Octavia wasn't ready when the hound was suddenly pulled off. Not only because it was a near possible feat in her true form, but because the girl's were head to head, growling and snarling at each other. So it came as a shock as she saw Arya fly and she scrambled up even as hands started to pull her back.
"Don't hurt her!" Octavia ordered, losing for a second her mannered and polite tone as she worried they would punish Arya, "It's not her fault! It's her nature."
She let Elaya pull her back but her eyes stayed glued to the scene, actually impressed by Narxis' manifestation. And she knew Arya would be too. The hound was already picking herself up and shaking her head, before those red eyes fell upon Narxis. Her teeth bared as she pulled her lips back, like a dog trapped in a corner, but she didn't lunge, nor let out a growl. Instead her eyes dropped after a few seconds and she bowed her head, bending her front two legs until she looked to be kneeling. Arya remained in that position, eyes to the ground, in a half knelt position. It was a sign of respect for a hellspawn of higher standard.
"Don't hurt her," she stated again, pulling herself from Elaya's grip and stepping forward, ignoring the flames altogether as they licked at her feet, her skin not even hot. She was a dragonling after all, and it came with a few perks, if not many. Not that she could walk through Phoenix fire and make it through alive, but these flames did not hold the magical properties, nor the heat that a phoenix flame did.
"You hear me?" she continued, "I'm tired of all this hardheadedness. Pardon my rude tongue, but none of you seem to be taking me seriously. Your angelic friend fled when I told him off for sounding that horn, and now you look set to punish Arya for her nature. I won't allow it. Your dominant play might work on her Narxis, but you aren't fooling me."
~
Meanwhile at the Golden Ranch Tatiana was enjoying the sunny day - actually enjoying it - as her bare feet squished in the grass and dirt and her body swirled and and bent backwards, narrowly avoiding being hit in the head with a staff. She spun, her hand sinking into the ground as she used it to do a backflip and connect her foot into her opponent's jaw, knocking him back. Then on her feet once more she rushed forward and hit him hard with her elbow in the stomach, sending him sprawling.
"Bitch," the man growled, holding his jaw, "She broke my jaw."
"Excellent execution," a tall man standing over them was watching, "But Tatiana, you left your stomach open when you flipped back. You need to flip faster, or curl so no one drives a sword through you in battle."
Tatia's eyes flickered to him and she nodded, unspeaking. Not that she could speak if she wanted to. A large metal mouthpiece lay over the lower half of her face, covering her mouth and nose, showing off only her bright ocean blue eyes. It was held in place by a strap around the back of her neck, instead of digging into her skin, this one much more preferred by the siren. It came part with the rest of her new gifted
armor that had been handcrafted and melded to fit her perfectly and fluidly, complimenting her rogue fightstyle. Most of the armor lay in her room, except for the under armor, the small cloak and hood, and of course her half mask. Tatia wanted to get used to these items so she felt comfortable with them in battle.
"You deaf? The bitch broke my jaw!" the man scrambled up, spitting as he spoke, still holding his jaw.
"And what shall I do for you?" the trainer turned, his cold dark eyes pinning the smaller man down, "Nickens wants her trained, so I am training her."
"His new fucking pet," the man spluttered, "What's she got the rest of us ain't?"
As he whined to the trainer his focus wasn't on Tatia and neither had noticed yet that she had slipped up behind the man, pulling her mask down as her rosy pink lips stretched in a devilish grin.
"I have power," she replied in a honey sweet voice, thick with magic that made both men shudder and want for her. The one complaining about his jaw shuffled to face her, his eyes wide and fearful, and yet he didn't make a move. She loved the fear in their eyes now, how easily she could turn it into undying want. Nickens had given her that gift. One of the many gifts he had given his little ocean princess.
"Do you want me?" she asked in a melodious voice too perfect to the mortal ear.
"Yes," both men replied, even the trainer caught in her snare.
"Do you want to please me?" she asked.
"Desperately," the man before her whined, and she could see he was starting to bulge at the thought of having such a fine woman. The trainer nodded too, but he seemed a bit more in control of his urges.
"Good," she purred, "Remember this. Remember how I make you feel when I speak to you. How good you feel..."
It was like a drug. Both of them were wide eyed now, but the fear was gone. All she could see was a desperate want in their eyes. And when she would leave they would feel the withdrawal of her voice. She was getting better at it now. At controlling them; at leaving them wanting more of her power. These mortal men were easy to presuade, and even more so to convince they needed her to live. She was sure somewhere in their heads a rational thought was telling them this was magic and not their true ambitions, but the power of a sirens voice on a mortal was undeniable. And since most of these men had almost never heard of a siren, none had their guards up. All the more perfect for her.
The man before her whimpered as his need became stronger and she took a step back, smirking, "Oh no. You must show you are worthy of having my body before I give you what you want most."
"I want you," he whined.
Like catching flies.
"Then obey," she purred, "I will call on you when it is your time. Till then, carry on as you always have. But remember this feeling. You will only get it when I speak to you."
The trainer was tranced too but he hadn't spoken, only nodding. This one was stronger. She would make mention to Nickens. Slowly she lifted her mask and replaced it, silencing herself. It took a minute before the power over them broke and they both stood there blinking, coming back to their senses. But the seed had been placed. Tatia could only bend their wills, and she had. She had made them willing for her. Their thoughts and beings were their own and they would go about their days, thinking about her now and then but unknowing the control they had willfully given her until she called upon them.
Bowing she took her leave, grabbing her boots and stepping across the field, barefooted, into the main ranchhouse - which was no small facility - in search of her own master. She found him pouring over a map with a few of his most trusted, and her eyes turned to the sorcerer waiting near the far wall, her eyes lowering as he looked upon her.
"Sir," one of them piped up upon seeing the siren, a flicker of worry crossing his face, "The siren is out of her room. Someone must have let her out."
"Idiot," another sighed, "Have you not heard the news. The sorcerer did...something...to her and she's-"
"Shut up you two," another cut in, "She can hear, you know?"
The sorcerer did something to her? Did what? She tried to think about it but suddenly a mind numbing sharp pain cut through her head and she winced, taking a step back. Why did it hurt so badly? She forgot what she was trying to remember as the migraine grew and her hands balled into fists. Just as quickly as it came it went though and she relaxed, having already forgotten what she had been thinking about that had made the pain come. Her cold eyes surveyed the room as if she had just entered and she bowed her head again to the sorcerer, a natural reflex for her now whenever she saw the man. Then she sauntered up to Nickens and wrapped her arms around one of his, her eyes dancing a little as she looked over his shoulder at the map.
"Got yourself a pet there Nickens?" one of the vampiric advisers closest to him grinned, "Quite the catch?"