Even as Elaya spoke of Amitiel and Kai they both appeared, looking annoyed. Kai groaned, "I lost her Elaya. I was trailing her, making sure she was safe but she noticed me and suddenly disappeared. Only then did Amitiel spot me, like I had been revealed or something. We searched but we couldn't find a trail, nor a single sign of hers."
"I think she may be using the stone," Amitiel added, "She only just fully woke, and she must still be healing. I fear she is using the stone to increase what power she has left."
"I'm worried she's heading for Lodestone and might hurt someone. She looked shattered Elaya. I didn't know she felt so strongly for Reynault. She might do something she will regret."
Amitiel nodded, "Allow me to station in Lodestone and keep watch for her Elaya. I heard you are in need of Kai."
~~~
Arya and Octavia got to the pass rather quickly, thanks to their speeds. While the dragonling rooted herself to the middle of the road, Arya hid in the shadows, her body becoming one with it so that only her eyes could be seen. They were trying the routine of good cop/bad cop. Octavia would reason with them first, and for those that ignored her warnings, Arya would jump out and scare the life from them. Any more who opposed would be met by blade or by claw if they wished for a fight.
It proved rather effective, as most turned tail and ran. Luckily for Octavia and Arya, Nickens did not know they were there yet and Octavia hoped it would remain so, as long as none got past them. Arya could easily become the teams secret weapon, at least in Octavia's eyes. The hellhound blended with shadows, and could disappear without a trace. As long as they had the element of surprise with her, Arya could take out many. If Nickens got wind, he would surely make preparations to hinder the two newest members of the little rebellion, and that would do no good. Arya's greatest attribute was the fight in her. Strip her of that and they had a hellhound with no bite.
~~~
Tatiana wished for death. More so she embraced its cold arms every time it neared, but Nix had other ideas, always healing her, only to pull her back out minutes later and beat her again. Thoughts of her friends coming for her, thoughts of Rythert, all thoughts had abandoned her after three days and this vicious cycle of torture. All morning and afternoon he had been beating her, since the second he came back. And all Tatia desperately wished for was death to take her away, to a place where it did not hurt. She had never experienced such pain, such agony. Not only physically but mentally. Every man who died for Nickens cause she felt, having them wrapped under her warped spells, forced to control them by Nickens. It broke her every time she felt it, a piece of her sanity dying off little by little. When they brought in new recruits to be processed she refused. When the electric shock started she simply welcomed it.
"I don't want life any more," she stated, lying dull and hopeless on the bottom of her tank, "You've taken it, like you've taken everything from me. Just kill me. I can't take the pain any longer."
It had taken days of torture and assault but they had done it. They had broken her spirit, broken her body, her mind, her strength, and any shred of hope she had left. All she wanted was it to be over. And she would not help until the pain went away.
~~~
Lairia wiped angry, broken tears from her cheeks. That bastard...that bastard had taken Reynault from her. Did the world enjoy her suffering? Could she not have one shred of happiness last for more than a few days? She had lost so many loved ones in her lifetime, and how many more?
Amitiel had been right in telling Elaya to watch Lodestone, for that was where Lairia headed now. Although by the time Amitiel would arrive she would be long gone. It didn't take her long to step into the town, and by wearing a clock with the hood shielding her face, no one bothered her. She got to the saloon, every dark spell and evil curse ready on the tip of her tongue. She would make this man pay. Her fingers went to the large stone on the necklace around her neck. She had promised not to use it again...but some matters involved breaking a few rules.
Shoving the saloon doors open she stepped in, looking around with a curl of her lips, "Where is he?! Where's Nickens?"
The crowd paused, all heads swivelling to her as a space was made until she had a clear line of sight to a table where a man sat eating lunch. As he looked up her breath caught, and her heart stopped. Him.
"You bastard!" she screamed, dropping the hood so he could see just who he was speaking to. And oh, he would recognize this face anywhere. Same went for a few of his vampire goons, their faces paling then turning red with anger as they stood. But she ignored them all, stomping towards his table, "You killed Reynault! Have you learned nothing from last time?"
Nickens faced paled further, those memories spinning through his head. He was ancient, but he was no forgetful. As he spoke his voice was full of malice and hate, each would a snarling viper that spat from his mouth, "You. You dead hearted, soulless bitch. You have no right in my saloon! Get out."
But Lairia didn't budge. Of all the magic casted on the saloon, it barely brushed her, her magic too strong now to be overcome but simple tricks.
"Good, you do remember me," she spat back with equal hate and malice, "So you know what's coming for you now, you worthless, spineless roach. I should have killed you when I had the damn chance!"
The dozen or so vampires amongst the rest were moving through the crowd, getting closer to spring.
"You took everything from me the first time Nickens," she snarled, leaning over the table so he could feel her breath on his face, "And you will not do so again. I will erase you from this planet and any legacy you have. No one will remember you when I'm done, you piece of shit."
The first vampire broke through the crowd, ready to lunge, but he never made it to his targets. Instead he froze, like the other vamps, and one by one they began to cry out as blood began leaking from their eyes, then their mouths and noses and ears. Slowly blood dripped down their faces as they began to choke and writhe, all of them hitting the floor as seizures took them.
"They are dying on the blood of the mortals they drained," she hissed, the one right behind her on full display as he slowly died in agony, "As will you Nickens. As will all your men."
She knew she couldn't kill him here. He had too many protections, and she wanted him to suffer first. Just like he knew better than to try and take her now, knowing she had casted her own protections and spells. The two stared off as she began to back up, stepping over the dead vampire on the floor, his face soaked in blood.
"Remember Versaille," she snarled, seeing his eyes darken further, "And now what is coming will be much...much worse."
~
No one had noticed her arrival, and no one had seen her departure, although the fact that someone had riled up Nickens became clear all too soon, and Amitiel would be arriving to hear news of the dozen deaths within the saloon, though no murderer had been named. Lairia was gone by then, deep within the forests once more, walking aimlessly as she let the tears fall this time. There was no way she would let this man live, nor his farm, or his men, or anything she held dear. She knew that now. She only wished she had dealt with him all those years ago, and then maybe...maybe Rey would still be alive. And everyone would be safe.
She continued to travel along, shrouded by her magic, until she stumbled upon a small pond. Dropping to her knees, she cared little about her dress as she splashed water on her face, trying to think up ways to end this battle, and win once and for all. All she knew was she would not leave until it was done. Staring into the rippling water, memories of that time long ago rose, bringing forth fresh tears and pain, but slowly also a plan. Waiting for the water the settle and become clear her eyes closed, knowing this was her only, and by far last resort. But she knew he could not say no.
"Provoco," she whispered and the pond shimmered, a dull light growing underneath. She focused on a single face within her memory, allowing the pond access to it as her spell searched the world quickly, using water as its guide. She always found water to be the easiest form of communication apart from all other elements. Water was everywhere, and therefor the spell could travel everywhere. Fire and earth and air were not always as lucky.
It took a minute but then the light within the pond grew and shapes formed in the water until a clear image of a young handsome man reflected in the water. He looked to be in his early twenties, his skin unblemished by scars, his light brown hair neat and in place, having been cut short. His blue eyes came to life as the image settled and remained, and then his mouth opened, thin lips stretching to speak.
"Lairia? Is that you?"
Lairia leaned over the pond from her kneeling position, nodding as she wiped a stray tear away, "Jamie, it has been a long time."
"No kidding," he shook his head, the motion slow within the pond's display, "I heard you had a run in with an old friend of mine from back in the day. I'd be upset, but the guy was an ass. He probably asked for it."
"He did," was all she could muster, fresh memories of Rey only making the stabbing pain in her heart worse, "I guess I should spare the niceties."
Jamie nodded, "You were never one to beat around the bush. And you aren't calling for a stroll down memory lane. Neither of us wants to remember Lairia. So what is it?"
Tears started falling again, "I...I need a favor Jamie. A big one."
His eyes grew concerned. Even after all the years and what she had done, she wondered if he still held on to a shred of love for her. Lairia had let him go. She had to, for her own sake and then for Reynault's. And no he was gone too.
"I need you to find me," she explained.
"Are you in trouble? Did someone take you?" he asked.
"Yes...and no," she replied, "I've been crossing the continent to hand over an item to the Academy. Trying to get my name in the good books before the Circle prosecutes and executes me."
Jamie blew out his breath, "Lairia, you shouldn't be alone. This was not only your doing."
"Yes it was," she replied with a snap, knowing it was a lie, but she needed it to be, "What I did, I did alone. That is all the Circle needs to know."
"You still shouldn't be alone."
"I am not. I hired a group of mercenaries, but things have gone awry."
"Mercenaries? Do they...know?"
She shook her head, "To protect them, I left out much. All they know is what I have and where it needs to go."
She held up the stone on her breast and he whistled.
"That thing. I thought you had disposed of it years ago."
She shook her head again, "Hid it. But even I cannot protect it from other greedy hands. The Academy can. We have gotten sidetracked. Jamie, I need you to round up whoever you know who's ready for a fight and bring them hear. I am outside a town called Lodestone."
"Never heard of it, but I can find it. What is the problem Lairia? I can't just expect people to come blindly."
"I never recognized him by his name, but his face... one of the vampires of Versaille is here. He's here, and he's killing my friends. He took...he took my lover Jamie. Just like..."
"Just like Annabelle," even Jamie's voice choked on her name, a name Lairia had not been able to speak out loud in decades.
His eyes grew dark then and his jaw set, "I'll be there by morning Lairia. You have my word. We will make this bastard pay for every wrong mistake he has made."
She could see he had matured, or at least seemed to. She hoped it was true. The old Jamie she knew was a handful. Perhaps he could actually be of help. She wanted that. Needed that. Their small group couldn't take on this foe alone. Letting the spell die, she allowed herself to finally cry, letting the pain and heartbreak out. It wasn't till she saw the sun was beginning to set that she knew the group would be worried. She had been out for hours. Rubbing the last tears from her eyes, Lairia stood and began making her slow way back to the farm, her hands covered in mud, her dress sullied. She looked like hell, but she cared not. When she finally would get back to the farm the fight would be over and the group would be waiting at the ranch. And for the first time since she had met them Lairia would step forward and wrap her arms around Elaya's neck, letting out a hiccuping sob into her shoulder as she began to cry.
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