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A Perfect Revenge ((Chocolate x Arc))

"Remember the Krieg Rebellion?" Nikolia answered in turn. The Krieg Rebellion, a mark of pride among Kalserens, the pinnacle of thier philosophy, and to most outsiders, a reason why they were not the power that they could have been. Krieg, a High Priest and a powerful magi in his own right, thought he had discovered Kalseru's path to godhood. And that he could dethrone the ruler and take his place. The subsequent battle culled most of the Kalseren faith, wounded a god, and left him weak and hiding for several cycles. But it was the pinnacle of thier philosophy, that a mortal could challenge, and even wound, a God. It was even said Kalseru himself appeared now before all those who achieved great power in his ranks to give them the chance to do what Krieg could not.

"So why risk it? What do you have to gain by keeping the viper in your chambers?" Nikolia was calm, he didn't raise his voice, there was no need. "Or do you need something from me? Someone to kill?"

He remained there, standing with his arms crossed, looking dead at Anjelay.
 
Anjelay smiled. He didn't scare her. She knew about the rumors of Kelseru being wounded, of him often giving his followers the chance to try that again. However, she didn't believe it. She remembered Kelseru as a little too confident, but a scared little boy underneath. He wouldn't challenge his followers to hurt him unless he was sure they wouldn't. There was no way he'd have changed so much to actually want to be hurt when he could be the one inflicting the pain.

"Yes," she said finally, "there is someone I want you to kill. I want you to kill Kelseru, and I am going to make sure you have the balls to do it." She licked her lips. "Isn't that like some test for you? How would you like to pass it?"
 
The man couldn't help it. He started smiling, and then, chulcking. Chuckling at this Goddess who was trying too hard to put on her big girl britches. Who went through all this trouble and effort to kidnap a mortal. And die that, "For something I was already going to do," he got out between laughs. Nikolia started laughing so hard he actually had to sit back down in that cage, letting the fit go through him before he could look at the goddess again.

"And what does this have to do with you?"
 
She had promised him not flowery bullshit, but that didn't mean she wanted to lay all her cards on the table. She decided to tell him a part truth.

"I want Kelseru dead because of what he did to me. You wouldn't know a thing about it, he's been very careful to keep my name out of anything to do with him," she said. "He spent some time here in the heavens when he was apprenticed under Jorter. We met then, and we became really close. He was so dashing and kind to me."

She sighed, looking away. "When he left and started his path, he betrayed more then just Jorter. He betrayed me. And to make it worse, he erased me from his life. Jorter is mentioned. You know about him, about his past with Kelseru, but no one remembers Anjelay. What I get out of you killing him is my revenge."
 
"So he hit it and quit it... and Gods say Mortals are petty and small minded."

This did nothing to help Nikolia's laughing fits, in fact, it made it even worse. Maybe this was her plan. She certain couldn't be taken as a credible threat with such a sad, pathetic story and reason for kidnapping a mere mortal. He had fallen over, curled up on the cage floor, laughing so hard that his sides were going to split open, or at least so it felt like.

"No... no more... can't take it."
 
Anjelay turned to leave the room. "When you're ready to talk, I'll be back." She left the room and went back to her chambers. Hearing someone laugh at her after hearing her side of the story, it hurt. It was all she coudl do to keep from destroying him and starting from scratch. She needed Nikolia to destroy Kelseru. She didn't care how, she just wanted the end result.

"My Lady, when do you want him fed," asked one of her heavenly priestesses.

"Do not feed him until I say so," Anjelay said. She would starve him if she had to. If he won't help her, she would make him. Kelseru had to pay for what he did. If she had to deliver Nikolia's corpse to Kelseru, she would find some use for Nikolia.
 
Such a weak plan. Trading the initiative and thinking time itself would wear him away. Nikolia would almost have laughed at it, if he wasn't already laughing as the Goddess left. So sad. he couldn't help it. After a good two minutes he finally calmed down, laying on his back, staring up at the top of the cage. He looked for all the world like he might have been bored, staring at space, he wasn't moving, but he clearly was not asleep. But Nikolia was never the type that could be bored. Boredom, he believed, was the result of a dull mind. He had too many things to think of, plans to make, situations to come up with. The whole predicament he found hismelf in was rife with problems, solutions, and counters to whatever little games this Goddess might dream up.
 
Anjelay waited several hours before walking back into Nikolia's room. Seeing that he had calmed down, she motioned for her priestess to bring in a tray. The tray was set out of reach from Nikolia and the priestess left.

"Have you thought over my offer," she asked. "I know that many have been given the option by Kelseru, and he's still standing. All of them failed. You want to pass the test, don't you?"
 
"There'd be no point," he answered slowly. He hadn't moved an inch since the Goddess entered, nor since the tray was set down next to, yet just so far from, the cage. There wasn't much conviction, or strenth, in the tone of his voice as he continued to stare up at the cage. His hands were folded behind his head, a crude pillow holding it upright.

"I do this for you, lets say. You give me some tool, power, secret, whatever it is to do what you want. I accomplish it, presuming I can even with your presumed help. Kalseru dies. You get whatever thrill you want from seeing some lover that surned you fall, or whatever boon your brother promised in return for your help. I gain nothing. I learn nothing of use, I recieve nothing of use. I earned nothing."
 
Anjelay's blood ran cold. He knew that Jorter was her brother? She hadn't mentioned that. She also hadn't thought that any follower of Kelseru would even care enough to look into Jorter's family tree. Though, it could just be a lucky guess.

"Name your reward," she said, hoping to cover the shaking in her voice. "What do you want in return for killing Kelseru. Anything and it's yours. I can make you richer then your wildest dreams. Beautiful women panting at your feet. Wisdom of the ages. Anything you desire."

What if he was refusing because she was connected to Jorter? She couldn't afford that. She had hoped he'd cooperate and she wouldn't have to use force.
 
Nikolia let out a ong sigh. His tongie slipped out, licking his lips as Anjelay made her offer. He smacked his lips somewhat loudly, his head tilting just to the side, no longer staring at that same po int up int he sky, but instead a point just 2 inches to the left.

"Big promises, but all I'm hearing is empty words. How about a little sampler?"
 
Anjelay nodded. She should have expected that. "Name it," she said. "Name your reward and I will give you a taste. Anything your mortal heart desires, I will ensure." Gripping the bars, she lowered herself so that she was kneeling on the ground. "I know there is something in your heart you have always wanted, something that not even Kelseru could ever fill. Tell me it and I will see to it that your dreams are made reality."

She could give him what he desired. Some of what she promised was out of her hands, but she could beg a boon from her fellow deities. She needed him on her side for her revenge to work. If he wasn't going to cooperate, that meant she would have to try to re-educate him.
 
Her, on her knees, asking him what he wanted. A smile broke out on his face. It was as it should be. He could almost feel his chest swell up as he looked over towards where the goddess kneeled to him.

Sure, she didn't mean it that way, but when one is a caged prisoner, one gets his kicks where he can.

"How about as a token, you bring me Jorter's severed left hand?" he offered. He spoke it as quite a serious suggestion. She was promising a way to kill a God, lopping off his hand should be no problem at all for her then. Prove she CAN, and that she was willing.
 
Anjelay gasped. She had been caught. How could she get her brother's hand? If she did that, he would find out what she was up to and possibly destroy her plans. However, if she failed, he wouldn't help her. Slowly standing, she said, "I will do my best, but it may take some time."

She left him and went back to her rooms. How could she do this? She started to pace her chambers, trying to find an answer. She was a goddess of wisdom, she should know the answer!
 
A gasp. Nikolia's smile deepened as he heard it. He gazed back up at the top of his cage as Anjelay left. There was food there, but he didn't reach for it. It was probably laced with something anyway, he wasn't about to trust in his captor's good graces.

Instead, while waiting for his little goddess ca[tor to come back with her descision, or perhaps even the proof, he gingerly reached out with his right hand towards the cage. Barely the most careful and lightest of touches, he was testing the waters, seeing if the cage was charged to subdue him, or even perhaps steal away his strength.
 
The cage sent a jolt of electricty through him when he tried to test it. Anjelay wasn't a fool. Her cage was designed to keep him there.

She, herself, decided truth was the way to go. She had to at least try to get Jorter's hand. Her brother was a god. Surely he could live without a hand? And, if she couldn't get it, at least she honestly tried. She left her chambers and went to see her brother. He was, as usual, talking war. Kelseru had killed several of his priestesses and ransacked another temple. Jorter was losing this war.

"What do you want, Anjelay," Jorter asked, not even looking up.

"I need your left hand," she said. "I have a way for you to win the war, but I need your left hand to ensure victory."

Jorter looked up at her and laughed. "You need what for what," he asked. "Anjelay, how stupid can you be?"

"Kelseru challenges his followers to kill him. You know that. I have the next in line for the challenge, and if I bring him your hand, he will kill Kelseru when challenged."

Jorter shook his head. "Not in your life, Anjelay. Now go back to your temple and leave this to the men."

Anjelay growled and grabbed a knife. Before Jorter could react, she lopped off his hand. "Just grow it back you big baby," she snapped and walked off. She went to Nikolia and threw the hand into the cage.

"There, you got what you wanted."
 
He expected as much from the cage. He was hardly surprised, and took the time to recompose himself while the Goddess was out. Would she know, or care? It provided him more fodder to think over while he waited.

And wait he did.

Until Anjelay returned, tossing the h not look at it, he did not get up, he let it fall where it would, would not even move it off himself if it so landed there. His only response was, "How did you do it?"
 
She glared down at him, blood still on her tunic. "I cut it off him. You didn't say how I was supposed to get it. Now, about your end of the bargain..." she started, but she was interupted as Jorter came storming into the room.

"Damnit Anjelay, I need my hand! Who ever heard of a one-handed god!" He raged until he saw Nikolia in the cage. "Is tha the person you loped off my hand for? He looks as worthless as you! YOu can't possibly think that he'll kill Kelseru."

"He will," she protested. "you'll see. It's going to be because of this that Kelseru is brought down."

Jorter laughed and grabbed his hand before storming away. Anjelay sighed, sitting on the ground by the cage. "I got you the hand," she said. "You saw it, you held it, you know I'm a woman of my word."
 
"Keeping secrets are you? And not too bright, is he?" Nikolia was smiling again, despite the fact that his blood sworn enemy had reached right in, been close enough to stab. He did not however, there would be another time for it. He seemed just as composed and relaxed as he had been ever since Angelay had inspired the laughing fit.
 
"I'm not keeping secrets," Anjelay protested. "I told him why I needed the hand." she sighed, leaning back against the cage. "It's not easy being the sister of a god. I'm lucky to have a following, you know. Not many people want wisdom. Oh, no, they want the easy path to fame, fortune and long-life."

Looking back at him, she said, "I will expect you to uphold your end of the bargain. If Kelseru doesn't die, I will kill you. Just let me know if there is anything you need to acomplish my goal."
 
"If you're not keeping secrets, then why did he not recognize you have, helpless and and your mercy, an enemy his agents have hunted for, for years?"

Nikolia seemed quite smug. There was something going on here, he could feel it. Why did she hide his identity from him? He chuckled slightly to himself. He glanced down towards where the goddess leaning up against the cage. "Kalseru teadches us that wisdom is the basis for all other gains one may achieve."
 
Anjelay got up. The whole wisdom was the basis for all other gains was something she told Kelseru back when he was just a mere mortal. "I'm only going to say this once more, Nikolia: Are you going to uphold your end of the bargain?" She was tired of asking and having him talk about secrets. She was tired of being forgotten and pushed aside. She was tired of waiting for years for Kelseru to aknowledge her. She wanted it to be over.

"I don't want any more games, mortal. Just answer my question. I've had a hard night."
 
He paused, mulling over what he was about to say. He stuck out his lips, exhaling slowly and overdramatically. A smile came to his face as he looked over at Anjelay's back.

"Why, I don't believe we have made a deal yet," he answered her. That simple, her lopping off her brother's hand, the tension that such silliness and the ilk might bring to thier relation, all for nothing. It was just a token, a sample that she was willing to do something, with no promises made.

"Nor do I need your help."
 
It was never wise to anger a deity. Especially not one who had been stewing over her revenge as long as Anjelay has. Turning back to the cage, her rage was evident across her pretty face. She touched the bars and the cage lit up with electricity. She watched Nikolia as the jolts made him shake. The second he stopped moving, she took him from the cage. He was still breathing, but would need medical attention.

She took him to her private chambers and strung him up from the ceiling. It would be uncomforable, but he had wanted it to be the hard way. He knew she thought there was a deal. She had done what he asked and he was trying to wiggle out of it. Well, let's see him wiggle out of this!

She stripped off his clothes, seeing the damage she had done. She could easily heal the burns, but she decided to take it slow. She used some of her divine abilities to keep him alive. Setting out burn cream, she waited for him to wake up.

"I was prepared to do this the easy way," she said. "I was going to give you anything you asked for. Damn Kelseru and his stupid teachings about defying the gods. All you had to do was follow my wishes and you'd be set for life. However, your loyalty to Kelseru will be your downfall."
 
Naked, one could see that Nikolia Vasburg hadn't had a charmed life. There were multiple scars across his torso, burns, stabs, cuts. A few defensive woudns on his arms that had scarred over as well, trying to catch a sword with your arm rather than with your neck does end to do that. And the various scraps and lumps one gets from just having a hard life. Plus one fairly differetn wound. It was still red and angry, a two inch diamter roughly circular wound which left a slight bump on his right chest.

He came to a bit faster than one would have thought. But still well secured by the goddess. For whatever reason he didn't struggle against his binds. He merely gazed upon what parts of him he could. Naked. Wounded. And there before him, the Goddess. No smiles, no wisecracks this time.

"I told you... I am a free man," his voice was strained, it was obvious there was still pain from his burns. "And you... have nothing... to give me."
 
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