didn't like when people fucked with his things.

“I suppose I will ensure they aren’t damaged. Final follow up?”

“I would say that asking you where his bed chambers are is off the table. You are his loyal servant after all,” He offered. He sighed before he looked at her, “Would he have separated the equipment or kept it together? I know, I'm short a couple of questions. It doesn't thrill me either.”

“You’d have to tear my own spine out before I divulged that information. You’re asking me things I am not certain on, Master can be lazy, he’s probably-” She paused, “I see…” She shook her head, “he’s probably tossed it all carelessly onto the one pile somewhere. If you’re planning your escape, you may not be able to get everything.”

“I have time for specifics. Even if I can't get them through you, though it's in your best interest to help me with those, because that means less time rampaging through here, less chance Lye gets pulled into the fray,” He replied candidly. He then gestured to her, “That's my three, your turn.”

“It is also in my best interest to not give you the entire layout of the Sanctum’s grounds, even if it were to protect my Master.” Amari was cautious, Seth was fishing more and more for very sensitive information. She wasn’t too fond of it, but, she had similar questions herself.

“What was your involvement with the Ixian Knights?” Amari asked, her emerald and golden eyes watching him carefully.

“Simple deal, Sei protects my daughter, I put the blood on my hands he's too chicken shit to do himself,” He replied before he grumbled, “In hindsight I should have known better. Damn immortal put me at ease...made me think it could work.”

Amari frowned, rubbing her chin. She didn’t recall seeing anyone or hearing of anyone named Sei when she found Samantha. She knew Lye was looking for Sei, and Lye held a lot of contempt for the man. Amari wasn’t sure if Seth was genuinely being thoughtful or if it were a ruse to make her waste her followup questions. “Do you know of his whereabouts now?” Amari asked, she had a feeling Seth may just assume the man was with his daughter, but the red headed assassin knew it to not be true, or that Sei was concealing himself.

“No, he ran after Eiskalt. Footed Taka the bill and disappeared with the rest of his damnable family. Taka couldn't hold them together, too green so they disbanded last I heard,” he replied, “I don't care if I see him again, probably put a gauntlet through his face”

You wouldn’t be the first. Amari thought to herself as she hid an amused grin behind her splayed hand. She had two more follow-up questions. Sei was a dead end, and it seemed that Seth knew little of the current position the disbanded Knights were in.

You know….” Amari mused as she shifted again, spreading her shawl out as best she could before rolling onto her stomach. “I paid a visit to the Castle of Ixia, I was told of a few things, hidden away from many more - I assume you’re not going to take kindly to this, but… are there any secrets you think I’d find interesting hidden away in its depths?”

“I'll be generous and count this as a follow up as this has nothing to do with me being a knight,” he replied looking at her pointedly, “I worked for Sei’s assassin corp in the tunnels under the keep. You can reach Radasanth through them and get to many places. Some that haven't seen people in ages. I'm sure an assassin would find that interesting.”

Amari bit her lip, she was going to ask him about the demon in Taka’s soul, but she chanced that he wouldn’t count that as a follow up question. She made a mental note to ask more about the tunnels another time. “If the Ixian Knights were to band together again, would you join them?” Her final question had no ulterior motive, it was simply her own curiosity.

“Depends, do I have my daughter back, and were they the cause? No? They can go fuck themselves,” he said honestly.

“I’ll be sure to tell them that next time I see one of them.” Amari said with a small grin. She had to appreciate that they were just talking now, and that there was no anger between them. As uneventful as it was, it was also useful. “So, you’re planning on escaping soon it seems, when do you plan on doing it?” Amari didn’t need to think about the next question, it was obvious Seth was making a move.

“Soon as I decide if torturing Lye and leaving him for you to fix tells me where Samantha is,” he looked at her, “I'm not kidding about what I will do for her.”

“It won’t.” Amari said flatly. “Don’t go stooping back to his level, Seth. I think I will save my follow-up questions, and my final question for the time being. Amari pushed herself up off the ground. It was time to show him the real reason she had come back.

Amari reached out to press her thumbs against his head, his grey eyes looking up at hers before he spoke, “I'm already down here Amari.”

“Don’t make me regret this.” She chastised, as she pressed her fingers to his temples; and Seth was thrown into her memories. Reliving them as though he was watching through her eyes, feeling the same things she felt, seeing the same things she saw, it was a dangerously real play to him.

Amari did not show him torturers flaying her alive, she did not show herself being hung upside down and drowned, she didn’t show beating after beating.

Before his eyes, lit by a crackling fire, was his daughter, laughing at something Amari had said.

His breath hitched in his throat as she showed him Samantha. Not the guarded woman he had tried to help, but Samantha. This was a side of her he never saw, she had always seemed so withdrawn. Now, he saw her and tears gently fell from his eyes as he managed, “Sam…”

The memory continued, and he spoke, but he spoke with Amari’s voice; and had no control over what he was saying. “I’m being serious, fuckin’ pans and pots out of thin air, and he got all high and mighty about it too...I mean, if I had powers like that I’d-”

Sam interrupted, “God, sounds like my dad. All that power, fuck all he does with it…”

“Well, his soul is pretty messed up. I should know, I touched it. Suppose he ran out of oomph. I ain’t wise to hex magic users, dunno if that’s what happens to them all. What would you do with it?” Seth had to watch as Amari moved her eyes away from Sam, to the fire before them. Seth wanted to see her again, but he was forced to act out as Amari in the memory.

“Wouldn't know. Only active Hex Magi I know about are him and his cousin Beatrix. Lady Freebird didn't know much on the topic, she just opened up my ability to use it.”

Seth felt the tangled mess of hair fall over his bare shoulders, and the warmth of another body. He watched as Amari turned to see Sam resting her head on Amari’s shoulder. The sensation was the closest he’d ever been to his daughter, and it wasn’t even his memory. “I’m sick of people telling me not to use it. No one understands. You seem to though.”

And with that, the memory faded away as Amari pulled her hands away from his temples, deftly wiping his tears with her thumbs. “That’s two reactions I’ve gotten from you.” she said quietly.

“You cheated….you gave me what I needed, but never asked…” he replied, putting a tough front up, even as he pulled himself back together. He looked up at her and spoke, “You did this for Lye, didn't you?”

“He sent me to her, yes.” Amari pursed her lips. “I don’t think he counted on us becoming friends though. He said I have no time for such frivolous things, but fuck him. I like her. I showed you, for you, however. I could have just given you a location, but I wanted to keep my end of the deal we made.”

“I want the location, but I'll take the memory for now. Thank you, it's reassuring to know she has someone who isn't trying to twist her to some sick end….” he looked up at her, “I owe you…” She shrugged in response.

“Don’t get too sentimental, your whole ‘demon’ facade will slip. Just keep up your end of the deal. Don’t kill Ulroke, and if I may chance, do your best not to maim him too much. He’s suffered enough. Let me deal with his shortcomings.”

“I….” he actually stopped himself and thought through his words, his tone dropping, “I will leave him to you. He hunts me though, so know I will make him regret it. Did you tell her the Crimson Hand have me?”

“She knows I am Lye’s right hand, and knows I spoke to you in a cell, so I assume so. Although I didn’t outrightly say it.”

“It's up to Sam then, if she acts on it I'm up shit creek. That's going to limit what time we have left Amari, I'm sad to say. Though I don't think I'm ready to take Lye head on, he's got me on the no food diet….”

Amari sighed again, muttering under her breath. “The shit I do…” she stood and reached under her dress, and pulled out two small bread rolls. He raised an eyebrow before it wiggled teasingly.

“Shut it, I have a pouch attached to my thigh. If you don’t want them I’ll just throw them to the pigs.”

“I'll eat them, just wasn't expecting to eat betwixt your thighs….” he replied, letting the joke slip out nonchalantly.

“Considering our last encounter, you coulda fooled me.” She said as she tossed the rolls toward him. He deftly snatched them them out of the air before he took a hearty bite out of one.

“I said I wouldn't fuck you, not that I didn't want to,” he replied genuinely as he continued to eat the roll. He raised an eyebrow as he said, “Damn good bread, didn't know Lye hired a cook….”

“I made it this morning. Ground the flour yesterday and added my own blend of ground spices to the mix. Now, if you don’t mind….back to the questions?”

He nodded, “Suppose I owe some answers.”

“Last follow up question, knowing what you know now; are you planning an escape any time soon?” She didn’t hesitate to get straight back into it, she gave him his reprieve, she gave him glimpses of his daughter. Things that meant more to him than she would ever know.

“Sooner than I anticipated. I don't know if she's with the Dark Mother, but if she's moving freely abound where she is and not chained to Aerith's wheelchair then I can't assume I'm safe here.”

“Chained?” Amari asked, a little surprised. “No, but there was someone in a wheelchair there, and she wasn’t exactly allowed to leave the compound, honestly. I’m surprised they let me stay.” Amari shrugged, speaking her thoughts out loud. “Perhaps because I was sent on behalf of the Hand, maybe because I didn’t go on some tirade about what she should and shouldn’t be doing. If she were chained I’d not be happy about it….” Amari muttered, not exactly liking this new information he had given her. “In short...I don’t think she’d leave where she is right now…” Amari tapped her chin. She had more thoughts on the matter. She glanced up at Seth, only now noticing his hair.

“You hair has gotten whiter, why is that?” After all her careful planning, she foolishly wasted her last question on a whim of curiosity.

“Mana Burn, I'm a shit version of you.”

“Dammit, we need to figure out a clause where we stop screwing each other over with these answers…” Amari muttered. Seth mirthlessly laughed. “Fine. Follow up question. What does mana burn do to your body?”

“Let me explain it like this, you are a fine tuned machine that lets through water at efficient and highly capable pressure. I'm a bad copy of you. I'm the guy that understood the principle just enough to cobble together one that works. It can even match you, but working at that capacity burns the engine out….” he explained.

“Hence the madness, and tattered souls. Etc etc….” Amari muttered, realising she had wasted her final question. “I don’t have a follow up.” She stood and picked up her shawl, shaking out the dust and crumbs from it, then clipping it back around her shoulders.

“Actually that's Hex Magic in general. The ramifications are a bit worse for mana burn, my body's burning out Amari….”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Before I go, I want to ask, and by all means do not feel obliged to answer. Have you ever hugged her?”

“Not since the Night of Debauchery. She had shown up that day and I hugged her as a welcome, I don't think she knew what to do with it honestly,” He said softly.

“Is that so? Here.”

Once again, Amari pressed her fingers to Seths temples, bringing forth another memory.

Samantha gripped me tighter, she was only a foot shorter than I was, her arms looped up and underneath mine, and I could smell the faint scent of lilac lifting from her snowy hair as it tickled my nose. “Scarlet, stay one more night. I feel better...things are less annoying, people don't bother me as much. You take the edge off dealing with this shit hole.”

I wrinkled my brow, scoffing to hide the confusion I felt. “What?” I placed my hands on her head and ruffled her hair as though I was trying to dig into her scalp. “What the fuck’s wrong with you? You mad?”

I felt her hand shift and the cool touch of metal against my skin, I grabbed her arm and roughly pulled it away from me, ignoring the gash on my shoulder, and the blood that dripped from her blade to the floor, my hand shifted to the blade and she allowed me to pry it from her fingers before I dropped it to the floor. There was another sting as my wound healed, alighting in gold. “Next time, dig a little deeper don’t waste your energy.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulder bringing her back in. “And next time I’ll strike back.”

Samantha gave me a grin, “That’s why.I like you Scarlet. You get me. You don't take my crap. Please, spend the night with me?”

“Suppose so.”

“Will you consider the offer to join us?”

The memory faded before Seth could see the answer that Amari had given, and it quickly warped into another; Seth was on his knees, tears stinging his eyes. Amari contemplated continuing, but figured one last one won’t hurt, and to leave him on a positive note.

I watched as her eyes fluttered underneath closed lids, she was curled up under the blankets, which she had taken the most of. Nightmares plagued her sleep. I reached out and allowed a reassuring hand to graze her cheek. She settled, and her murmurs quelled. I came here expecting to garner information for Lye, to establish relationships with the two clans, instead I found this batshit insane girl, who I just so happened to identify with, and understand.

It made me feel oddly warm and comforted…

Amari quickly pulled away. “I need to go.” She wasn’t supposed to show him that much, and wanted to leave before he could question her further. Without another word Amari headed toward the door, knocked thrice, and it opened. Amari gave Advencia a small nod before the door shut, leaving Seth to mull over the visions in solitude.

Sam was okay. He clung to that thought as it took the terror of his nightmares off. He knew she was more free, but she was obviously under Cassandra's influence. Enough to betray him was the question, though if it meant she lived, it was worthwhile.

He understood his father's dying words after all these years.

It shook him to think of that night, all those years ago. The night he killed his parents, paying a price no sane man would. They had taken it in stride, had accepted their Fate with startling calm. It had shaken him out of his sin lust. He never could understand his mother hugging him as he stabbed her in the heart, nor his father telling him he was sorry and proud of him.

He finally did now.

Samantha could never shirk her heritage. Not without being released from it entirely. She was lost, confused, and without anyone. Cassandra was using that to encourage her to be a monster, to throw society aside and indulge. Seth couldn't protect her, and so he would have to make sure she was the best monster she could be. Even if it killed him he could fight back and draw attention to himself, give her time to better herself.

If she killed him, she was ready.

He burned the memories in his mind, her smile. The attack, Amari had been right of course, and the look of determination on her face as she carried it out. He burned those memories into his mind, trying to make them his own. It was like gripping sand, but he was determined, he refused to back down.

He rested less fitfully, the dreams less intense as he prepared his exit. He wasn't ready for his next few rounds with the cult. He couldn't let them win, yet. Not until he was sure Samantha was ready, not until she could defend herself.

Thread: Dying Breed
Participants: Mari & Dissinger
Type: No Judgment

Congratulations!

Mari receives 1,160 EXP and 110 GP (due to Mari's 10% more GP ability).
Dissinger receives 1,750 EXP and 100 GP.

All rewards have been added.