[$] The King and his Pawn

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom's eyes slid closed at the gentle touch, his body instantly relaxing. "mmm, if you need something pul the other cord. they'll come check-let you out..." he drifted to sleep as he spoke, his mind just shutting down. instead of remaining in his body, his mind traveled across the link to his book and he found himself hovering above it in Liki's castle. he looked around, worried about why he was here. was it just a dream? had Liki summoned him? or was it the book that had brought him here, needing him since it had been away from his side for so long? the big question was where was liki and could the mage see him?  

[Your Missing Period]

"Just sleep, Niom. Don't worry about me you're the one that's hurt." she said, continuing to stroke his hair. She watched him drift off before removing her hand. She didn't want to order food just yet. But then again if they took a while, maybe now would be best.

"There we are." the man murmured, bloody book hovering over a small bowl which was collecting the ink. But that wasn't what he was talking to, it was the creature on the spell circle which had his attention. Turquoise, black and white fur donned its body, ears as long as a rabbits and eyes as gold as the son. "Niom pulls through for me once again. Magic book, magic body, magic ink. This will only hurt a bit." And took a knife, gently knicking the creature's arm, creature in turn hissing at him. "Black blood. Lovely." and smiled. "Now let's test what sort of magic you have, hm?"

Liki stood, walking to another side of the room balls of fire surrounding him before aiming at the hound, moving quickly.

The black ears raised as the head lowered, spell points appearing in a triangle before a large shield appeared taking the blasts. Lightning crackled alive between his lips and he opened his mouth, shooting it out.

Liki grinned a dark grin, shadows rising and swallowing the attack. "Perfect."  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom stared in horror. another one. Liki had used another chimera and used his book to do it. The book was linked to him through his soul, that included the ink. this thing, this creature had been created with his soul's blood, linking the two of them just as he had been linked to the book. maybe not as strongly, but close. "Gods-" he whispered, growing pale. no wonder he had been brought here, a new link was being formed, had been formed. by the gods, what did he do now? the creatures eyes trailed upward and locked with his own. in that instant he felt the link set in place, making it permanent. "No-" his hands came up to his hair, clenching it tight as he felt the creature become a part of him. it wasn't like the book-the link wasn't as strong, but he was aware of it's existence and it of his. "What have you done?" he yelled at Liki, not knowing if the man could hear and not caring, "What have you done?"  

[Your Missing Period]

"What are you staring at, I wonder." The warlock asked, looking at the empty space that the chimera was looking at. "Do we have a guest, chimera?"

Golden eyes continued to watch the human, feeling the panic, horror and anger that filled its being. It's hackles raised as it growled, only able to make hissing and spitting noises along with it.

"Yes, sorry about that. All I had were broken voice-boxes. The one I used on you was least damaged but you should be able to speak. It will take some getting used to until I find you a perfect one."

"Him." it rasped out, snarling as it continued to feel the new, raw emotions. "Stop!" and clawed at the ground knowing it couldn't attack an apparition.

"Well, at least the speech part of Edwin's brain has already jump-started your intelligence. Niom will be so pleased." and looked at the empty spot that was driving the chimera mad with a pleased smile.  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom glared at Liki, so the man couldn't see him. he felt the blood drain from his face, Edwin-he'd used parts from Edwin to create this one too. gods. "enough, enough! i've seen enough." he looked at the chimera once more, "i'm sorry. i'm sorry you were born, that you must live like this." he knew he was emotionally and physically at his breaking point hen he felt tears trickling down his cheeks. "i'm so sorry-" his spirit returned to his body, the link made and his presence no longer needed. he woke, his eyes popping open as he gasped for breath, pushing himself up. "what-oh gods," he dropped back down and buried his face in his pillow as he remembered. "curse that insane b*****d of a mage!"  

[Your Missing Period]

The hissing slowly died down at Niom though the snarling didn't fully stopped and seemed stuck between an actual snarl and a whimper, as though he still had a right to be angry but was so sad. So overwhelmingly sad and exhausted, but still feeling the traces of anger. Then suddenly it was gone, the chimera panting as it regained control of itself.

"That strong, hm?" a finger tapped at his lips. "You're going to love life."

Nymphet was still sitting on the chair but was draped over the bed, asleep as well. She had rung for food a while back but it never came, maybe they hated Niom that much or blamed him for it. Whatever the case when Niom sat up it woke up the small Kaspian, making her look up as he fell back down. "Niom?" she asked, unable to sound panicked due to trying to wake up. "Niom what did Master do?"  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom sighed and looked over at Nyphet, "he made another chimera. using the ink from my book, the blood of my soul. he used me to once again create life." Niom sighed and shook his head, closing his eyes, "it's connected to me. even now i can feel it, it can feel me too. gods, what am i going to do?" his eyes widened as his stomach clenched, making him feel sick. "oh gods, oh gods. he just made another means to hurt me. he not only has to book but now this-this creature." what was he going to do to him? what more did Liki have planned, what pains, what horrors. he started to curl in on himself, fear taking over. what if Liki marked the chimera as well? "no, i can't. i can't go through that again."  

[Your Missing Period]

Your Missing Period

"Another Edwin?" How had Master created one so quickly? Edwin took months to make and all it took was NIom to fix what was wrong. "Just, just don't feel it! Block out how it feels!" She exclaimed, watching the poor mage curl in more and more on himself. "Niom, Niom please don't worry." and moved onto the bed, doing her best to uncurl him and situate herself in his arms instead, holding onto him tightly. "Just focus on the good right now, focus on the good. I promise it'll be better. He must be just as afraid as you are, Niom, but please focus on the good. You're alive, you're home, and he hasn't done anything to you since your tattoo. It's still good. It's still good."

 

[VampuricWerewolf]

How pathetic was he that a little child had to comfort him? Niom hated himself even more, but he couldn't let that show. instead he hung onto Nymphet, pulling her close as he closed his eyes. "i'll try-" his mind floated over the good things in his life, the happy moments, but he couldn't help it. each happy moment was destroyed by the darkness that always surrounded him. the world really did hate him- it did him no good to think like this, but he couldn't stop it. instead he focused on blocking out the chimera, separating himself from the creature.

there was a knock in the door and a small section in the middle folded down. onto this section was placed a tray with enough food for two. Niom didn't need to look to know what it was. "seems like our food is here."  

[Your Missing Period]

"Happy thoughts, Niom, happy thoughts. You have food. You have water. You have shelter." she said, stroking his hair. The knock made the girl look up, watching the tray slide through as though they were animals! Teeth grit in anger, clinging tighter to Niom. "Happy thoughts. You have me. You have me and you saved me and I'll save you and be your best friend. I'll pretend to be your child if you want. Liki has no one but a falsified beast and you have me."

The beast was depressed now, whining and looking to his master for comfort which was graciously given.

"Just ignore it. It isn't yours. Remember, it isn't yours. Ignore it. Be angry at it, drive it away." Liki smiled at the half-attempted snarls and growls. "Keep on at it. It isn't yours, ignore it."

But it couldn't and whined at him, nuzzling his face.

"You could always turn that emotion into power. Use it as energy for your spells."  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom forced himself to sit up, knowing it was useless to act this way. he'd learned as a child that it was of no benefit to himself or others if he remained depressed. "you're such a good girl!" Niom hugged Nymphet tightly, using that contact to push his sadness down and away. "sorry, dear. let's eat, you can never have happy thoughts on an empty stomach. my master taught me that." he stood, feeling better and able to move on his own now. the two trays had a hearty stew with homemade bread and a cornbread with honey spread slathered on. "it's a good dinner, look.they cooks probably want to warm everyone's spirits." he put the trays on his desk and pulled up a second chair. "here, come and eat."  

[Your Missing Period]

Nymphet moved with the man as he sat up, falling into his lap. "Wh-What?" and then suddenly she was the one being hugged, or rather, squeezed. Was he forcing himself to be happy? "I suppose you can't.' she agreed, letting go and moving to get her own tray. Her stomach cried out hungrily as her fingers touched the metal. She was starving. The poor Kaspian hadn't eaten since yesterday. "They're sure going to warm mine." and very quickly began to eat like she was a starved person. And on some days, she was.  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom watched Nymphet, smiling a little. she really was hungry, wasn't she? that was easy to take care of. "here, i'm not that hungry..." he gave her half of his own meal, unable to stomach too much right now. his body wasn't happy with the few bites he'd had already, might as well not let it go to waste. "go ahead and eat, dear. you need it more than i anyways." he nibbled on a piece of bread, hoping that it would help settle his stomach.  

[Your Missing Period]

"Hm?" her face was a mess with stew broth, honey and crumbs, tongue darting out to clean what it could. "But you need to eat too!" she said with a mouth full of food, looking at the nearly full tray with worry. She didn't want to ask if her Master was why he couldn't eat, but she felt that he was the indeed the cause. "Okay." and licked her tray clean like a dog before moving to Niom's tray, scarfing the food down just as hungrily. "So, what's the mark on your head?"  

[VampuricWerewolf]

Niom's hand automatically went up to touch the mark, his eyes lowering. "it is the mark of a demon, my father's gift to me. i didn't have it until he claimed me, but i don't remember anything from that time. ever since i received the mark, though, everything changed. this room, the system set up to constantly isolate me...everything began with the mark. and now i bear another man's mark as well. it seems that there are many who wish to claim ownership of me." he smiled a little, but it was true. even his master had placed a mark upon him. not one on his skin, but on his clothing so that all who say him would know he was being controlled. with master gone, he wondered how long it would be until the people of the castle turned on him. with the prince gone he didn't think it would be long.