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To Disappear (kikora and Z.G.)

Kaura sighed softly, and leaned back against the side of the pool. "I cannot promise that." She said after a moment, sure that he would be angry by the words. "I cannot promise I wont run each time I have a chance, to try to gain my freedom." She shrugged slightly and level a look at Abel, perfectly calm. She wasn't trying to be disobedient or rude, she was simply stating the facts as they were. "Likely I;'ll get farther each time, and eventually, I'll get free." She told him quietly, tilting her head back to look at the glowing moss on the ceiling. "Because this is unacceptable for me. No creature should have to live under the control of another."
 
"One would think that someone as intelligent as yourself would have a spark of the basic survival instinct nestled somewhere deep between her queerly rabbit like ears," Abel smoothly replied. Her declarations were less vehement than before, they almost seemed to have an edge of sullenness to them that she probably interpreted as solemnity. The back and forth between the two of them was something Abel was beginning to enjoy. As was the sight of her on a leash.

The vampire turned around, grasped the glowing moss and jumped, sliding back onto the floor of the cave. He took a few steps and then laid down, spread eagle, so that the water would pleasantly precipitate off of his body. It wouldn't be perfect, no matter what his backside would be somewhat moist for the ground, but at least this way he would not be sodden for their night time trek back to the Abel's territory. Going down those cliffs would be a certainly interesting exercise.
 
"Rabbit like?" Kaura repeated, growing weary of being compared to the skittery, fluffy little animal. In her mind she was nothing like the timid little beast, who only knew how to scurry underfoot and nibble on what it was given. She didn't quite view herself as a predator either. A deer perhaps? Wary of outsiders, but capable of aggression when their lives are threatened? That suited her better, she thought.

Abel leaped out of the water and laid on the moss, his legs spread wide so each time Kaura glanced over she saw his enormous manhood there, right before her eyes. Her cheeks flushed and she turned her back to the man, walking closer to the center of the pool. She took in a deep breath and ducked her head under the water, shaking it firmly to attempt to wash any grime from her hair without the use of her hands. Why the man had chosen to unbind her mouth and not her arms, she was not sure, but it made washing far more difficult.
 
The insinuation Abel hoped Kaura did not miss was that he may one day bash her precious little skull in with a rock. Sooner than she might think if she became a consistent thorn in his functions. Sacrificing a night looking for her had been unpleasant. Abel got up around the time he was mostly dry and slipped his tunic on, wrapped his sandals onto his legs, and promptly swaggered over to the edge of the pool. Watching Kaura attempt to do anything with her arms tied like that was incredibly amusing to watch, especially juxtaposing the ego behind her speech and her current state. He reached into the pool and grabbed Kaura's shoulder, dragged her up out of the pool and onto her feet, sodden wet.

"Do you have anything you would like to say before we start the day's travails?"
 
Kaura was busy trying to clean her hair, shaking her head under the water. Just as she thought she was getting somewhere with it she felt a pressure on her shoulder, and she was dragged from the water. Abel pulled her to her feet, making her wince yet again at the pressure. He was fully dressed again, to her relief, and she shook her head quietly. "I don't have anything to say." She told him, and rolled her shoulders some, her voice dropping to a dry tone. "Except, perhaps, that you will either have to unbind my arms, or carry me if you expect me to make the journey alive."
 
Abel patted Kaura on the shoulder, "We will cross that bridge when we come to it." With that he stuffed the cloth gag in her mouth and tied it back, appreciating the peaceful sound of silence. Still displeased with Kaura it was probably best he did not hear her speak too much lest he fall into an unassailable rage. The night was certainly not warm and he did not envy's dripping wet state as they walked through the cold darkness. When they came to a stream he physically picked Kaura up and leaped over it with her in grasp, before setting her back down and going on his way. When they came to the first cliff he snapped his fingers authoritatively and pointed to the ground where Kaura was standing, "Stay still."

He went behind her and unwound the three strips of cloth that kept her from using her arms. He instead tied them around her knees and ankles to keep her from moving easily or at a full gate, but enough to walk and climb. "Do not remove your gag." That was the one command he gave her getting her to set off down the cliff's face given the handles he had whistled into place. There was space for the possibility of anything other than what he requested.
 
Kaura glared at Abel when he stuffed the gag back in her mouth, and she honestly considered nipping at his fingers. Which she promptly dismissed as an option, not wanting to be punishment for that behavior. Instead she glowered and followed, walking closely behind Abel as he traveled. She could almost feel how displeased he was with her, and anger rolled off him in waves. Not that she cared too terribly, he was her captor, as long as she didn't agitate him enough to be slaughtered.

She didn't protest when he picked her up, and leaped over the stream with her in his arms. There was no chance of running now, not with him holding her leash, and every minute or two she'd look over her shoulder with longing, staring back at her former home. She managed to get so close, and now she was helpless again. Abel untied her arms, binding them at her wrists and elbows, and warned her not to touch her gag. She nodded, and simply obeyed, moving down the cliff face without any difficulty, even with her legs tied together to restrict movement.

They had just reached the bottom, and were continuing on their way when a deep baritone voice cut through the quiet woods. "Kaura?!" Called the male voice, and another elf moved from the trees, his grey eyes locking onto the girl in shock. He looked from the now scandalously dressed girl to her captor, his expression darkening, and he drew a short blade from his hip. "What purpose have you with her?!" He demanded.

Lorian! Kaura tried to call, tried to warn, pulling viciously at the bindings. Run!




Lorian:
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For a moment it was as though Abel was moving through a viscous liquid, his center of balance shifted downwards, his abdomen clenched, his pupils dilated to the size of dimes. He drank in the details of this new comer's face, the one who saw Kaura on a leash with a low cut dress riding on her hips and hobbled feet. Darker than Kaura, the skeletal structure seemed slightly different besides the masculinity. He had a blade one him, while Abel had the two bolas he would need to take off of his belt and throw. By which time the male elf would have moved been able to get inside his guard with that little knife and poke strategically placed holes. That would most definitely not be a positive outcome.

The facial tattoos certainly did not look pleasant and the man was already dressed in armor of some foreign kind. How many elves lurked near his fortress? Had they been expanding since the beginning of Kaura's travels. The vampire decided upon the only possible solution, the predator's strategy when stealth and trickery failed to work; sheer speed. Abel literally pounced on the fellow, slamming the hand with the blade as hard as could to the ground.
 
Kaura found herself looking on in horror as Lorian stepped forward, obvious concern in his eyes. He drew his blade slowly, his eyes trained on Abel. He raised the weapon as Abel lunged forward, and chuckled, a dark rich sound. The vampire struck with full force, pushing the dark Elves hand towards the ground, but before it could make contact, he had disappeared. His body melted away as if made from smoke, that swirled, and moved immediately to Kaura. In one swift move he used the blade to slice the gag from her mouth, and dropped to do the same to her legs. "I ask again." Lorian said darkly, raising his eyes to glare at Abel. "What purpose have you with a sister of light?"

"He's a vampire." Kaura whispered, and Lorian's face grew confused, tilting his head slightly to view Abel more intently. Unlike Kaura, Lorian was not a creature of light bound to the sun. He was a dark Elf, sibling species to her own. His race lived in the darkness, and thrived in the night. This environment of darkness that left Kaura so vulnerable was no hindrance to him.

"You kind has not been in these woods for centuries, what purpose have you here? With her?"
 
Well. That was disappointing. Abel thought, primly dusting off his tunic. He always did hate people who chuckled sinisterly at him. Though this fellow did not seem necessarily disposed to gutting him, which made the vampire slightly more amenable to discourse. That and he had now lost the element of surprise. Of course, what would he have to do to surprise this man--a rock slide would do it! However, that would like squash Kaura. Unfortunate.


"We are returning to my compound. Kaura is an escaped slave. She ran this way, over the top of the mountain. I came out this way to retrieve her." That was certainly the truth, but what could he do to this fellow who could suddenly transport himself from hither to thither at the drop of a dime. Even if the stone became like mud beneath his feet, that would do no good.
 
Once Kaura was standing safety behind Lorian he turned his full attention to Abel. He sheathed his dagger easily, his face betraying o emotion to the other man. "And what right have you to her?" He demanded. Kaura made a startled sound, but Lorian simply glanced over his shoulder, and turned to place a heavy hand on her shoulder. "You chose to leave the shelter of the village, child." He said with a note of remorse in his voice. "I can do what I can to help you now, but if he has right to own you, what choice have I? You are a child of the world, subject to the same laws, if you break them that is your fault... However detestable those laws might be." He shot Abel a hateful look, his fingers twitching as though he intended to draw his dagger once more. "You are free to seek your own freedom, but not with the aid of our villages, that would draw in a war."

He smiled tenderly at Kaura, and gave her cheek a gentle stroke before stepping towards Abel once more. "Did you buy her? Did she forsake her freedom? Under what laws of the land do you have the right to name this girl as yours?"
 
"I bought her as well as other women to sustain my feed stock by a slaver I have developed mercantile agreements with," Abel said, drawing himself up. It irritated him so to hear the pointed prattling of some high minded ninny who did not understand the simple intersection of commerce and humanity. Anything was up for sale when it came to man, vampires, too, for that matter and Abel assumed it was the same for the rest of the races of the world, whatever they may be. But to watch this big elf, this fellow who had melted out of the woods, stroke Kaura's chin aroused a little of his ire. She was his toy and it was polite to ask permission before touching someone else's things, especially when you've only just met them.
 
Lorian frowned, if there was an actual transaction it could spell trouble for young Kaura. It would have been simpler had this man simply snatched the Elf from the streets, as kidnapping charges could be placed. Known slave merchants hid behind loopholes in the law, outright ignored them, or were sometimes even supported by them. "I assume you kept record of the transaction?" He asked, and lightly placed a hand on Kaura's back, urging her towards the vampire. She half hid behind him, burying her head in the back of his shoulder, and he looked down in pity. "I am sorry." He told her, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "This is all I can do to help you."
 
"Yes, I did keep a receipt, however I do not have it on me. This tunic has no pockets or pouches," Abel explained, rubbing a thumb possessively down one seam. This seemed to be going fairly easily, no matter how frightened and reluctant Kaura seemed to be. Which she would be--a possible friend turning her back to her tormentor, her captor, the man who had molested her and beaten her. How very unfortunate. The vampire was well pleased.
 
"Then let us retrieve it." Lorian said without pause. "Come child." He pushed Kaura lightly forward, and leveled Abel another heavy look. Had he not been bound by law he would see this vampire gutted, and his sister-race returned to her people once more. He had spoken out against her exile for worry of a similar situation arising, after all. "I am a speaker of my people, the reader of law." He explained , looking down at concern for Kaura when she took a step, faltering slightly as a look of pain crossed her face. He frowned, and looked down, spotting the blossoms covering her feet.

He grunted in agitation, in one move scooped the girl up, and held her next to his body. "I can walk!" Kaura protested, raising a brow at the dark Elf.

"Hush now." He said quietly. "I will take care of your wounds when we arrive." He flashed the girl a pleasant smile before frowning up at Abel once more. "It is my duty to accompany you." He said quietly.
 
As they traveled back to Abel's keep he wondered exactly who's law he was to be judged under and when he lost his right to sovereign autonomy. Who was this interloper to judge him and decide whether or not his actions were in accordance with the properly mandated tradition, one which most likely did not apply to him, and either way one which he would not accept when it was not working in his best interests. However, based off of the newcomer's reactions he thought that perhaps this could be solved with a supply of sweet words rather than the harsh blows as he had first suspected. But what was this man's relationship with Kaura--he was showing her kindness, treating her as a close friend, perhaps something of an adopted sibling?

The most important question pondered, Abel wondered as he looked down the next cliff they were to scale, was how to get rid the dogs. A fair fifteen of his hounds were growling and barking around the face of the cliff. The note he left for the major domo when he left to find Kaura instructed them to let the dogs out in a few hour's time--it gave him a sporting challenge to see if he could beat the dogs. Most of the time he did. Sometimes, he did not. "Ah. Seems we have come across a problem. There are baying dogs at the base that seem as though they would like nothing more than to tear our flesh from our bones."
 
Lorian almost cradled Kaura to him, keeping his hands resting on her shoulder and knee, out of respect. Kaura seemed comfortable with the dark elf Carrying her, and even occasionally smiled at the man. Lorian would return the small grins on occasion, chuckling to himself. He sincerely hoped that he could find a flaw in the vampire's ownership of the little Elf, and force her back to her village for her own safety. For now he and Kaura chatted softly in Elvish, talking lightly about fond memories. She'd laugh happily, and the corner's of Lorian's eyes would crinkle slightly in humor, amused by something that Abel could not understand.

He pondered this as they reached the cliff, and he could hear the dog below. His lips pulled down into a deep frown at the situation, tapping his feet in agitation. "We do not have such creatures in these woods." He said after a moment, his eyes narrowing. "Did you send these beasts to hunt this girl?" He demanded, glaring at Abel once more. "Can you not call them off on your own?"
 
The vampire leaned over the cliff and looked back down at the beasts in question. This will certainly be interesting, he thought with a sense of wry amusement. "Oh, why, it seems that one is Bluto. So sorry. My eyesight has recently somewhat dimmed by the passage of years. I often find I must read by candle light. They must have meandered a bit far when they were left out for a hunting game. They can be such willful creatures."

Abel brought his hands together three times in bone rattling claps. The first of which the dogs silenced and tilted their heads off, then they retreated, sprinting into the woods at the third. He remembered the distant ancestor of that bloodline, Affra, a clay colored dog of indeterminate origin. Back then there had only been handful of breeds in a given area, unlike now, when things were constantly expanding. Affra had been exceptionally intelligent and, when it suited her, exceptionally mean. He breed down the line for those twinned traits combined with largeness and ended up with a small brood of his own. They were one of the few things that he showered any sort of attention one.

"The handholds I whistled are right her," the vampire politely pointed out, holding his arm out a few steps back from the point in question, politely letting the elves go first.
 
The vampire was doing very little to earn Lorian's trust. The dark Elf's eyes narrowed on the man, his fingers twitching from the sudden desire to bring it across the other man's face. A few deep breaths calmed him, and he gazed down the cliff as well. His lips pressed together in a thin line. "I would prefer if you were the first down." Lorian told him softly. "So your beasts do not decide they wish to have an Elvish snack... However." He glanced down at Kaura, her makeshift dress cut well above her knees now. "I cannot allow Kaura to be shamed by allowing you under her as she climbs."

Kaura's cheeks heated, and she looked down, a troubled look on her face. She knew that Lorian was concerned for her modesty, but what modesty had she now? The vampire had made her his mate twice already, and she could only assume he would again. He had seen every inch of her, touched, explored, violated.... There was nothing to preserve. "I shall go down first." She muttered, sliding from Lorian's arms to limp towards the cliff.
 
"Well then, stranger, feel free to go down after Kaura, considering she is the one you are here to protect," Abel smiled assuredly, his faded eyes ambiguously benign in the same way they appeared vaguely soulless. In his own way he seemed reassured as though everything was going exactly to plan and there was nothing to be worried about. This was no deviation. This was no major malfunction.

The vampire only wished he had not wasted all that mercury seventy years ago slow driving a rival mad. He would gladly boil their new companion in it.
 
Lorian simply nodded absently, and waited for Kaura to start her climb. She took her first step down, raising a leg to descend, and flashed a good bit of skin. Milky ivory flesh marred by deep red welts... But leading the way up her thighs. It was only a brief glimpse of what was poorly hidden under the garb, but caused Lorian's pulse to race slightly faster all the same. He cleared his throat, and politely turned his eyes from the girl, waiting for her head to disappear under the rocks before he moved forward, and began his climb down as well. He'd glance down at the young Light Elf every few moments, ready to save her at any point, should he think that the condition of her feet made scaling the wall too difficult.

For Kaura's part, the climb down the mountain was painful, but easily accomplished with the footholes. She moved down slowly, staying close to the cliff face. She felt somehow safer with Janek there to watch and protect her. While his profession did not allow him to whisk her home, he would make the travel easier, and she was thankful for that.
 
How easy it would be to whistle away those footholds of his. He is an elf, after all. How far did he transport last time? How far can he whisk himself away? How quickly. He saw me shift and go to pounce last time, but will he know enough of my kind to spot the whistle for what it is? Kaura could counter sing, as well, which would be unfortunate. However if he is in my domain, I could lead him past the garrison--but to sacrifice so many guards and then leave for my kin would be inadvisable. Gah. I must either solve this with words or murder him on my own. Both? Ah. Equitable. Abel began climbing down shortly after his new companion got to the ground with his slave, this acting quite chummy. This was rather disconcerting. Who knew that her help would traipse in?

He almost cheerfully led the rest of the way down through the woods on the side of the mountain, "You see where that smoke obscures the moon?" Abel asked the dark elf, "That is from my compound. I suspect we will be coming upon it in due time."
 
Lorian did not suspect that the vampire would try to murder him, but that did not put him off guard in the least. He climbed down, gripping the footholes securely, and wary if one gave out under his grip, and they sometimes did. Kaura leaned heavily against the cliff once she reached the bottom, and Janek leapt off, landing safely next to her. "Here now, girlie." He whispered, looping an arm under her knees once more as he pulled her back into his arms. He almost hoped that Abel would try to kill him, so he might send word to his people of the assassination attempt. Murder of a keeper of the law was a heavy crime indeed, and would all but spell war for the vampire. Elven messages flew fast, through the very wind. He would be attacked before dawn the next day.

"The night is half over." Kaura pointed out softly. "At this pace we might not reach before the break of dawn. Perhaps we should rest in a cave system to the north?" She looked up at Lorian as she spoke, asking HIS permission to est for the night.

The dark elf nodded slowly. "That might be wise. It is an hour walk to reach the tunnel entrance, and it would be pleasant enough to rest during the day."
 
She needles me out of sheer spite. Suddenly crude Kaura. You do not give up your decision making power when someone takes it honestly; merely when they mask it as your aegis. Abel noted with an arched eyebrow, watching the scene between the two of them play out. "Yes, that sounds much safer. Then let's not dally and get on going please, lead the way, and tell me stranger; what is your name?"
 
Lorian nods, and turns to the north, setting off after the safety the tunnels gave. He would not be burned to death by the sun, as Abel might, but the sting of sunlight on his dark flesh was unpleasant enough that he avoided it when he was able. "I am Lorian Velhre." He told Abel, glancing over his shoulder at the man. "And your name, sir?"

He shifted Kaura lightly in his arms, smiling down at her as she pressed her cheek against his chest, and let her eyes close. "I was once Kaura's teacher." He explained softly. "She had wandered from the village of light some twelve years ago, young, and curious. Never had we seen an Elf age so quickly.... The Elders hardly knew how to handle her." He chuckled softly, the corners of his eyes wrinkling in delight of the memory. "It was delightful to have her, I always thought. Stubborn... Hardheaded... She has been one of my favorite students."
 
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