Post by Calibus on May 2, 2006 21:49:00 GMT -5
Malag-aste stood in Xunroos’s Lab making the final preparations on a potion to help him sleep. It was late and he hadn’t slept well in weeks. Nightmares haunted his dreams halting any hope of rest. He was almost finished when he heard the heavy stone door slide open. He turned expecting to see Xunroos and his son Tannabus. Instead he saw the one person he never expected to see… Imadii Za’Harrat. Instinctively he dropped to one knee, his palms flat on the stone surface of the floor, his head bowed low. He stayed there staring at his hands. His mind was filled with questions. Was she there to see Xunroos? Surely she must be, but he did as he was asked… he turned on the light out front signifying his presence there. He could feel the old feeling of sickness rising inside him like a slow poison. She still affected him despite the curses removal only now he no longer felt a lust for her only the sickness and pain. Perhaps it was the new feeling of shame and remorse he was learning.
“You lied and now she knows….. SHE KNOWS!” Imadii screamed at him the anger in her voice bringing back a flood of memories. Memories he struggled to put behind him. For a moment he was back on the roof of his sister’s home in the deserts of Malas just before Imadii shot him. He barely noticed as Imadii stormed across the room towards him.
“What are you talking about?” he asked in confusion just as her foot caught him in the leg. She began to kick him repeatedly.
“The baby, you bastard the baby!” She shouted at him. She was seething with anger. How is it he was still alive? Why was he not sentenced to death as he should have been? Why did her daughter love this man? She could hear Aingeal still screaming “I hate you.” At her when she left her home to come here.
Who knows?” He asked between kicks. She paused for a moment and he regained his balance and caught his breath.
“Half of Yew!” She said. The firm anger of her tone the same as before when she shot him. His sides ached the air burned his lungs as she kicked him once again squarely and with heavy force in the side. She knew just where to hurt him. The old wound screamed in pain as her foot drove into it. He fell to the floor trying to breathe grasping his side. “I was told last night by Page.” She said glaring down at him.
“Page?” He groaned. How was it she knew he wondered? Piper must have told her. Imadii still filled with rage drove her shield into his shoulder.
“Your paramour took my child to him!” She screamed. As quickly as he could he righted himself resuming his submissive position on the floor.
“Aingeal?” He asked. Her shield caught him under the chin as she lifted his face to hers the shield pressing into his throat.
“Yes!” She hissed.
“She shouldn’t have done that.” He whispered his throat stinging with pain and his lungs screaming for air.
“Well she did.” Imadii hissed again. “Why did you not kill it?”
He could see the hatred in her eyes. His mind flashed back to the child… the baby. Yes why didn’t he? He recalled stealing into the home near Vesper and finding his way to the third floor bedroom, slowly opening the door. He could remember the blue haired female elf confronting him demanding he leave. But he had only the intent that burned in him to end his bond to Imadii and kill the child. He suddenly recalled throwing her into the wall her head hitting the stone mantle of the fireplace before she slumped limply to the floor. He stepped over her as he made his way to the bassinet across the room. He recalled how he quickly unwrapped the child from the blankets and stared at it. His dagger held firmly in his hand as he prepared to slit its tiny throat. It was without a doubt his child it’s coal black skin left no doubt. But then it did something he did not expect….. It opened its eyes. The blade of his dagger faltered in his grip as his hand suddenly weakened. He couldn’t do it… He had her eyes. He could not kill it. He stared at it momentarily and then made up his mind to make the child disappear. He quickly wrapped it back up and stuffed it into his robe then he pulled up his sleeve and cut his arm letting the blood flow into the bassinet. If he could not kill it then he would see to it that no one would search for it. He suddenly was back before Imadii the memory fading once again.
“I couldn’t do it.” He repeated. “He looked at me. I wouldn’t have told anyone about him but I had too…” He wanted to explain to her but he could not. He could hear her crying.
“I still pay for your crimes.” She said as she began to slap him over and over until she fell to the floor exhausted. He remained completely submissive.
“I can’t say I am sorry any more than I have. I tried to keep him hidden…” He said as he looked at the deep cuts in his wrists from the chains and Indra. “I tried. I had to make sure someone would know and care for him when I am gone.”
“I told Aingeal I was coming to kill you.” She told him coldly. She stood and began to pace the floor. He knew from the moment her first kick struck him that she had come to take his life. There would be no other reason for her to visit him. Exhausted from Indra’s constant torture of him he simply gave in. He had prepared before to die for what he did to Imadii. Now she was ready to take his life. He would not fight her. He reached up and removed his quiver letting it fall to the floor. He carefully removed his robe and pulled his tunic over his head. The leather peeled off the still angry wounds left by Indra’s whips on his body. The cool air felt good as he looked on his battered body.
“This isn’t happening.” Imadii said still pacing.
He sat back on his feet and spread his arms out wide looking towards her. “Then kill me.” He said. She looked at him studying him for a moment her eyes showing no emotion.
“Who is in the house with you?” She demanded.
“Calibus and his son would be about somewhere.” He told her.
“In the house?” She asked looking about.
“Likely.” He told her as he watched her pull a dagger from her boot and throw it at him. It sank into his chest and he felt the rush of blood fill the space in his lung. He coughed quietly tasting his blood as he did so. She strode quickly to him and leaned down over him. Grasping the dagger she pushed it into him up to the hilt. His chest burned like never before as his body struggled for air. The thick blood was drowning him. “Take care of him.” He whispered while gasping for air. She looked at him and then turned away stumbling back from him. He coughed again spitting blood. He watched as she struggled to find and open the stone door.
“I’ll turn myself in.” She said as she left him. Her thoughts turned to the child she had never seen and how she wanted to find him. He slumped to the floor darkness taking him.
The door slid open once more just a few short moments later as Princess Piper arrived looking for him. Seeing him lying on the floor she rushed over to him dropping down beside him. She noticed right away the pool of thick blood in his mouth and the dagger in his chest. He was still coughing and choking. Quickly she began to cast spells of healing and renewal to stop the bleeding and give him strength. She held him in her arms casting spells upon them both letting her life force flow into him in an effort to heal him. He reached up slowly and grasped the hilt of the dagger pulling it from his chest. The blood poured from the wound as he let the dagger drop to the floor.
“Malag-aste, what happened to you.” She cried as she placed bandages over the wound and cast more healing spells on him. She tilted his head to the side and wiped the blood from his mouth. His body was cold and trembling as he looked up at her. She lifted his head and put it in her lap. “Please Malag-aste hold on.” She cried looking into his deep violet eyes. “Who did this to you?” She asked as she stroked his silky silver hair.
He could only manage a cough before rolling onto his side and vomiting blood. She quickly cast more healing spells on him and covered him with her cloak.
“Malag-aste, who did this to you? Please tell me. What is the matter?” She cried as she stroked his hair.
“She was so full of hate.” He whispered his voice hoarse and raspy.
“Malag-aste please don’t leave me. I love you.” She cried stroking his cheek her tears falling on his face.
“You should not have let Aingeal see him.” He said his voice still raspy and his breath labored. He was still cold and trembling.
She looked at him her face filled with shock. “I am sorry.” She cried.
He shook his head and looked at her. “It’s not your fault.” He told her.
“How did this happen?” She asked.
“She’s wanted an excuse to kill me for a long time.” He said softly.
“Who?” she asked again as she wrapped her cloak about him tighter. “Who are you talking about?”
“Imadii.” He told her.
“Imadii!” She said shocked. “I don’t understand how did she find you? How did she know?”
“Know what? She knows where I live.” He told her.
“About Aingeal seeing her brother.” She said.
“I suppose Aingeal said something.” He replied his voice still weak and raspy.
“Yes but if you would have been with me this wouldn’t have happened. You wander too much.” She told him. “I couldn’t live if something happened to you.”
He looked up at her. “I’m sorry, I’m so tired.” He reached up and gently stroked her cheek. She bent down and wiped his mouth again with her cloak cleaning the remaining blood from his lips and kissed him.
“Our daughter needs you. I need you.” She cried.
“I need you both.” He said looking at her.
“So what did Imadii say to you? You didn’t tell her where your son is did you?” She asked suddenly remembering the child.
“She didn’t ask.” He told her. “She wanted to know why I lied about killing him.”
“And what did you say?” She asked.
“The truth, that I couldn’t do it. He…. He looked at me and I couldn’t do it.” He told her.
“I won’t let her hurt that boy. I don’t care how either of you feel.” She told him.
“Oh gods I didn’t even think of that.” He said thinking of how vulnerable the boy would be.
“That boy is a part of you. Your blood runs through him as it does our daughter.” She said.
“What will you do?” He asked her.
“I am going to see about moving him to a safer place.” She said.
“Like where?” He asked.
“Him and L’Loura. Somewhere where even Aingeal will not know. Can’t have her telling Imadii where he is.” She said. “I think Imadii fears Rand finding out. I don’t know if it would be good for you to know where he goes either.”
“Imadii doesn’t want anyone to know about him.” He said.
“Not if she did this. No she does not. She will stop at nothing to keep it a secret.” Piper told him.
“Just promise me they will be well cared for.” He said.
“They will I promise.” She assured him. “And Melam’olin will know who he is someday. Malag-aste he is a sweet boy.”
“I will be fine you go take care of him.” He said turning from her so she would not see him shed a tear.
“No. I can’t leave you.” She cried.
“Please.” He begged her.
“I can’t. Can you not come with me?” She asked feeling torn.
“Get him I will be fine. She’s probably looking for him.” He told her. She bent down and kissed him long and hard, hugging him tight before getting up and heading out the door.
“Usstan ssinssrigg dos ichl, Piper.” He whispered as she left him. (I love you too, Piper).
“You lied and now she knows….. SHE KNOWS!” Imadii screamed at him the anger in her voice bringing back a flood of memories. Memories he struggled to put behind him. For a moment he was back on the roof of his sister’s home in the deserts of Malas just before Imadii shot him. He barely noticed as Imadii stormed across the room towards him.
“What are you talking about?” he asked in confusion just as her foot caught him in the leg. She began to kick him repeatedly.
“The baby, you bastard the baby!” She shouted at him. She was seething with anger. How is it he was still alive? Why was he not sentenced to death as he should have been? Why did her daughter love this man? She could hear Aingeal still screaming “I hate you.” At her when she left her home to come here.
Who knows?” He asked between kicks. She paused for a moment and he regained his balance and caught his breath.
“Half of Yew!” She said. The firm anger of her tone the same as before when she shot him. His sides ached the air burned his lungs as she kicked him once again squarely and with heavy force in the side. She knew just where to hurt him. The old wound screamed in pain as her foot drove into it. He fell to the floor trying to breathe grasping his side. “I was told last night by Page.” She said glaring down at him.
“Page?” He groaned. How was it she knew he wondered? Piper must have told her. Imadii still filled with rage drove her shield into his shoulder.
“Your paramour took my child to him!” She screamed. As quickly as he could he righted himself resuming his submissive position on the floor.
“Aingeal?” He asked. Her shield caught him under the chin as she lifted his face to hers the shield pressing into his throat.
“Yes!” She hissed.
“She shouldn’t have done that.” He whispered his throat stinging with pain and his lungs screaming for air.
“Well she did.” Imadii hissed again. “Why did you not kill it?”
He could see the hatred in her eyes. His mind flashed back to the child… the baby. Yes why didn’t he? He recalled stealing into the home near Vesper and finding his way to the third floor bedroom, slowly opening the door. He could remember the blue haired female elf confronting him demanding he leave. But he had only the intent that burned in him to end his bond to Imadii and kill the child. He suddenly recalled throwing her into the wall her head hitting the stone mantle of the fireplace before she slumped limply to the floor. He stepped over her as he made his way to the bassinet across the room. He recalled how he quickly unwrapped the child from the blankets and stared at it. His dagger held firmly in his hand as he prepared to slit its tiny throat. It was without a doubt his child it’s coal black skin left no doubt. But then it did something he did not expect….. It opened its eyes. The blade of his dagger faltered in his grip as his hand suddenly weakened. He couldn’t do it… He had her eyes. He could not kill it. He stared at it momentarily and then made up his mind to make the child disappear. He quickly wrapped it back up and stuffed it into his robe then he pulled up his sleeve and cut his arm letting the blood flow into the bassinet. If he could not kill it then he would see to it that no one would search for it. He suddenly was back before Imadii the memory fading once again.
“I couldn’t do it.” He repeated. “He looked at me. I wouldn’t have told anyone about him but I had too…” He wanted to explain to her but he could not. He could hear her crying.
“I still pay for your crimes.” She said as she began to slap him over and over until she fell to the floor exhausted. He remained completely submissive.
“I can’t say I am sorry any more than I have. I tried to keep him hidden…” He said as he looked at the deep cuts in his wrists from the chains and Indra. “I tried. I had to make sure someone would know and care for him when I am gone.”
“I told Aingeal I was coming to kill you.” She told him coldly. She stood and began to pace the floor. He knew from the moment her first kick struck him that she had come to take his life. There would be no other reason for her to visit him. Exhausted from Indra’s constant torture of him he simply gave in. He had prepared before to die for what he did to Imadii. Now she was ready to take his life. He would not fight her. He reached up and removed his quiver letting it fall to the floor. He carefully removed his robe and pulled his tunic over his head. The leather peeled off the still angry wounds left by Indra’s whips on his body. The cool air felt good as he looked on his battered body.
“This isn’t happening.” Imadii said still pacing.
He sat back on his feet and spread his arms out wide looking towards her. “Then kill me.” He said. She looked at him studying him for a moment her eyes showing no emotion.
“Who is in the house with you?” She demanded.
“Calibus and his son would be about somewhere.” He told her.
“In the house?” She asked looking about.
“Likely.” He told her as he watched her pull a dagger from her boot and throw it at him. It sank into his chest and he felt the rush of blood fill the space in his lung. He coughed quietly tasting his blood as he did so. She strode quickly to him and leaned down over him. Grasping the dagger she pushed it into him up to the hilt. His chest burned like never before as his body struggled for air. The thick blood was drowning him. “Take care of him.” He whispered while gasping for air. She looked at him and then turned away stumbling back from him. He coughed again spitting blood. He watched as she struggled to find and open the stone door.
“I’ll turn myself in.” She said as she left him. Her thoughts turned to the child she had never seen and how she wanted to find him. He slumped to the floor darkness taking him.
The door slid open once more just a few short moments later as Princess Piper arrived looking for him. Seeing him lying on the floor she rushed over to him dropping down beside him. She noticed right away the pool of thick blood in his mouth and the dagger in his chest. He was still coughing and choking. Quickly she began to cast spells of healing and renewal to stop the bleeding and give him strength. She held him in her arms casting spells upon them both letting her life force flow into him in an effort to heal him. He reached up slowly and grasped the hilt of the dagger pulling it from his chest. The blood poured from the wound as he let the dagger drop to the floor.
“Malag-aste, what happened to you.” She cried as she placed bandages over the wound and cast more healing spells on him. She tilted his head to the side and wiped the blood from his mouth. His body was cold and trembling as he looked up at her. She lifted his head and put it in her lap. “Please Malag-aste hold on.” She cried looking into his deep violet eyes. “Who did this to you?” She asked as she stroked his silky silver hair.
He could only manage a cough before rolling onto his side and vomiting blood. She quickly cast more healing spells on him and covered him with her cloak.
“Malag-aste, who did this to you? Please tell me. What is the matter?” She cried as she stroked his hair.
“She was so full of hate.” He whispered his voice hoarse and raspy.
“Malag-aste please don’t leave me. I love you.” She cried stroking his cheek her tears falling on his face.
“You should not have let Aingeal see him.” He said his voice still raspy and his breath labored. He was still cold and trembling.
She looked at him her face filled with shock. “I am sorry.” She cried.
He shook his head and looked at her. “It’s not your fault.” He told her.
“How did this happen?” She asked.
“She’s wanted an excuse to kill me for a long time.” He said softly.
“Who?” she asked again as she wrapped her cloak about him tighter. “Who are you talking about?”
“Imadii.” He told her.
“Imadii!” She said shocked. “I don’t understand how did she find you? How did she know?”
“Know what? She knows where I live.” He told her.
“About Aingeal seeing her brother.” She said.
“I suppose Aingeal said something.” He replied his voice still weak and raspy.
“Yes but if you would have been with me this wouldn’t have happened. You wander too much.” She told him. “I couldn’t live if something happened to you.”
He looked up at her. “I’m sorry, I’m so tired.” He reached up and gently stroked her cheek. She bent down and wiped his mouth again with her cloak cleaning the remaining blood from his lips and kissed him.
“Our daughter needs you. I need you.” She cried.
“I need you both.” He said looking at her.
“So what did Imadii say to you? You didn’t tell her where your son is did you?” She asked suddenly remembering the child.
“She didn’t ask.” He told her. “She wanted to know why I lied about killing him.”
“And what did you say?” She asked.
“The truth, that I couldn’t do it. He…. He looked at me and I couldn’t do it.” He told her.
“I won’t let her hurt that boy. I don’t care how either of you feel.” She told him.
“Oh gods I didn’t even think of that.” He said thinking of how vulnerable the boy would be.
“That boy is a part of you. Your blood runs through him as it does our daughter.” She said.
“What will you do?” He asked her.
“I am going to see about moving him to a safer place.” She said.
“Like where?” He asked.
“Him and L’Loura. Somewhere where even Aingeal will not know. Can’t have her telling Imadii where he is.” She said. “I think Imadii fears Rand finding out. I don’t know if it would be good for you to know where he goes either.”
“Imadii doesn’t want anyone to know about him.” He said.
“Not if she did this. No she does not. She will stop at nothing to keep it a secret.” Piper told him.
“Just promise me they will be well cared for.” He said.
“They will I promise.” She assured him. “And Melam’olin will know who he is someday. Malag-aste he is a sweet boy.”
“I will be fine you go take care of him.” He said turning from her so she would not see him shed a tear.
“No. I can’t leave you.” She cried.
“Please.” He begged her.
“I can’t. Can you not come with me?” She asked feeling torn.
“Get him I will be fine. She’s probably looking for him.” He told her. She bent down and kissed him long and hard, hugging him tight before getting up and heading out the door.
“Usstan ssinssrigg dos ichl, Piper.” He whispered as she left him. (I love you too, Piper).