*Remember Crisis, you are not to be seen.* "Understood." She released the button on the comm link within her ear. Acting as if she were simply on some phone call with a friend. Not that anyone randomly paid attention to people talking on the phone. She was making her way along one of the skyscrapers in this downtown district. Out of uniform, she couldn't risk someone tracking her back to her school. Her hair was black here, eyes red to aid in disguising her appearance. She wore a black suit, and a golden diamond studded Rolex on her right wrist. Her heels were a tan color, their bottoms red and toes revealed. A small amount of embroidery about the toes to decorate the shoe. She was a cookie cutter business woman, toting her brief case and making her way through the tall industrial buildings. It wasn't very hard to slip away unnoticed, just gone from the street without so much as a sound. She had slid through the crowds to an 'alley'. Despite how clean it was, and there was not a stray sign of trash bins to be seen. It was more like a reprieve between towering buildings. Either way it would serve her purpose. Not like she could pick up all of her materials at the school, what would someone say to Crisis having such strange visitors at any hour. There, in the alley, taped to the wall was a holographic card. Its imprint and data ran any number of complex systems. Hell, she didn't even know how it was made, but she was sure it was placed here recently. *Keep moving or you'll be late for school.*
The thought of it made her cringe a little, and still she said nothing. Sliding the card into her coat pocket and continuing through the bridge between buildings. Upon exiting she would be faced with a grotesquely large building filled to the brim with condominiums. No fear, she parted the streets with her walk. Carrying herself in the utmost confidence. Way different from her normal demeanor. She had never been here before, never even checked into a room. In a place like this you had to have money, and if no one recognized you and you acted poor. There was too high a chance that you would be singled out and questioned. The best way to float under the radar while in the field, was to make sure that you seemed just like everyone else. Her eyes danced about the security as she slid the shades to her eyes. Not letting them see that she was in fact looking around. "Welcome Ma'am" "Thank you so much, I'm so embarrassed I left my dissertation on my desk." "Well, no problem ma'am." She began to pull out the card to hand to the man, pausing with her fingers laced around the thing until she found the keypad. She withdrew the card and slid it swiftly into the slot above the keypad so the door would open. Giving the man a gracious smile. *Jeffrey Donovan* "You keep up the good work, Jeffrey" She withdrew the card and stepped into the building. The first floor was large but incredibly empty. This hall wrapped about to two large walk ways that led to the restaurant built into the back end. Aside that there was the reception desk and two elevators. Each with key card identifiers, but only one went to the floor she needed. "Do you need help?" Crisis smiled politely to the receptionist and shook her head no. Placing a hand to the ear piece, trying to look nonchalant by brushing the thick strands of her black hair back and out of her face. The receptionist was starting to look a bit puzzled, though not worried yet. Staying here too long would probably change that, it would be best if someone gave her a clue as to just what in the f- *Left* She chuckled and walked to the elevator on the left of the elevator and used the key card to get inside. Stepping into the elevator she would find the digital display was already set for a specific floor. She looked at the card, and then the display as the doors slid closed behind her. Feeling it rise as she went up to meet her target. The biggest problem with confronting another agent in the field. They more than likely knew you were coming, and you probably couldn't get to them quietly if you're carrying a weapon. At least one that couldn't be easily concealed. As well as ones that didn't set off any alarms, best chance something slender with no bulk.
*When the elevator reaches his floor we'll disconnect power to the entire building. You have thirty seconds.* She undid the buttons on her jacket and did the same to the vest under it. A swatch of leather could be seen above her blouse. However, with her back to the camera in the elevator the people monitoring could not see. Along the sides of the leather holster were ten throwing knives. She rustled her hair a bit, counting down the seconds until she approached the correct floor. Undoubtedly her presence was already known. The doors chimed and slid open, Crisis pressed to the side of the elevator as the power within the building went out. The only thing illuminating the condo was the light from the windows. She slid low and made her way slowly into the building to find no one stirring. The back of a man's head peering over the couch as she steadily approached. Why were they so calm and so quiet, obviously a trap. Though if she acted suspiciously she would just spook her prey. Wait ... what?! She shot up to grip at the back of the man's head and the thing topped off of its body. Someone had gotten here first. "We have a problem, someone got to Maddock before us. They could still be in the building." *Find him.* "But the time restraints." *Somea#&G@E&G Crisis!! ^#GDYSDG&)(096!* "Contact, contact!" A soft hum struck the building as the electricity came back to life. The ding of the elevator caused her to turn around. Seeing the silhouette of a man within. without thinking she would unsheathe a knife and toss it across the condo. Too late, the thing would bounce off of the hard metallic doors of the elevator, letting the man escape. "Contact?!" She grunted while pressing on the ear piece. The sirens cut on in the building, a clear alarm. The man swathed in black could be seen walking away from the building as the police pulled up. s**t, she was cornered. At least, she had time before she would be cornered. She had to get the hell out of this building.
As much as she wanted to throw the ear piece away, she really couldn't take the chance of someone finding even a speck of it on her. She slid on a pair of gloves, knowing she would actually have to touch on things now. She could NOT have her fingerprints in this mans apartment. No way no how. She would race back over toward the elevator door and retrieve her throwing knife. Couldn't leave that either. She would make a dash for the kitchen area, opening cabinets. Swiftly, yet neatly sorting through things she needed. Most of this was bullshit, food and things. But this guy was a spy, a lot of home supplies used in construction. And even normal food goods like fondant were ideal for making explosives. Something akin to C4, but not truly as powerful. And severely more unstable. The police would undoubtedly take their time searching floor by floor. Looking for whatever had drawn them here. She slowly but surely prepared the bowl of spackle, petroleum jelly and other assortment of things. Creating an explosive agent that she could secure in a shape. The mixing bowl was complete, and the mixture was undoubtedly tightening. She would cut the fondant into small folds and scoop the small amount of mixture she could form into it. Molding the fondant into a block and holding the makeshift C4 within her grasps. Following she would take some ceramic wrap and enclose the C4 before dipping it in s flammable liquid. Not a thick amount, just enough so the plastic had some sheen. Finding a box of matches she would make her way back to the door. Using one of the throwing knives to pry the door open.
*Cri*Y*Y^$#$$%?!* "I'm a little busy right now." She opened the elevator door wide to peer down the shaft. Lighting the chemicals on the ceram wrap and dropping it. The thing was literally a light in the dark as she landed atop the elevator several floors below. She gripped one of the cables that supported the elevator and waited. Waiting for the flames to eat through the plastic covering of her home made C4 explosive. No doubt the men inside the elevator, suited for a hostile extraction heard the thump, but there would be no time for their inspection of what it was. The explosion rung up and down the corridor. The resulting shockwave shook her body, sending her plunging up into the air as the cable she held was snatched to the very top of the building. The squads were called inward towards the disturbance, there being only two elevators and no stairwell. They knew the person had to still be inside, because they occupied both elevators. The explosion came from above so they would have to go up. The snapping cable would send her careening up, releasing it at the very height and breaking through the glass sun roof atop the elevator shaft. She flipped through the shards of glass, landing on all fours on the rooftop. *Did you see who caused this?* "No, what about on your end, did any of the cameras pick up anything?" *He took out the entire security system and called the police long before you arrived. He knew your cover I.D. and knew all the right ways to scramble our frequencies. We hadn't even noticed our police lines were dead. Get out of there before they start a full sweep, I'm sure someone heard that roof collapse.* They were right, maybe if they weren't so worried about the collapse of the elevator. But that bit of information could be negated for now. Whenever she was permitted a little more free time she could give the full details in a report. For now, she had to get to school. Checking the rolex on her arm she would note that she still did have a bit of free time. Looking up blankly while sliding the throwing knife back into its holster. She turned to the back of the building and ran for its edge. Despite the look this elevated ceiling actually had layers before she could get to the next. Using her advanced mobility she would bound over ledges and zig zag about normal roof occupants. Like vents, smock stacks, electric boxes. She did it effortlessly, and despite the simplicity in her actions it was actually quite graceful. She made a mad dash for the very end of the roof and lunged. Tossing all of her momentum forward, her chest protruded further as she transferred the weight of the pull to her lower body. Swinging her legs up under her and gliding across the air as if flying. Arms spread slightly, bent to maintain a balance with them like wings.
"Cleared." Her feet struck down first, skidding as she tumbled forward and slid about the ground. The suit taking most of the damage as she popped onto her feet, using her arms to thrust herself from the ground. She stumbled a bit, but she was fine. That was nearly twenty feet she had jumped, something she probably would not have been capable of if she had not gone to the academy. Fighting demons tended to increase ones normal capabilities tenfold. At least, training to fight them was great. She spun the key in her grasp after removing it from her pants pocket. She didn't really have the time to get a new change of clothes, so the Versace suit would have to do until she could get back to her dorm. Jumping buildings in high heels, how ridiculous was she? *You'll be debriefed at the rendezvous point, don't be late.* Late? She was already late, who in the hell thought of using the word late. No part of this mission had gone as planned. The assassination should have been clean, though not as clean as she had saw. To take out James Maddock without so much as a struggle. Maybe she was lucky the cloaked man just left. Imagine if he would have stayed. "He would have died." She spoke out loud, not really meaning to, she just had to drown out the thought of self doubt that had washed over her. She would run to the far side of the building, cupping the edge and flipping off its side. Sliding down the side of the building as if it were a surf board. She was going pretty fast but was certain she'd be fine. To counteract her balance, she would kick up and off the building into the nearby parking garage. Its top was quite a ways down below the skyscraper, and undoubtedly she was seen. Again, she was in shades and a black wig. Not like someone could truly identify it as her. Regardless, nearly as soon as she had landed she would vanish again. Turning the suit jacket inside out it would puff up into a red snow vest. Tearing the sleeves off and depositing them in the trash. She would do the same with the pants, leaving her in a pair of dark blue jean booty shorts. She ditched the wig, the shades and the red contacts. Out of sight and out of mind, the girl would be on the streets in her new attire. Walking away from the sound of Police sirens and popping gum. Hands in her coat pockets. no need to pay attention to the past, she had a rendezvous point to get to. Before she was late.
This time Won't you Save me!
Quote:
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 11:27 pm
Levistus "The Outsider" B-Class Demon Berserker || Zombie Warrior
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ How long can a man be alone? How long can a man remain sane without contact with another? Depends on the man, but most won’t last too long. True solitude is suffocating, dangerous, and maddening. Few seek it out, and few can handle it. To most the thought of doing it willingly is madness in and of itself. To Levistus it was his own choice, to grow strong one must be able to handle even the most adverse of situations. He had spent the last century and a half on getting stronger, but had spent the last fifty years alone. Resting against a stone wall alone in the underground beneath the city of Kyoto, which he planned to explore again soon ending his long self-imposed exile, but for now he began to reminisce on the old days and how this all came about…
~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~
Levistus stood tall, dressed in a sharp suit. It was the right sort of occasion for such a dress after all. They even had an ice sculpture. He was being paid well to play his part, and smiled warmly at the quiet music under the droning voices around him. Several here were like him, while most were ‘normal’ by their standards. He stood apart, as he always did; he was an outsider after all. Slowly a man approached him; he’d been eyeing a warm toned beauty in his bored sort of way. Apparently the little man took exception to this. The man’s words fell upon deaf ears, it was only the sound of glass shattering, and a wet meaty thump that drew Levistus’s attention to man. The man had dropped his glass in preparation to strike at the lazing demon.
The instant the attack began, it ended. The moment the man’s hand had traveled half the distance between them, Levistus moved unconsciously defending himself. The sharp sound of the man’s arm snapping like a twig under the force of his strike and the meaty groan of his flesh being torn open, and his blood spilling drew a lot of attention to the quiet demon mercenary. Several eyes locked on him at once, as the man backed away whimpering holding his shattered arm.
“Come on then.” the room exploded into motion, as several guns were pulled from their holsters. Blood filled the air, arms fell from shoulders, and screams filled the room as shards from the ice sculpture were sent hurtling at speeds no normal man could reproduce into the offenders like high speed ice blades. He kept moving around, as the henchmen who were uninjured tried to strike at him. The burning of a single bullet tearing through him made the demon hiss in rage even as the flesh reknitted itself. There was no time for the man to scream as he was sudden out of the window of the fortieth floor window he’d been crouched down besides.
A devilish smile crossed his face as the humans rushed to move from him, the unarmed ones fleeing towards the inner rooms of the high rise hideout. There were a lot of gun toting men now, but he didn’t care. He slowly pulled out a gift of his own, a silver phial he was given for just such a moment. The automatic weapons fired, tearing flesh apart but it was too late, it was over the moment the silver liquid filled Levistus mouth even as he was torn apart and drank he was laughing. With a swallow he felt like his veins were bursting with energy, bullets continued tearing him apart, but the energy didn’t stop filling him, every inch of his body seemed to burn for a moment. Two dozen automatic weapons had torn the mad man to pieces; leave nothing but meat chunks and dust. The laughter had stopped only moments ago, the men were happy it was over even as the pink flecked mist seemed to hang a bit too long. Then it began again. The laughter of a madman, a uproarious laughter that left every man chilled to their bones. The mist swirled in a cyclone of silver light, and the stunned men could see the shadow of a single man in the mists. Suddenly the shadow and the laughter was gone, only the warm wet feeling of some splashing the men gave them any warning. “Boo. Haha! Surprise!” Levistus shouted jovially as he continued his hungry slaughter.
~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~
That had been the last big job he’d done for one of his old ‘friends’ the job wasn’t just to kill, but send a message to someone. He didn’t bother with all the details of the job, instead he’d happily collected on his reward and left. He’d spent some more time bouncing between places, carousing, and entertaining himself. He remembered how he’d indulged himself then, and snickered. He certainly had missed things like that. It was while he was traversing an old road towards another city to terrorize with his very presence that he stumbled upon an old hermit. Literally.
~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~
It was a four day walk to his destination, not that Levistus minded too much. As much as he loved to have a good time, he also loved traveling. He felt at home on the road as much as he did at any gathering. He was well into the second day of travel when he noticed an old trail road, and decided a small detour for the scenic route wouldn’t be too bad. It had been two more days of traveling, around the time he should have reached the next city that it happened.
Levistus stumbled, catching himself and barely straightened himself unharmed. Perplexed, he glanced back to see an old man in ragged clothes literally sleeping happily on the field the trail cut through. Growling he prepared to kill the man, but the instant the thought entered his mind, the man snapped into consciousness and was on his feet. Glancing around he seemed underwhelmed to see it was just him.
“Young man, I don’t know what you are doing up here…but it is dangerous here. You should quickly head home.” Levistus considered asking what he meant, but it wasn’t too long until he received his answer. It wasn’t his own killing intent that had awoken the man, but that of a wild spirit. It was obviously acting out of order, all Levistus could feel was bloodlust and madness. The man tried to warn him, but Levistus easily side stepped the blind attack against him.
The fight was quick and brutal, the old man was easily able to quell the spirit, and Levistus was instantly intrigued by the old hermit. For his part the man played the part of a crazed coot well, but the demon could tell the man was observing him. After a time they broke down into discussions and the older man told him that he stayed away from the world because he found a way to draw strength from that solitude.
The old man was powerful indeed, for a human and he wasn’t in his way, so he left him be. He didn’t think there was any merit to the old man’s words. How could being alone grant someone any power at all? After all wasn’t it testing one’s self against a multitude of enemies and coming out on top make one strong?
~*~-~*~-~*~-~*~
It would be thirty more years until the man’s words would begin to entice the demon. At first he ignored their call but slowly he grew more and more disconnected from his siblings, and the world around him. He became enthralled with the idea of isolation to improve himself. Levistus considered the last time he saw one of his siblings; it had been during one of his excursions to get some new scenery. Nearly a decade ago…
Snapped from his reminiscing but the sounds of a transport passing overhead he supposed that it was time to get moving. After all, he’d been quiet for too long! Now it was time to let loose and party again. The sound of stone cracking, and breaking could be heard as he knocked down the wall that separated him and the general city. It was time to see how the world had changed in his absence.
Pulling himself up to the surface took time, as the underground was more like a maze, but once he reached the surface and cleaned himself off, he smiled and set off and dangerous smirk on his face as he walked into a crowd.
A door opened a fraction. A sound down the alley causing it to close again sharply. After a few moments it opened again. The cost was clear. Lilitu stepped out into the grimy, dank alley and looked around. She'd only ever been to the human world a few times before, and only in sparsely populated areas but now here she was, in a city. It sort of remained her of her home, Maleboge, except for the smell. The best she word she could describe it was, sweet. Everything in Maleboge was rotten and she was used to that, but this place smelt fresh. Stepping out of the ally she looked around and smiled. Ever since she had first heard of Japan she had always wanted to come to a city like this. Heading down the street she looked into the sky and laughed while the Coal Tar danced through the air. Lilitu then turned her attention to the humans, though they couldn't see her they could still feel her presence. But that didn't seem like all, as she passed she noticed people pulling faces and looking around themselves. Some people even holding their noses and exclaiming their disgust. Lilitu felt extremely embarrassed. It seemed that, since she was accustomed to the smell of her world and kin, she didn't notice that she shared the same stench. There had to be something that could help her but what? Sitting down on the sidewalk to think Lilitu began to ponder what is was humans used to smell sweet and nice. As she carried on down the street, deep in thought, she caught a whiff of something intensely sweet and headed off to investigate. What she found was a small shop selling pretty round things, and not only did they look nice but people were eating them as well. Walking over to the stand Lilitu took one, the owner clearly couldn't see her and the sign did say "samples". Biting into it Lilitu was sent to heaven, or as close as a demon could get to it. Before she knew it she was munching them, one after another, completely oblivious to the fact the humans were being turned off by her stench.
After the stall owner decided to close up, due to the lack of customers and the smell Lilitu began to wander the streets just enjoying the sights, munching a on a handful of macaroons as she went. As she walked past an alley she noticed a flyer, half stained, lying in a bin.
True Cross Academy Open Doors Event.
This seemed to catch her attention and she began reading through it. True the flyer was old but she was a demon, they wouldn't notice if she snuck in to have a look around. Lilitu had been raised in Gehenna, so she was curious to see what a human school was like in comparison. Taking out her silver key she went to the nearest door and tried unlocking it, but to no avail. Something was preventing her key from turning, maybe all the doors were open there? The keys only worked when the door was closed right? So she looked over the flyer again. It seemed that there was a small town near to the academy so she tried that and, hey presto, she was in luck. She took a deep breath and stepped through.
[exit to Campus Town || Mid Town || Downtown || City ]
Baphomet had in fact let the girl's wrist go - it was an extension of trust that he was willing to give her. He knew that she was completely aware of her situation; not only did he provide her with a protective umbrella, but his power dwarfed hers to the point that he may as well have been slapping around a newborn, to run would mean just losing a leg and then being dragged through the city in the dark, pain and suffering that she could easily avoid if only it meant having to stick around with a strange, dangerous man.
He lead them through the city, and they boarded a train without any problem. The few people who were around at this hour were too tired to bother giving Baphomet another glance, and god knows they wouldn't even mention the fact he was sitting next to her - sitting would be a wrong word, hovering protectively over her would be more accurate - so they both went unharassed. He domineered over her in the way that a predator did it's prey, a hawk trailing over top of a choice mouse for almost an hour before the right moment came and it could dive. Here, Baphomet seemed to be permanently stuck in the position right before that killer dive, as if he were sitting on a razors edge where his tension was at his highest, and yet it seemed as natural to him as breathing would seem to anyone else. He never reclined, the entire ride, he sat there and stared at the opposite wall with a hard intensity, and only when they reached their stop, it seemed, did Baphomet blink his dark and eerie eyes.
>>Baphomet's Flat <<
After a quick walk in streets that were nigh upon empty, it was still incredibly late after all, Baphomet would lead Naira to an apartment complex which rose high into the air. The doorman was snoozing in a seat next to the door, and Baphomet reached forwards to unlock the door himself. It was only a minute later that he lead her out of an elevator, pressing a key into the elevator pad in order to access his floor.
He owned the entire floor, Naira would find out. It was a modest place, even for the size, and shrouded almost entirely in darkness. The chic modern furniture looked older than it had any right to, the upholstery was worn in multiple places and the wood looked old, as if anyone weighing more than two hundred pounds would snap it into splinters. The few plants he owned, all sitting around the curtained windows, were old, browned, and dead, long dead, to the point they didn't even have the dank smell of decay clinging to them - it left the entire flat with a basic, sterile smell that seemed to be lacking that general feel of life. But it was clean, surprisingly, except for the aged look to it all, the place was spotless, as if someone had spent inordinate amounts of time working their fingers to the bone to make it seem presentable.
Baphomet would turn, and lock the door behind Naira, slipping a bolt and a deadlock as if he were suspicious of something. It wasn't a second later that he was reaching into his pocket, and with a practiced flourish, shoved the business end of a long, black colored cigarillo into his mouth and lit it up.
"There's water and tea in the kitchen if you want anything." He said cordially enough, before waving his hand and moving over to a shelf unit shoved against the wall. It's top was dominated by a vinyl record player - another vestige of the past, and it looked just as old as the rest of the room - and he shuffled through a few sleeves before picking a wide disk. He pressed it in, and set some simple music on the dial; it was older in style, piano accompanied vocals that were hardly more than a whisper.
"Join me." He said after a while, sitting down in an armchair with white leather. There was a black one right across from it, and a gray loveseat in between them, matching somehow with all the weird tones in the room; it still brought to mind something that just wasn't quite right, something dead or decayed or lacking color. The entire place seemed to have this aspect to it.
When Naira sat down, he was silent for a while, just sitting there with the music and letting the smoke fill the room - it smelled of herbs, like rosemary and anise, and maybe a few other things that were hard to identify at a minute-long smell. His eyes even closed for a while, and he might have been asleep except for when he'd bring the cigarillo to his mouth and pull on it deeply, or the subtle movements of his retina visible behind his eyelid. He looked peaceful for that long moment, before his eyes opened finally, and he leaned forwards in his seat a bit too quickly to seem entirely natural.
"I bet you've got questions." He said, stuffing the cigarillo in between his teeth and unhooking the swords from his waist. He set them against the chair's arm, and after leaning back again, ran his fingers over the black blade's hilt. He was quiet for another moment.
"Most kidnappers don't give their hostages the time of day. I prefer different. It looks like you're going to be staying with me for a while." He breathed in sharply. "Call it a vestige of loyalty, if you want, I don't care. I'll take care of you as long as you're decent, I'll even let you out every now and then. So, I think it's right we clear the air a bit, and you know exactly what you're dealing with here."
Baphomet would clear his throat, and wipe a hand across his nose sharply. He looked her in the eyes still, that sharp gaze that almost ordered her to look away, but at the same time made it difficult to be distracted by something else. They were the center of the world, for those few moments, dark little centers that seemed to pull the light around it in with hardly a care as to if it devoured the color out of the world.
"So ask away, sweet cheeks."
Word Count: 1029 Points Earned: 8 Total Words: 5388 Total Points: 50
Despite her obedient words, something deep inside her felt like running once he had released her from his iron grasp. Yet, she followed behind the Corrupter like some sort of lost puppy- stumbling about the streets of Tokyo. Few people could be seen at this time of night, fewer still would dare to even walk on the same side of the street. The male before her looking something akin to the sort of unsavory folk most tended to avoid, in fear of their lives. And she, nothing more than a child, likely would have seemed just as questionable- her simple outfit splashed with the blackened stains of demonic blood.
The longer she followed him; the more the reality of the situation Naira now found herself in began to set in. Even if she managed to somehow out run the male, or in some such crazy fashion escape- there was no where she could possibly go to. Without fear of being found and likely losing something very precious. Even so Naira didn’t think she’d be able to get farther than a few feet before he could strike her down once more. The dark haired girl could only curse herself for that weakness, the seemingly insurmountable difference in power she knew to exist between them. But for now, she’d play by his rules.. Following him obediently as he led them off towards one of the train stations.
Despite their questionable appearances there was no issue getting on to one of the many trains that would take them far away from Tokyo. Even those on the train didn’t give them so much as a second glance, perhaps due to the uneasiness in Baphomet’s stance as he sat near to her. He still looked like the predator he was, she may have seemed helpless in comparison. Naira didn’t pay those on the train any attention, as rested her chin on her intertwined fingers, her elbows resting on her knees as her dark gaze stared out blankly towards the window on the opposite side of the train. She was left to her thoughts for the remainder of the trip, uncertain of what to make of her predicament. The boldness she had once felt leaving her to the fear of the many unanswered questions she had.
---------------------------------------
It was a short walk through the streets of the city she could faintly recognize as Kyoto- It would be her third time visiting the massive city. Her trips before, were only in passing, accompanied by a tyrant of a different nature. Naira was unsure of what to make of this particular city- it was quickly becoming a sorrowful one. Baphomet soon lead her towards what would have seemed to have been a fairly tall apartment complex- or some such building. He would lead her past the doorman, who slept on- untroubled by the sounds of the door beside him opening and closing. They would take the elevator up to one of many levels, stepping out the place was particularly dark. She could only follow him through another doorway, only to hear the subtle clicks of locks behind her. Turning back a moment, Naira could see there in fact were two different locks on the door.. It’d take considerable force for someone to break through. She could only wonder why it was necessary at all. Her gaze drifted to the male, noticing he had already lit up something akin to a cigar. Before offering her the amenities of his kitchen, gesturing off towards it before turning his attention to something else.
Naira merely turned about to look about the room, uninterested in food or drink. The place was quite strange- lifelessness would be the only word that came to mind. Furniture tended to keep to the dull hues of black, white and grey. The only other colors permeating from the long dead plants that stood like grave markers in the windows on the far side of the room. Soon music would begin to flow from the record player; its sound was dated- much like the things in the room. She may have seemed considerably shyer than before to him. Having not moved from the place she stood, at the mouth of the room. Only moving when he finally prompted her to.
Naira sat in the black arm chair, directly across from him. They were silent for some time. He seemed relaxed for the first time since she had met him- only mere hours before. Smoke began to fill the place, bringing new smells of a variety of herbs- some easier to make out than others. But she didn’t enjoy the suffocating feeling of the smoke filling her lungs, nor the dryness it brought to her eyes. Naira could only stare off blankly towards the dark floors, her hands folded in her lap- a certain uneasiness about her stance. Her dark gaze drifted to Baphomet as he began to shift forward, leaning out towards her before speaking.
‘That.. I do.. Although I’m not sure I want to know the answers to all my questions.’ Naira thought to herself as she watched him remove the swords from his waist, he seemed almost attached to them. But he began to speak once more, truthful at least in what he had done. Mentioning briefly his intentions if one could call them that. Yet there was a certain truthfulness to his words, despite the coldness in what had said. She was uncertain of what to make of it, her gaze drifting to meet his as if it may help decipher something. Yet, the gaze she found was something harsh yet strong. Difficult to look away from, despite the jagged edge they carried.
Naira was quiet for moment longer, as if she may be able to find something in the black pits that devoured her attention. Finally, however, she began to speak of the many questions that had plagued her during the long trip to this place. Still, very uncertain she really wanted to know what he would say.
“I.. just want to know..” She began to say, the cautiousness in her voice ever present as she waivered for a moment, “How you know my dad.. What you seem to know about his relationship with my mother.” Naira was quiet for a moment longer, her gaze shifting once more away from her captor. Falling towards the ground as a certain emptiness occupied her expression, her gaze something akin to fear. Or perhaps some deranged form of acceptance.
“And what you really want from me. You didn’t drag me to Kyoto for tea and crumpets. There has to be something I have or you think I have that would interest you…?” Naira questioned him, she didn’t seem quite sure of herself as she spoke. Nervous, afraid and curious all the same.
Qi: 57,300/57,300 Mobility: 55/55 Word Count: 1,134
He shouldn't have been surprised that her first question was as to his origin, she was curious as to how he knew so much. He would have wondered the same thing were he in her shoes, being the child of the King of Rot, and somehow a mysterious stranger knew more than he had any right to, it left questions floating in the air he would be more than wanting to know. In this case, he gave a short sigh and his eyes seemed to harden and the distance between the two seemed to grow exponentially, as if had suddenly become impossible to touch even though he was only three or four feet away from her.
He remembered his days like they had happened only moments before. Facing down massive demons of such insurmountable power that he had, more than once, felt he would surely die in the battlefield. And yet each time he came out on top, wounded, hurting, but proud and strong nevertheless. It hadn't been long until Astaroth had recognized him as a worthy warrior, and gifted him with power, prestige, and rank that befit him at the time. He was no more than a veteran now, a man who subsided at the fringes of existence and avoided the memory of his past like a man avoiding the plague, and yet here he was 'protecting' the daughter of his former lord.
"I was once a warrior in your father's armies. After a couple decades, it might have been a few hundred years, I can't remember exactly, he noticed me." Baphomet cleared his throat and set his cigarillo in an ash tray, where it smoked slowly and tainted the air with it's heady scent. "I met him once. I interested him, he told me, and he said I had pleased him in my years of service. And then he threw me to the ground and pounded me into the dirt, because he thought it was funny."
Baphomet would laugh cruelly, the sound hard and strained in his throat, enough that it didn't seem natural any more. He looked up, shaking his head.
"And after that, after he gave me a portion of his power, after he beat me down, I served him until I was defeated so soundly that I couldn't face him again."
"But where your father was a cruel man, I only saw a portion of it. He has a penchant for the mortals, and every now and then, he takes one for a mate. Most don't survive, and if they do, the child sometimes comes out so rotten and dead the mother kills herself." He sniffed, and smirked a little. "I knew a few of his children. One stayed with his father for his entire life, and we served in the same regiment. He died, and I heard that Astaroth went and made himself a new child to replace it."
He winked slowly, and reached for the ash tray. He pulled the cigarillo to his lips and pointed it accusingly at the girl across from him, looking for any sign of fear or surprise in her eyes, looking to see if she doubted him, if she was wondering just how evil of an individual her father was. Where he had no clue as to the cruelty of her real father, he knew only the shallow end of her true father's evil, and he almost wanted to see her falter after realizing that.
"And that's you. The product of some courtship. He might have raped her, she might have given herself willingly as some women are wont to do. Real freaks, the lot of them, let me tell you." He laughed quickly, waving his hand. "Some women actually want the experience the lovemaking of a demon, knowing it could just as quickly kill them. Some sort of thrill or risk, whatever."
"Whichever method, I'm guessing you were born as a result."
He looked towards her eyes again, but they had fallen to the floor, as if she were ashamed, or nervous. The bold energy which had filled her earlier, the smart mouth incarnate, had left her, and in it's place was a nervous little girl. She didn't want to be here. While Baphomet didn't know it exactly, her false father had hated her, and thrown her into the academy so she'd be out of his hair. The academy wasn't a home either, it was full of people who'd just as quickly kill her if they found out the origin of her birth - home was a place where you were safe and happy. She hadn't chanced going to Gehenna, it could just as quickly mean her death if an overzealous demonling thought killing her would mean power after all. And now she was here, with a strange man who had promised to rape her and protect her in the same breath, with overwhelming power and an equally overwhelming personality. Who wouldn't be afraid in this situation?
He decided that for the last portion of her question, it would be best to be completely honest. What were his intentions here?
"But look. Just because I don't work for Papa Astaroth any more doesn't mean I don't feel loyal to him still." He sniffed hard, and looked away, towards the ceiling where he tried to count the spots where it had begun to rot away as a result of his influence. It needed to be repaired, probably, before the floor above came crashing down.
"No kin of mine belongs in that place. If the exorcists found out what you were, who knows what'd happen. They could turn you into a weapon, sure, but that leaves all those pretty little feelings of yours to get hurt by people who don't like our kind. You could be outright killed because your loyalties aren't clear. They might torture you because there's a chance you know something about the demon world they could use to their advantage. In essence, it's no place for you." His eyes narrowed, hard. "Call it a vestige of loyalty if it makes you feel better. But like I said, I'll protect you if you're a good girl. I'll teach you, and help you get strong so you can do that yourself in a few years. You might even help me out with my plans for this place."
He smiled darkly and winked again, blowing a thick cloud of smoke into the air which spread and thinned before he spoke again. He took in a deep breath, really deep.
"Plus, Iblis ain't s**t, and if he thinks he can threaten my kin, he's got another thing coming. Let him do his dirty work, understand?"
He stood up a second later, after he let that sink in to the girl's head. She might understand the hatred of fire, their kind was born with the instinct to avoid it almost at all costs. It could hurt them in ways that other stuff just washed off of their flesh. He'd been burnt before, and even with his peculiar abilities, it had taken longer to heal than it should have. His kitchen stood testament to that, from the electrical stove top to the little water heater that he filled up and let warm up for some tea. He had left her in the living room, and the open kitchen let their voices carry if she hadn't followed him. He dug around in a few cupboards until he found two cups and the tea. Naturally, he held the bags above the little bit of steam that came out of the spout as the water heated up.
"Remember the deal, sugar." He said slowly, pouring two cups out over the tea bags and letting them steep while he stood there. "If you're good, I'll protect you. If you're not, I'll get you pregnant. That interests me, a child to raise. Don't think for a single second I'm taunting you when I say that, I mean it literally. I'll turn your womb into a breeding ground if I must."
"Sugar? Lemon?" He asked, coming up behind her and setting a tray on the short table. The two tea cups were surrounded by a cut up lemon and a dish of sugar. He squeezed a lemon into his drink and dropped it in a second later, before ladling a huge amount of sugar in, and stirring it up.
"Let me ask you something though." He said, low enough to be a whisper as he leaned back and sipped on his drink. "What were you even doing there, at True Cross? You know how dangerous it is, I can see it in your eyes. What's up with that?"
Word Count: 1467 Points Earned: 12 Total Words: 6855 Total Points: 66
Baphomet seemed almost reluctant to speak of times long past of his servitude to her father, but she listened intently to the tale. A great warrior at some point, gifted power and prestige for that same servitude. Yet.. it was all thrown away once some great defeat was met. He didn’t go into that particular tale, and Naira didn’t feel it were the time to ask what had happened. He seemed bitter enough about those times, and she was in no position to question further about it. Although, evidently the man before her had met the previous heir to the Kingdom of Rot. Whoever this heir may have been- had met his end all the same. And her father had sought to replace him? She began to wonder if that was all she was to her father, some sort of replacement as he waited till the next great son or daughter to come about. Perhaps that was reason enough for his lack of presence- he didn’t think her to be the one. Perhaps waiting for her to die off before trying his luck again. And her mom nothing more than the vessel to carry out his intentions..? Naira wasn’t sure what to make of it, and Baphomet knew as much as she did about the circumstances behind that union. If it were one. She slowly fell back into the black leather chair she sat in. Her dark gaze clouded by that same uncertainty as she stared off towards a seemingly random point in the dark room.
Her thoughts drifting towards malice as his words begged a reevaluation of how she had previously seen her standing not only with her father but in general as well. She was beginning to wonder if she wasn’t just some experiment to all those who had influence in her life. Her human father certainly hated her for what she was, but her real father could very likely share that same stance? Possibly for the weakness he may have sensed in her? And what of this man before her? What did he really want from her.. was she some sort of game to him as well ? Naira took a deep breathe, sighing it out as her eye lids drifted closed for a time, she didn’t want to process these sorts of thoughts any longer. Unsure of what was truth, what were honeyed lies, and what was simply her own deception to make her petty life feel like something more than what it was. She had only come to understand pain and hate after all.
Baphomet’s voice was a welcome disruption to her dark thoughts, even if it brought about the conversation to answer the one question she was almost afraid to learn to of. His gaze drifting towards the ceiling above as he spoke, of some thread of loyalty he still felt to his king, and of the school he had taken her from. But mostly of what the exorcists were likely to do if they only knew who she really was. In truth, she knew of their intentions- they weren’t far off from why he father had sent her there in the first place. Although, she had been lucky that man was a fool- and neglected to inform the school of what she was. They were oblivious to the fact she wandered the halls like any other student- but bore an origin more sinister than most. It was something she had been very careful to hide in the brief time spent there. Although, it was humorous how even they hadn’t questioned her lack of an affinity towards any of the meister types as they were called.. Maybe it was just assumed she would end up a pawn similar to many other low ranking exorcists. Yet his intentions for taking her to this place seemed simple, although questionable still. He wished to train her- for some unknown purpose.. Hinting only that she may be of some assistance to him in time. Yet the dark smile he had and the mischievous wink made her question what this ‘plan’ he had entailed. He shortly after began to speak of Iblis, and their threats- he seemed fearless. But she’d be a poor liar to say she didn’t fear their kind. Naira merely nodded her head in response, knowing full well he hadn’t taken her away because of some noble intention to protect her from the Flame Haze. He seemed intent on taking her with him before he had even learned of that matter. Naira’s gaze only followed him briefly as he stood up and began to walk towards the kitchen, he was gone only a short while. His voice accompanied only by the sounds of water being heated up. Baphomet was quick to remind her that she was more or less in control of how he would treat her. To be “good” likely meant being obedient in some fashion and doing otherwise would render her as some sort of sex toy. Till she produced what would interest him- a child..? Naira began to question why he would want a child so badly, it brought her back to the questions she had previously. Of what he could possibly be planning. Perhaps to become a weapon of sorts. It didn’t seem far off from what the exorcists would do. Yet, for whatever purpose, he was definitely serious about this child rearing stuff. Be it one he created with her assistance or if she were that obedient child he wanted. He soon came from the kitchen, carrying a tray with two cups, a plate of lemon slices and a sugar bowel. He only asked if she wanted either, his voice calm despite only moments before threatening to rape her and force her to bear his child. It was certainly strange to say the least. “Neither.” Naira said softly as she leaned forward and picked up her cup from the tray, leaning back- her body was tense. Her gaze falling towards the cup that was wrapped in her hands, its warmth spreading out into her palm. She only looked up towards him when he began to ask her a question of his own, of why she was at True Cross to begin with.
A faint smile crossed her lips before she began to answer him, “It was just the next place I ended up at.”
“A few years back my father moved us to one of the rural towns near the coast, there most the money is made off rice farming.. A peaceful place really. But one where I gained the wrong sort of attention. Not much has changed I suppose.” She began, taking a sip of the tea before continuing further.
“My father intended to arrange some sort of marriage to get rid of me. I was becoming something for a problem for him I guess... The locals thought I was a witch. Nothing grew near the house we stayed at.” She said with a chuckle, her dark gaze drifting up to search Baphomet’s face for some expression. Perhaps to get some clue to what he may be thinking.
“However, my father wasn’t quick enough. One of the village boys approached me, I interested him.. as I did many others. But he assumed he could overpower me to get what he wanted. And I killed him for it, and drank his blood. The rice field we were at became fetid grounds, and the villagers didn’t take well to the shriveled up corpse they eventually found.” She said with a small smile, perhaps with some sense of pride. As those moments lead to some sense of freedom, but.. Naira hadn’t told him of what her father frequently did to her. And how she hated him as much as he hated her.
“Papa had to come up with a new solution. And, so he sent me to True Cross. Must have been the easiest solution for him. He didn’t tell them what I was. But, he must have known if I slipped up they’d likely do what he couldn’t do himself.” She said, a certain malice in the tone of her words. It would be pretty clear she didn’t care for that man. And perhaps hinting of her intentions to kill him herself… one day.
Naira was quiet for a while, drinking of the bitter tea in her cup. The thought of sweetening it had crossed her mind, yet she made no movement to do so. Only placing the cup down on the table between them before hinting at a different question, one she didn’t think he’d give her a straight answer to yet. “Why do you want to raise a child so badly…? What is in it for you…?”
Qi: 57,300/57,300 Mobility: 55/55 Word Count: 1,457
That was weird, she didn't take either the tea or the lemon in her tea. He knew one thing about tea-drinkers in this day and age, only sociopaths didn't take their tea with a little something extra. His eyebrow quirked up as he listened though, banishing the thought as she slowly plucked at his curiosity. He dared to think that she was doing it on purpose, trying to get him interested, but damn if he didn't know better than that, so he was stuck just listening.
So she was a farmer's girl, that was no real surprise, she looked kind of strong in the way only those types of people were; you couldn't tell at first, but you noticed things that told you their were either really goddamn bullheaded or in some manner they were physically strong. He let that simmer on his mind, along with the usual tale she spun about being the child of some demon king and a human mother - he'd heard enough in his life time for it to not weigh as much on his mind anymore. Where someone else might have felt bad for her, or extended a hand of sympathy or something equally stupid and meaningless, Baphomet sat reclined in his chair still, as if he were immune to the possibility of a hidden emotional plea. He sipped down his tea, digesting the facts. She wasn't exactly liked by the farmers or by her father, that was evident enough in her tone, her carry, and the reason she was stuck in a hole like True Cross. She'd killed a boy who had tried to, in some shape or form, take from her the very thing Baphomet had threatened to take from her, sucking him dry like a wannabe vampire and destroying the rice paddies and land around her as befit her kind and her station. Then some more crap, he was sure she was leaving stuff out in the exact manner that he had only given her the meaty chunks of the story, and she was shoved off to be the academy's problem. In essence, she was the child no one wanted, the child people cursed, and deep in there, she was surprised she hadn't been killed before now. Baphomet was surprised too, most half demons were killed of before they had the chance to step on academy grounds.
"That's crap." He said simply, with a shake of his head. He leaned forwards to pick up another slice of lemon, which he squeezed and dropped into his tea again. He preferred it tart, just under that little bridge where it stung the tip of his tongue when he drank it.
"Sucks not to belong somewhere, huh?" He asked, rhetorically of course.
He knew the feeling. Being born like he was, crossbreed between demons that should have never mated, he killed everything in sight, and that alone happened when he was growing from a stalk - demon growth patterns were weird, in Baphomet's case, his growth pattern followed his maternal side closely, and he was planted before being able to grow out of the ground. One demon attempted murder, he was so afraid of the child, right after he was born and the sweet nectar of his growing plant was still sticky-fresh on his purple-black skin. He was raised away from children, he was put in the army, and after that, he lost all contact with his kingdom. Thrown from Gehenna in half self-exile and half awareness he'd be exiled legitimately if he came back, a wanderer in essence, Baphomet had experienced that particular brand of loneliness, and he knew it was a bitter elixir.
He took a deep breath though, when she asked about children. That was a damned good question, now that she mentioned it. He tried to think of the words to match the vague feeling he had in mind, and his lips pursed up for a second as if the drink had been a little too sour for once.
"Da' explained it to me once." He said finally, with nothing more than a shrug to explain his silence.
"Demons aren't like humans, but you know that. The whole desire to procreate, to make sure your genes get on and you've got a legacy, it's stronger in us than it is in humans." He pointed dejectedly at the air, as if to make a point and send it home. "That's why we have so many legends and books about someone making accomplishments. We like to know we had an effect, and the best way to do that is to have kids that go and make a name for themselves as well."
He smirked knowingly. That was a good insight as to why Astaroth had united in the most unholy of fashions with her mother; demons had that drive, and it would of course be strongest in the oldest, most powerful, and most influential of demons after all. He wondered if she'd pick up on it.
"It's an instinct. It comes and goes. Sometimes I think having a kid would be a pretty cool adventure in of itself. If I've got to rape someone, human or demon, to do so..." He trailed off and gave the girl a wink, as if he were taunting her, teasing her, egging her to do something and react and push him in turn over the edge. "Other times a kid sounds like a horrible idea. It'd get in the way. I've got things in the works that having a kid could gum up."
He dared to look back at her, suddenly and with the same intensity as before. The veneer covering his mystery had cracked, sure, but he was still the same, still a pot belly full of weird odds and ends that would take years to decode, let alone begin to understand, and he seemed to find some sort of weird pride in that. But her further dared to press her further.
"What else is boiling in that brainpain?"
Word Count: 1143 Points Earned: 8 Total Words: 7998 Total Points: 78
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