Guilty (Closed)

[Mask of the Warden]

Closed to Mari.

“Gods above are you stupid girl? Stand back, you’re just here as a show of force. Didn’t your dad teach you anything? No wonder he left you with us, stupid cunt.”

It was going to be one of those days.

The clearing before the mansion had been cut back to a much larger area. The house cleaned up by the few Cultists that were allowed to know of it’s existence. The fountain before it was cleared of vegetation to give the illusion the Dark Family actually cared. Truthfully the place looked better as a ramshackle mansion, Samantha just didn’t see the point, but Aerith had insisted on the show.

Samantha wore none of her normal gear, her chain shirt sword and daggers were left back in her room. She felt vulnerable exposed in such a way, but the rules were clear, she was never to be armed around the Dark Family unless they expressly told her to be. One of a myriad of rules that governed her existence now, all thanks to her father’s inability to rescue her. She had her Magic, but even that paled in comparison to any member of the Dark Family save Aerith, but with the other two she wouldn't be able to make a move on Aerith if she wanted to. The red hair of Aerith was pleated in a casual manner, as if she was merely interrupting a long day of events to accomplish her goals.

Jeb was cleaned up, for the hillbilly. His overalls and Jacket looked like someone had actually attempted to get the blood out of them. His attitude showed that he didn’t like actually washing and whoever had given him his bath had probably suffered for his indignity. He held on to his hook knife and Samantha knew well enough to stay away from his right hand. He had already lashed his tongue out a Samantha for daring to stand closer to the Dark Family.

Draug Remi was being Draug, patchwork clothes and muscle ripped body hid the myriad means of deadliness he was capable of. He seemed to be studying the area about and trying to busy himself, much as Sam was. Really there was no reason for Samantha to even be here, so there must have been something the Dark Family wished to discuss with her. The Daughter of the Demon remained boredly standing behind the family while Cultists ran around trying to appease their benefactors. She remained silent not taking Jeb’s bait, knowing the man would love nothing more than an excuse to beat her again. Without her equipment it wouldn't even be a fight.

The sunlight filtered through the canopy and it was a novelty to see the individual beams from all the dust. It was a pleasant day, in stark contrast to the winter. Samantha had dressed as formally as she could, in the pants she had been kidnapped in and a cleaned white button down shirt. Her boots showed a bit of polish as she had tried to look presentable, but as Warden of the Cult her presence was more desired amongst the members, to remind them they were not immune to the predation of the Cult’s higher ups.

In short, she was wasting her time.

She fidgeted slightly before Aerith’s airy voice rose up, “Don’t fidget darling, she should be here any minute. If you must find something to distract yourself I would advise you to go over the Devotions of the Warden.”

[Amari]

“We’re almost there, Scarlet.”

Noel, Amari’s companion held the reigns at the front of the lavish cart. No expense was spared. It was painted a brilliant vermillion with gilded golden trimmed edges. Even the horse that pulled it was the epitome of high statue, a pristine white with a mane stained a charcoal black.

Amari was dressed up in fine silks, cashmere and velvets. Things that she hated, things that reminded her of a past she would rather forget. Her lips were painted a cherry red, her eyes lined in dark makeup, and her eyelids shadowed in deep purple. Her hair, normally a tangled and wavy mess had been meticulously straightened by a doting demoness. Her nails were manicured, and painted to match the shade of her hair and lips. “I hate this…” She muttered. It was a damn shitting contest between the two factions. A sign of wealth and power, Amari could only assume the cult would do the same.

They arrived, the cart coming to a halt.

Amari’s black heeled boots were polished, and clicked against the cobblestone ground as she stepped off the cart, her hand on Noels to steady herself.I hate this so fuckin’ much She took a moment to smooth down the thick crimson skirt she wore, it had a slit that stopped just short of her upper thigh. Its hem was lined with silk ruffles that danced in the soft breeze. Her torso was tightly bound with a ruby red corset, her bosom was pushed up against her, but not so much so that she was spilling out. Thankfully, that was covered by a black cashmere shawl. Something Amari was sure that Ulroke would disprove of. Not that she cared. She wasn’t some whore for him to tote around.

Amari sighed, running a hand through her straightened hair as she approached the group.

She knew she had to be on her best behaivour, she was there as a representative of the hand, as Lye’s second in command. “A pleasure,” Amari said in a steeled tone, lowering herself in a bow. “The hand thanks you for your hospitality.”

A crimson haired woman in a wheelchair looked back to a white haired woman who nodded and carefully took the handles, moving the woman forward, “Of course, I am Aerith Remi, Cassandra’s Dark Daughter, this is Jeb Remi, the Dark Father, and Draug Remi, Champion and Son of the Dark Mother. We regretfully cannot be joined by my Mother, as her preparations have made her unavailable for awhile. However if you should have any needs. I will make sure they are tended to in her stead.”

My usual attire would be a good fuckin’ start… Amari thought bitterly to herself. She forced a small smile. “I appreciate it. As you are aware, I am here to ensure the cult is operating effectively, and is still a viable asset to the hand. I won’t be too much of a bother beyond that.” She paused, “Just don’t piss me off. I am aware my Master has made mention of my…” Amari paused, her eyes falling on Aerith, then to Draug, and finally Jeb. “My abilities.” It wasn’t intended as a threat, nor as a show of power. Lye instructed Amari to remind them of her usefulness to gauge exactly how they’d act, and if they’d try to square off the massive debt they had accumulated with the hand. Amari could do a severe amount of damage, but she could also aid them with alleviating some of Aerith’s symptoms, another thing she was instructed to do.

Draug seemed to bristle under the words as Aerith raised a slender hand and spoke, “Be still brother, you are embarrassing us. Of course we well remember the Hand’s role in returning my wayward sister, and the use of that Immortal Fool in the slaughter of the Ixian Forces. In fact that is why I brought my Warden here. Samantha darling?” She looked up at the white haired woman with a smile.

It was a vile one that seemed to take pleasure in thrusting the girl into the spotlight who carefully locked the wheelchair in position and moved to Aerith's side before kneeling, “Dark Daughter?”

“We have an issue, a member of the Mansion has not been back, and I wish you to silence her before she has a chance to whisper in the wrong ears. Lady Scarlet, would you be willing to assist our Warden, and see first hand the Forgiveness of the Dark Mother? I believe such a woman easily falls within your skills. If your Master has not embellished facts,” She replied keeping that damnable smile on her face as she turned it to Scarlet.

“Dead or alive?” Amari asked, eying Samantha warily. The girl looked like she would just slow Amari down. “Asking such a thing when I have barely stepped foot upon your doorstep. Surely you’d allow me to change into more suitable attire, or are you that eager to enjoy a good show?”

“The stupid bitch has to get her shit together too. You can use the east wing and powder your nose while useless here actually gets ready to try,” Jeb's words were coarse, thrown out more at Samantha than Amari. If Aerith was put off by the outburst, she didn't show it, keeping that smile on her face.

Amari inwardly grumbled, she felt like she was surrounded by a family of Lichensith Ulroke’s, and she wasn’t sure if it wether it annoyed her, or pissed her off more. “Jeb, was it? Escort us to the East wing.” Amari gestured for Noel to approach, he had unpacked a small suitcase. He silently approached, but kept his distance behind her, offering the family a lowered head, showing nothing but the utmost respect for the dark cult.

Jeb seemed like he was about to speak when Aerith rose her velvet voice in reply, “Jeb would be pleased to escort you. I shall give Samantha the relevant information, and the Warden will cooperate with you fully. Warden, she is your handler, you know what that means.” The tone held a harsh edge as the girl murmured her assent.

Amari could practically feel the tension in the air. “I trust there won’t be any problems?” Her green, gold and crimson gaze fell upon Samantha who quickly averted hers away from Amari’s, “Good, no point dilly-dallying then.”

[Mask of the Warden]

Jeb glowered at the kneeling girl before he turned to Amari and spoke up, “This way, my lady.” the words seemed hollow as he stormed towards the mansion. Shoving a cultist out of his way as he let his anger simmer.

The interior of the mansion had seen better days, but the Cult still managed to make it look presentable. Old dingy carpets were cleans as best as possible, though the occasional unexplained stain did appear. Paintings of a bygone age were mostly intact, though the decay of the mansion seemed to hide under the surface. Candles lit the hallways.

“Someone doesn’t seem happy to be escorting the diplomatic red headed bitch.” Scarlet chided, a wry grin on her features as she leant forward eying Jeb. Now away from the larger crowd she seemed more relaxed, and far less accommodating.

“What? No, I just can't stand Dahlios’ kid. If I could I'd have gutted her and faced her father myself,” Jeb grumbled.

“She’s a tiny thing, such hatred.” Scarlet shrugged, unlacing her shawl and throwing it over her shoulder for Noel to catch in one swift motion. “I won’t ask why she bothers you so much, because frankly, I don’t care.”

“Listen, you're her handler. That means you don't need to do shit. But that does mean you have one job, she does the job and she comes back. If she tries to bolt, you bring her back, in a casket if necessary. I'd really love if you gave me her corpse in a pretty box,” Jeb said bluntly.

Amari gave Jeb a small, and jovial slap on his back, offering a catty remark. “Now, now, isn’t it the mans job to woo the lady, not the other way around?” There was a slight pause before she continued, a more serious tone to her. “If she bolts, I cannot guarantee she’d be back in one piece then, but I assume you won’t care about that, and the others?”

“Mail her head to her father. Serves the bastard right for going after my daughter. Serves the useless cunt right for being so useless. I'll pay you if you do it, personally. I don't care the cost, I want to see her father's face when he snaps…” Jeb felt a perverse satisfaction of the thought of a dead Samantha.

The redheaded woman fell silent as they ascended the stairwell. “If it goes to shit, I’ll find him, and deliver it to him personally. Then I’ll come back, and shove that memory straight into that lil’ noggin’ of yours. Free of charge. Because I’m a nice person.” Scarlet offered Jeb a wry grin.

Jeb let out a laugh as he roughly turned a knob, pushing the door open. He pointed, “Three bedrooms, two guest quarters and your main bedroom.”

Before he had time to leave or shut the door Scarlet began unlacing the corset with one hand, signalling for Noel to pull out her regular clothes from the suitcase in the other. “Right, right. Just let me get out of this fuckin’ flimsy dress.”

A snort left his lips before he turned to leave, “Useless will meet you in the hall. Aerith should be trying to give her what she needs to know, I'd bet a gold coin it's in one ear out the other.” With that he left closing the door behind him.

~*~

“You understand the faith I am putting in you Samantha?” Aerith asked softly.

Samantha rose to her feet and nodded, “I'm keeping her from prying into the Dark Mother’s affairs.”

“Very good,” The reply was approving in its tone. Samantha unlocked the wheelchair pushing it back into the foyer. Aerith gestured for another cultist who immediately approached the Dark Daughter. A small scroll was handed to Samantha who took it, immediately reading it. She frowned, “She's an Ixian?”

“We thought she had a change of heart, we were wrong,” Aerith replied.

Samantha nodded a sigh escaping her lips, “She's heading for Castle Ixia or Radasanth. I can't guess which though. If she knew they crumpled after Eiskalt I'd guess Radasanth to report to the Witch.”

“That was my thoughts as well. Find her, make her suffer. You are the Cult's Warden. Give her the Dark Mother’s forgiveness, and be swift. I want you back in a week, I have other tasks which require your touch.”

Samantha nodded at the words before she rolled up the scroll. She bowed for dismissal and received it swiftly. Moving to her room with a practiced urgency she filtered through the cultists bustling about the mansion. Immediately her satchel was opened and a sigh crossed her lips. She had most of it ready to go. Pulling on her chain shirt she fitted her weapons appropriately. Grabbing the bag and rushing through the halls She made it to the foyer in time, her hair looked like a silver comet, and she moved in a practiced quick step to be as close to running as possible without actually doing so.

Aerith had admonished her that Cult Leadership didn't run anywhere, they walked like civilized beings.

Leaning against the wall by the doors she waited, and upon seeing someone knocking the east wing looked up to see a practically clad Amari come down the stairs. A flood of relief left her lips as she said louder than intended, “Thank the Dark Mother, you can fight.”

[Amari]

Amari paused in front of the girl, looking her up and down. “The Dark Mother?” She asked skeptically. “Really?” Amari didn’t appreciate the insinuation that she couldn’t fight, but she couldn’t exactly blame the girl. First appearances would suggest Amari was nothing more than a diplomatic visitor. “If I recall, I’m just to keep an eye on you.” Amari turned her back on Samantha and began toward the forest. “To make sure you’re the one that can fight.”

Samantha snorted at that fact before she said firmly, “Don't feed me a line. You're my chain. If you think I'm about to run you'll yank. I'm not stupid, I know a cage when I see it.”


Amari’s lip quirked up into an amused smirk. “More or less, but you’re to serve as a distraction too, no?” Amari shoved her hands into her jacket pockets as she slowed down into a more leisurely stroll. They had plenty of time, and Amari was in no rush. It was good to be away from Salvar once in awhile. She wanted to enjoy her time, and to do so, she had to at least try to get along with the girl. Even if it was just to fish for information. “You’re to stop me from snooping around in the cults business, I get too close and you’ll yank.”

Samantha shrugged, “Of a sort. The Dark Mother has been preparing for her ascension. Your visit came during a...delicate time. However, other than that I'm afraid I'm a mushroom.”

And there it is, that ascension bullshit. Master did warn me they were a bunch of lunatics, acting as though one could actually become a thayne. Do they all honestly believe that tripe?

Amari scoffed, but kept her thoughts to herself. “Sounds pretty stupid.” Mostly...to herself. Amari noted the look Samantha shot her and continued. “Not so much the....” Amari drew out her hand from her jacket pocket and rolled it around, “ascension thing…I mean you.” A brief silence fell between the two, sticks snapping beneath their footsteps. “You clearly have more use than that I mean. You look capable enough at least.”

“My capabilities don't factor into my treatment,” She replied truthfully, “I'm doing this to be afforded more freedom than I had before. Let's get to business shall we?”

There was no current ‘business’ to attend to, besides heading toward their destination, Samantha didn’t want to continue the conversation, and as curious as Amari was. She didn’t pry. She knew how annoying it was. Instead, Amari enjoyed the silence. She enjoyed the tree lined path. Unlike Salvar this place was filled with wildlife. Amari took in a deep breath, enjoying the scent of the loamy earth and the tickle of the green trees.

“My target is a former member of the Ixian Knights, Anastasia Rios. Not a capable combatant, but clever. She apparently moved her schedule around so by the time she was noticed a day had gone by. If she's avoiding the northern forest, it's two days till she's at the edge of Concordia. We think she's heading to Radasanth to report in to the Scarlet Witch,” Samantha explained, “I suggest we don't skirt the north, and cut her off before she leaves. If you are afraid, we can follow her, she may be clever, but she'll leave tracks.”

“I’ve only ever experienced fear once in my life, and I doubt some fallen knight will make me feel it again.” Amari muttered, kicking at a loose rock. She watched it roll across the dirt path.

“It's not the knight I'm afraid of, she's a doctor, not a fighter. It's the N’jalian Spider Magi to be afraid of, we skirt their territory, further north is their nests,” Samantha explained.

“That all?” Amari said, she wasn’t afraid of the spiders either but felt it better left unsaid. “No point in skirting around them, if we need, we charge straight through. Whatevers quickest really, you’re leading the way. I specialize in ranged attacks, and something like that shouldn’t be a problem for me.”

“I'm already in one fate worse than death, what's another?” She gave Amari a brave grin before she replied, “Honestly I should be able to tell if they're in the area. That's all we'd need to avoid them. If we catch her before she reaches the roads, we can make sure she isn't going to get anywhere fast. We might need to camp at night but I have till the end of the week to get back, unless you need to be somewhere….” She left the words hanging, as if she was fishing for a response.

“Not really.” Amari glanced back to the road in front of her. “To be honest, its nice. Being out here in the forest. We have forests in Salvar, one near where my compound is, but they’re riddled with things far worse than a few overgrown spiders.” Amari reached out and let her hand graze over a nearby tree trunk, its coarse bark prickled her skin and sent waves of minute energy up through her arm. Amari knew little of her race, but she knew that it thrived in the forest. No doubt a reason why Ulroke had her on such a tight leash.

“You know, I could say I am in a prison of sorts too, but I always slip through the bars, much to my Masters disappointment.” Amari continued to allow her fingers to traverse each tree they passed. “Far be it from me to judge someone who appears to be in the same position as I, but there is a difference between us. I’m content with where I am and what I do. You-” Amari paused. Her eyes shifting toward the silver haired woman. “You don’t. You’re in a cage of their design.” Amari sighed as she shoved her hands back into her jacket pockets. “I wonder how pissed they’d be if I were to take you back with me.”

[Mask of the Warden]

“We wouldn't leave Radasanth. I'm insurance, they made you a watcher just to get you out of there. I assure you, I don't run because I know it's pointless, not because of lack of effort. I don't need to see the bars to know they exist,” she replied truthfully. She looked about then forest and said, “They say a spider magi’s touch corrupts you with the influence of N’jal, makes you a living corpse. I wonder what that'd be like? Probably like being a hostage…”

“I’ve felt similar.” Scarlet muttered bitterly. “Let them come, I’m still not bothered by them.” The redhead paused, holding a hand out to Samantha before gesturing to a path off to the side, it looked like someone tumbled through there, broken sticks, freshly kicked up dirt. “Reckon that’s where she’s gone through, and in such a hurry too.”

Sam knelt by the tracks and snorted. Slowly she shook her head and spoke up, “I underestimated her. She was hoping we'd skirt so she could get out. That means one of two things, either she found the Dark Mother’s room, or she thinks she was about to be found out anyways. These tracks lead through the Spider Magi territory.”

“Good. That’ll slow her down.” Scarlet stated as she waltzed on through, clearly unafraid of the very real threat. Samantha raised an eyebrow at the cavalier attitude before she bit her lip and followed.

The trail moved deeply into the forest, and Samantha followed it carefully. She frowned however when they came to a small creek and cursed, “Clever little bitch. At this point it's a gamble. I'm thinking she might have doubled back a bit, cause we're reaching dangerously close to their nests. If we get much closer we're going to have to do a lot of explaining or fight...and I'm not interested in explaining to Jeb why I nearly got myself killed pissing off the neighbors…”

Her hand went to sword hilt when multiple tentacle like protrusions erupted from Amari’s back, they crackled and hissed and being in such close proximity to them made her feel a little nauseous. “A precaution.” Scarlet chided as she stepped into the riverbed, pointing to the other side. “More tracks- she tried to cover her trail.”

Samantha’s gaze travelled to where the redheaded was pointing. There were no immediate footsteps or broken twigs, but the ground looked like it had been dusted and a lone branch that could have done the job sat oddly over a hole in the shrubbery. Samantha looked at Amari, “You been hunting much? You're a natural at this, when I had to learn this it was a bit harder for me and I grew up in Berevar, to the north of Salvar.”

“Maybe I’m just lucky.” She quipped as she wadded through the waters, they weren’t deep, and only hit the girls waists as they made it to the other side. Scarlet spoke again. “I really hate the feeling of wet shoes.” She muttered as she did her best to shake the water from them.

Samantha carefully leapt across, splashing on the other side. She made a note of Lady Scarlet’s “luck” and continued forward following the trail. She grimaced before she spoke, “We're probably going to have to make camp, night is when the Magi get active. We need to find somewhere to hole up before they start looking for prey. Bad news means we aren't going anywhere fast, but the good news is neither will she.”

She followed the trails and shook her head, “Bitch has no clue how close she was. At least she's making for the forest edge now…” Samantha bit her lip and continued following the trail, it was less erratic, more measured. She had tried finding someway to evade capture and once she felt she was clear, had slowed down, taking her time. Obviously, this woman had no clue how willing Samantha was to go after her.

But was she?

She put up a tough front. She even said the words she knew they wanted to hear. She knew it was all platitudes, appeasing her captors and surviving, but how much was survival anymore? She could feel herself slipping, agreeing with the Cult Rhetoric, especially when it came to the hypocrisy of society. She had experienced it first hand, and it hurt to admit that the world did owe her nothing. However, she was determined to make those people who wronged her pay, and if it meant lip service to the Dark Mother for the freedom to pursue her justice, so be it.

Realizing she had been quiet for too long, she stuffed her bitterness back into its box for later. She struck up conversation with Scarlet as a distraction, “You ever have to do this for the Crimson Hand?”

“Multiple times. Although without all the bullshit underhanded reasoning and lies. Simpler, kill that person, done, dusted.”

“I envy you then, sometimes, I feel like arguing with a wall would be more productive,” Sam snorted. She shook her head before she stopped and narrowed her eyes. Kneeling she reach out and tugged a bit of cloth off a nearby bush, “Now that's just careless. I almost feel bad for finding it…”

[Amari]

“Makes our job easier.” Scarlet wrinkled her nose as they came upon sticky translucent webbing. “I suppose that belongs to the spider creatures you were worried about.” She turned her attention to a rock formation with a small opening. “There, it may lead way to a larger cavern?”


Samantha frowned looking at it before she said, “Don't touch it. If it is they'll know and chase us. They would rather die than lose spider silk…” she looked at the cave and shook her head, “I think we should just keep going, this is spider territory really.”

Amari frowned. “Isn’t that better? If we stay holed up in a cave close to their nesting grounds, would it not be away from their hunting grounds?” She shrugged, not exactly caring. She wasn’t as cautious of their predicament as Samantha was. “I don’t care. Lead the way then.” Amari was growing irritable, it was getting late, and she was getting hungry. She’d settle for camping right on top of a spider at this point.

“To be honest, we're winging it at this point. I have never gone in this area, this isn't going to be easy,” She looked at Amari and bit her lip as if in thought, “Let's just try to find a cave without some webbing, last thing we need is them coming back from a successful hunt and we're in their living room.”

Amari gave a heavy sigh as they continued forward, she thought the previous crevice adequate, but little miss perfect wanted a different location. The two walked on in silence. The further they walked the denser the webbing around them became. So they deviated from their path to one that was less travelled, by both man and spider magi. Finally, as dusk was turning to night, they found a small cave, The entrance was under an overhanging rock that they had to crawl under to get to, but the inside was large enough for the two to sit comfortably in. “Will this do?” Amari asked as she gestured around herself in near darkness.

“Yeah, thanks…” Samantha said, her tone distracted. The sound of things rummaging in her pack could be heard before a snap was heard, and with a hiss a small stick lit up in her hand, “Tindertwig…” she offered in explanation, “Let's see if we can have a fire down here…” she looked about and finally saw a crack that seemed to go deep. She held the twig up to it and it winked out before she laughed, “Yeah, it's an outlet. We'd be fine...one second.” Another twig was lit before she looked about, “You wanna stay here or come with me to grab some deadwood for a fire?”

Amari had already made herself comfortable on the cavern floor. “I should go with you, but I really can’t be bothered. I think I’ll stay here.”

Samantha looked at her and seemed about to say something before she shrugged, “Whatever. Not my place. I'll be back in a moment, if you need more tinder twigs they're in my pack.” she dropped to the ground and slid under the rock hiding their cave and disappeared into Concordia once more.

Amari sighed as the hot headed girl left, enjoying the moments reprise. “The hell am I going to do… babysitting Seth and now his daughter, bravo Ulroke, you really know how to piss someone off.” She muttered to herself as she stared at the dismal fire. A few minutes passed before she grabbed her own pack and pulled out a few slices of thickly cut bread, wrapped in rice paper to preserve their soft freshness. She then pulled out a small container of butter and a blunt knife, and began to get to work prepping their pittance of a meal. She had made the butter herself, and was quite proud of it. Amari would lightly toast the bread, then add the fresh herbs that she had collected along the way and cut them up and mix them into the butter. As the bread began to toast Amari chopped up the herbs and inhaled deeply. Basil. Thaynes above she adored the smell of it. After carefully mixing it into the butter she pulled out some cured meats. It’d be salty, but the creaminess of the butter should offset it. “That should do….” Amari mused to herself.

Samantha would return to a hot meal.

[Mask of the Warden]

“Looks like she is going to sandbag. Great…”

The words were muttered darkly while Samantha carefully checked about. Finding a few dead branches she broke them into more manageable chunks and checked a dead tree. A sigh left her lips, “Won't need too much more, also shouldn't give away there's someone around here…”

She pulled a knife from its sheath and in a lazy twirl reversed grip to stick the point where the branch met trunk. Sawing the blade back and forth she gently pried the branch off the tree and sighed dragging it back to her cave. Sliding the smaller sticks under she carefully went before the larger branch and dragged it under, no longer caring if twigs broke. She wiped some sweat from her brow and caught her breath when she smelled the food.

It reminded her of growing up in Berevar, where simple dishes were spruced up with a handful of spice traded from others. She smiled smelling it and spoke, “That smells nice, don't suppose you have extra? I have hard tack, but I'd rather not empty my water-skin trying to make that halfway edible.”

“I do.” Scarlet gestured to a neatly folded linen napkin with a golden brown piece of thickly cut bread, atop it glistened a golden creamy substance littered with flecks of green, and ontop that, the unmistakable pink of cured beef. “You provide light and warmth, and I food.” She paused and offered Samantha a smirk. “What, you think I was going to sit here and do nothing?”

“I won't lie, I have had watchers do just that. Jeb in a few cases made my job harder just to make sure I could do it,” Samantha replied, “I don't know you Lady Scarlet, so I have to take each action on its own for now.”

She felt like she was walking on eggshells, trying not to trample them flat. She was sure Aerith would have reprimanded her choice of words, but applauded the sentiment. Sam didn't have Aerith’s word play, she couldn't turn a phrase and bend words to her whim. Instead she had being blunt, and acting genuine. It got her through much of her training with Jeb, he didn't get nearly as annoyed when she spat out what she was trying to say, rather than dancing around it.

“Can you blame them? Their job is to watch. Personally, I’d find that boring.”

Samantha shrugged, “I can accept a certain level of that attitude. Some of them took it to an extreme that was frustrating. Still, I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, thank you for the food.” She added wood to the fire to make the cave comfortable and sat grabbing her parcel of food. She took a bite of the toasted bread and stopped, looking at it in disbelief.

“I haven't had something this good since the Night,” She mused. She looked over at Scarlet and lifted the toast, “Compliments to the chef.” She went back to the food, a soft smile on her face. She felt a bit more relaxed, and was grateful of the chance to let her hair down so to speak. She ate in comfortable silence before she asked, “So, you are Master Ulroke's right hand girl? When I met him he seemed a bit of a hard ass. How do you put up with that?”

Scarlet turned from Samantha and stared into the fire. She was quiet, a contemplative look on her face, as though she were trying to word the question correctly. Sam didn’t think it was that hard.

“He’s a cruel and vindictive man, but he and I have a mutual and beneficial relationship. He makes me stronger, and in turn, I won’t run him through.”

“Sounds like Jeb, except I can't stand Jeb. He trained me as the Warden, difference is if I thought killing him would stick, I'd have done it a long time ago…” Sam replied the heat of anger rising her cheeks. She shook her head, “Just gotta stay this course. Once Cassandra is a god I should be able to go, it's not like my father is a threat at that point.”

“Is that what you really think? You think they’ll let you go? They won’t.” Scarlet said rather bluntly.

“I know,” Sam replied quietly. She took a bite of the meat as she looked into the fire, “I'm their prize, they couldn't let me go, not anymore. The hope is what keeps me going when it gets too much though. Even if they don't let me go, I hope they'll just, forget I exist. Let me do my job in peace while they go fuck themselves.”

“Look. Samantha, I don’t think your little….” Scarlet waved her arm as she tried to find the right words. “Predicament….is very good. Course, I’d be hypocritical if I were to try and talk you out of it. People try to talk me out of shit all the time, tell me its for ‘my own good’ but that fuckin’ pisses me off. So I won’t do the same to you. Instead, I’ll offer you a piece of advice, from my own experiences. Don’t rely on hope, rely on yourself. They beat you down because they know you can be a threat.”

She looked into the fire for a bit before she shook her head and said softly, “You don't need to hear my sob story. Everyone has a sad tale,” she seemed to be telling herself that more than Scarlet and pressed on, “Let's just talk about something other than the Hand and the Cult. Just seems to bog us down in trite shit that ultimately means nothing.”

[Amari]

“Speak for yourself.” Amari snorted, the girl had problems. More so than her, and that said something considering Amari’s life was like something out of a poorly written fiction fantasy book. If she wanted to shift the subject, it was fine by her.

“You know, I don’t know what pisses me off more. Self righteous people who try to force their ideals of ‘what is good’ onto you, or people who are so incredibly powerful, and piss away their talents. I know someone who is both.”

Samantha looked over at her and raised an eyebrow, “Someone that useless?”

“Vincent Cain. Leader of the Tarot, a group I want dead. Fucker tried to trap me, tell me I was on the wrong path. That what I was doing ‘wasn’t good for me’ and it pissed me right off.” Amari paused as she glanced over at Samantha. “Honestly, it’s why I’m going to keep my mouth shut, I could prattle away about how I feel you’re wasting away, being some old lady's errand dog, but I won’t. Because it’s up to you. Cause and effect.”

Samantha frowned looking at her, “It's better than the alternative. You haven't seen that.” She crossed her arms and waited patiently.

“He has this pocket dimension, or something...that would hold such a use, throwing dead bodies in there for transport, food, weapons. Think he’d do that? No. He fuckin’ goes ahead and plays Masterchef. He wants me to listen to him, but he shits on my food and makes a song and dance, ‘look at me, I’m Vincent Fuckin’ Cain and I can pull metal pots out of my ass.”

Her shoulders shuddered as her eyes widened, she covered her mouth before she managed, “What the hell? He did what?”

“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…”


Amari turned her gaze back to the fire. That’s right, Seth was chained up below the sanctum. He wanted nothing more than to see his daughter, but it was clear she wanted nothing to do with him. Amari thought it best not to tell Samantha that the very man she spoke of currently sat in chains, lamenting her whereabouts.

“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?” Amari asked, “If you had such a thing?”

“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.”

“I see.” They fell silent, and Amari kept her gaze to the fire. This was useful information to process. She wondered how Seth would feel, knowing his daughter was alive and well. It tugged at Amari, she wanted to help the man, but he was an enemy of the hand and a man that Ulroke hated with every fibre of his being. How much would he punish her if she gave Seth such information?

Amari felt a tangled mess of hair fall over her bare shoulders, and the warmth of another body. Amari turned to see Sam resting her head on Amari’s shoulder. Samantha spoke, quietly. “I’m sick of people telling me not to use it. No one understands. You seem to though.”

“As I said, it’d piss me off if someone told me not to do something, you gotta learn yourself.” I went to pat Samantha on her head but she flinched. I shifted my hand down to her shoulder, figuring she just didn’t like her head to be touched. “If you fuck up, that’s on you, least you know its on you and no one else.”

[Mask of the Warden]

Samantha nodded looking at the fire. The story had been exactly what she hoped for. Something to let her escape the fucked situation. She kept the smile on her face before she spoke, “Thank you.”

“Hey, anything that makes Vincent look like the dumb shit he is, is more of a favour to me than anything else.”

“Still thanks, takes the edge off the day. Having to stand around Jeb for an hour put me in a bad mood, it wasn't your fault. Sorry about that,” Samantha replied truthfully, “If I thought I could kill him and make it stick, I'd have gutted him a long time ago…” She shook her head and sighed, “Sorry, I'm bringing down the mood again, need to stop that, this is supposed to be for fun right?”

Scarlet shrugged. “Far be it for me, do what you want, say what you want. Just stop apologising for it. You do you, but don’t start saying sorry for your actions. Own them.” Scarlet shifted, being careful to still allow Samantha to rest on her shoulder and threw another log onto the fire. “How useful is he really? What if it were an accident? Far be it from me if he were to accidentally choke or had a heart attack.”

“Jeb has been blessed with immortality. One time I snuck a knife in when he was set to punish me, and I fought back. I got him in the throat. A few minutes later he got back up and well, it took me a couple of months to recover from that beating, I swore that was it, he was going to kill me,” She shuddered. She shook her head and said softly, “He's shit in a real fight, but he is the perfect endurance predator. He will win, it just takes time.”

Samantha felt Scarlets grip on her shoulder tighten. “Well yeah, if you have an attitude like that he will. He’s immortal, so what? Everything can die.” She paused, and repeated the sentence, it held a heavy weight Samantha didn’t understand. “Everything. Can. Die.”

“Join the Cult. You don't look like you belong with the Hand. You talk more like the priests and Aerith. You'd be happier with us, and I'm sure the Dark Daughter would be more than willing to accommodate you. I mean…” She looked at her hands for the way to say what she wanted to. She wished she had Aerith's silver tongue for this moment, “All the cult wants, is to point out the hypocrisy that suffocates society. They want people to be free, free to pursue their paths. I think you’re almost there yourself, but you seem to hold onto something. Like you can't let it go and you drag it with you…” She stopped and shook her head, “And now I'm preaching...which isn't right. Thayne bless it…”

“If you’re an example of what to expect, it doesn’t sound a thing like what you say.” Scarlet said bluntly.

Samantha shook her head softly, “I am paying off my Father’s sins against the Dark Mother, because he refuses to pay for them himself. I am the insurance that she will ascend, and that my Father will have no means to interfere. I suffer because once again, he insists on staying out of the cult’s hands and paying off his debt. It's why I'm the Warden, it's why they treat me so badly, it's why I did everything I could to spruce up my cage. I know my situation looks like a shit show Lady Scarlet, but I will make the best of it. I will endure it, and when it's done I will move on and close this chapter of my life. It will not be the first time I left a place and never looked back.”

Samantha expected some sort of snide remark from Scarlet, about her situation, and about her choices, but credit to the redheaded woman. She didn’t say a thing about it. She kept her eyes on the fire, the golden filaments in them almost seemed to glow in the flickering warm light. “I see.” Her words held no tones of judgement, they didn’t sound as though the woman pitied her, it was...it sounded like it was some sort of acceptance, as though Scarlet understood and was simply acknowledging this was the path that Samantha was taking. “It’s getting late.” She said, not questioning Samantha further.

“Yeah, night fell while I was outside, that must have been and hour or so ago,” she said softly. The change in Scarlet put her off slightly, and she was genuinely afraid she had put off the woman. She shifted off the woman and got up, carefully moving the extra logs to where errant embers would not spark them. Task finished she grabbed her pack and put her change of clothes atop all the harder items. She yawned, her body used to this ritual and looked to Red, “Sleep where you will Lady Scarlet. I -” she stopped herself from apologizing and shrugged, “If you wish you can snuggle up to me, I'm a warm body if nothing else.”

“I don’t feel the cold.” She shifted herself, and was close to Samantha, pulling her own sleeping bag from the pack she had worn, she unfurled it. “You can do as you wish.” A small smirk crept up onto her features, “I’d avoid killing me in my sleep however. More for your sake than mine.”

“Kill you? You're the first watcher I actually like,” Samantha scoffed. She moved closer to the woman and snuggled up to her, Scarlet lifted her arm to allow Samantha to come in close. “Promise I won't get fresh. I just worry that the fire will die and I'll end up a stiff body for the morning. We don't need me trying to limber up in the morning, we should just go and finish this, before I cry about how my parents didn't treat me like a princess or some crap.”

[Amari]

“I killed mine.” Amari said simply as she watched Samantha slowly open and close her eyes. Amari pushed back strands of Samantha’s hair away from her face and behind her eyes. Such a macabre sentence, and yet, it didn’t bother the woman one bit. She had come to terms with murdering her father and brother, both were monsters who deserved it.

Samantha tensed hearing those words before she shook her head, “I might not like my Dad, but I don't think I could kill him…”

“Your dad…” Amari wasn’t sure if she should continue the sentence, it was clear Seth Dahlios loved Samantha, but it was equally clear that she did not like him. That was the difference, Seth had a semblance of care toward her. Amari’s father did not. He cared for nothing but to further his hold over Salvar and to fatten his pockets. Scarlet continued to lightly stroke Samantha’s hair. “He loves you.” Amari whispered to the other woman. It was said in earnest, she had to know. She was gripping at lost strands and Amari would rather not see her fall deeper into the hands of whatever shit show the cult was.

Samantha opened her eyes and looked up into Amari’s. Pain was in those eyes, pain and frustration, “Well he has a funny way of showing it.”

“So do you.” Came Amari’s reply as her thumb gently grazed over the others cheek. It held a heaviness to it, one that the red headed assassin hoped Samantha would understand.

She hugged Amari tightly and whispered, “I need him. Thayne Scarlet when he was in my life I pushed him away, now that he's gone I wish he wasn't. I feel like I'm drowning, and I'm doing everything I can to keep above water…” she closed her eyes, “And here you are listening to me blubber like some child who misses her parents.” A hand went to her hair as she gripped it tightly and vented a sigh in frustration.

Amari pulled Samantha’s hand away from her face, detangling her fingers from the silver hair. The girl was right. She was blubbering and whilst part of it did bother Amari, she decided to let the girl vent. She so very clearly needed it and part of it resonated with Amari. “Keep your eyes closed. What would you say to him if he were here?” Amari asked, if she kept Samantha talking, eventually, she would drift off to sleep, it may not be a sound sleep, but it’d be a deep one nonetheless. One that the ‘warden’ so sorely needed.

“I...can't do this. I feel like I'm pushing through the darkness, and I'm using my sword to cut down the monsters that come for me, but I'm losing. I can't find my way out, they just keep coming….” She said softly. Pain entered her voice, “Get me out of here, I can't stand it. I try to pretend, but...I feel like I'm losing myself. There are moments I'm terrified of what I've done...mistakes I can't take back…” her voice drifted as the emotions burst forth like a dam from her mouth. She was slowing as the emotions purged from her system and the fatigue obviously gripped her.

Amari pursed her lips. She wanted information, and she wanted fodder to use with Seth, but not like this. Not at the expense of someone else. “Your father is going to kill me…” Amari muttered before falling onto a rather restless sleep.