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 Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 4:40 pm
(part 2 of their mission)
They had spent a week as the queen's entertainers. It was tiring work for both of them. She required her entertainers wear certain jewelery, most of which wighed down on them. Ajani and Sol became two of her favorites, and they were never far from her side, including during meetings. Ajani never worked so hard before. In 'nera he would have been given a break by now and a couple days rest. He danced and sung, even was required to flirt with the queen. Sol had been required to do more though. At night, she would have Sol go with her to her sleeping den.
Ajani had thought that Sol would have lost it by now, that he would have tried to kill the queen. He had perfect opportunities to do so, but the young cheetah never took them. It was odd, Ajani thought that Sol would stand out so much, that he would be awkward around others. However in this pride Sol fit in, much more then Ajani did. When they had free time, Sol would talk to the guards. Just general chit chat, but the guards didn't treat Sol like they did other entertainers. They had a bit of respect for him.
This worried Ajani. Sol was fitting in too much. He was more closer to others in this pride then he was with the members of 'Nera. When it came time to kill the queen and leave, Ajani wondered if Sol could do it or if he would leave his home and join this pride. Ajani wanted to talk to Sol, to beg him to come back with him to 'Nera, but they never had a chance alone. If they weren't entertaining, they were required to rest and groom. When they wanted to eat they had to ask the queen. If they needed anything else they asked a guard.
Right now they were grooming themselves while a pair of leopards entertained her. Despite them being her entertainers, her eyes were only on Sol. There was a gloating air about him as he groomed himself. Ajani wondered why she wanted him more then anyone else. Was it his personality or his looks? Either way he would have to tread carefully.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 4:48 pm
Sol decided that being an entertainer wasn't half bad. There were actually moments when he enjoyed himself. The queen had taken favor over him and he was sure that he was the closest male to her. She told him stories of her youth, of her conquest. It was always so fascinating to listen. He told his own tales though never mentioning that he had done the deeds himself. Even the guards were interested in is tales. He always thought they were dull, but here they thought it was interesting.
The queen had even said he was a better entertainer then Ajani, something Sol would be sure to rub in the older cheetahs face when they got back to their pride. As he entertained the queen, Sol always reminded himself that he would be leaving here, that he had his own home to go back to. That he would in fact be killing the queen. The queen he felt such a connection to. One he felt could understand him if he told her about his truth self.
But he couldn't. If it had been another time he could have. He didn't have any sense of loyalty to 'Nera. He respected the pride, knowing that it had a strength other prides did not. Plus it had Rada in the pride. He could not leave the pride, it would mean he would never see Rada again.
“Come here my lovely Rose.” The queen said, pushing aside her leopard entertainers. Sol's code name for this mission was Rose while Ajani's was Lily. For the most part Sol hated the name, but when she said it, it was different. It was like she knew he was dangerous, a rose with thorns.
Sol obeyed her and went over, a playful smile on his face. “How may I help you my queen?” he asked leaning close to her. He would have made a darn good entertainer, he thought.
“Dance for me, dance for me as if you were in love with me and only me. Treat me like I am your only reason for living.” Her voice was demanding. Sol gave her a nod.
“Right now you are my purpose for living.” He started to dance, his eyes on the queen. He had seen Ajani do this so many times. All he had to do was mimic the older cheetah.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 4:52 pm
You are my purpose for living, repeated Ajani in his head. This was not good. He knew that Sol was getting closer to the queen, but he never expected the young cheetah to get feelings toward her. Sol, as far as he knew, was against other species and hated the thought of hybrids. During the war Ajani thought Sol made that clear.
How he was acting now, made Ajani unsure. Was this an act, or did Sol have other reasons for his actions during the war?
The familiarity of Sol's dance was something of a surprise as well for Ajani. He wondered if Sol had practiced this dance by himself. He swayed closer and closer toward the queen, but ended up going away from her. He was a tide in the ocean, Ajani thought as Sol swayed. It was a dance Ajani had worked on.
The queen came closer. “This wrap around you distracts be from your beauty my rose. Let me please take it off you.” She said with a smile. Her claws dug into the fabric and she pulled it off, showing everyone the deep scars on Sol.
Ajani gasped, this was bad. They could be found out now. He just stayed calm and continued to clean himself. He would react once he knew what the queen was going to do.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:08 pm
The wrap was down, his mask was off. He felt so bare. “My scars might be more distracting my queen.” He said jokingly as he continued to dance. Continue the act till the performance is done, he thought. Even if he was bare, even if all his lies were showing the show must go on. Without looking, he knew all eyes were on him. He no longer looked like an entertainer. “If you would like I can put the wrap back on.”
“No. I think I rather like you like this. Of course you will have to tell me where you got those scars.” She spoke, watching him. There was a smirk on her face. She thought that she caught on to them. He would just switch roles though. The truth would be his and Ajani's to know.
“I lied to mister Lily. He took me in when I was sick and hungry and I took advantage of him. Before I met him I was a warrior, a warrior for hire. I would fight anyone as long as I was paid. It wasn't much different then an entertainers life. You do what your told then you get paid.” He said, closing his eyes as if he was remembering such a sad tale. “But it changed. I was betrayed. I went to collect my earning but my employer had his guards beat me to near death. That's when Lily found me and saved me. I told him that I was attacked, that a group of hyena's killed my family. He felt pity on me and decided to teach me to entertain.”
A tale, he would never be proud to say if he was Sol, but as Rose he didn't mind. “Now that you know, you are welcome to get rid of me.” He stopped dancing and stared at the queen. “I am yours to do as you with my queen. Love me or banish me. Kill me if you must.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:22 pm
Would the tale work? Ajani asked. He didn't make eye contact with Sol or the queen. This was all on Sol now. He would do what he wanted and Ajani would do what he could to help. If he caused a mess though, Ajani wasn't sure how they would fix it. He just hoped that the queen wouldn't mind the scars and that everything would be back to normal so they would finish out the mission.
“Rose, you have such a different past then an entertainer. Stay with me then. I want you to be with me at all times, but not to entertain me. You were a fighter, a killer were you not? You deserve a different life. You will be one of my guards.” She said with a generous smile.
Ajani felt cold. She was pulling Sol further away from his mission, giving him a role where he could fit in even more so. He just hoped that Sol would stand strong, and remember where his loyalties lie. Maybe being closer was just the thing they needed anyways. They needed an opportunity to get her away from her guards. This could be it.
“Swear your loyalties to me Rose and I will let you live. If you do not I will kill you and your companion.” She said with a wicked smile. Her eyes darted at Ajani and he could feel his blood turn cold. The idea that he had to kill this wicked lioness was something astounding. He wasn't sure if he would be able to.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 8:52 pm
Yellow eyes looked at Ajani. “My queen, I will swear my loyalty to you. But I do so because I would love to be in your service, not for this weak entertainer. You can do with him as you wish, it is of no concern of me.” He stepped up and keeled next to her. “My queen, I will obey your every order. Since I have come here I felt more at home then anywhere else.”
It was the truth. This was more his home then 'Nera. She was more his queen then any of the rulers of 'Nera ever were. He could now share his stories with her and be almost honest. He could even talk about his blood lust and actually have someone who understood and accepted him. They would welcome him in their ranks, where Ajani tried to fix him. Here he didn't need fixing.
“There are so many things I can tell you about my travels, different prides you could attack, which ones are the richest. Anything you want, I can tell you. I am here for you to use me.” He said with a smile. He went closer to her and laid down. Sol would have hated this, but Rose loved it. He felt like he was truly needed, something he lacked at 'Nera.
“You will make a perfect guard for me Rose. I will let the entertainer live. He can stay here with the others and keep my guards company. You though will not. You cannot travel freely yet. I am afraid I do not trust you yet, but given time I will. You will have to tell me more about you, more of your secrets. I want to know everything.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:22 pm
He hoped that this was all an act. Sol in their conversations talked about often putting on a mask. Hopefully this was another one. If not, he wasn't sure how he would tell the pride that Sol had become a traitor. He couldn't do that to his new friend, but he couldn't let him get away with betraying the pride.
The thoughts were confusing him even more and he realized he cleaned the same spot. A guard went up to him and smiled. “Hello lovely. It seems like you have a lot on your mind. Maybe instead of thinking you could entertain me.” She said with a grin.
It was something to stop his worrying mind. He got up and started to dance for the guard. Soon other guards came to him, leaving the queen and Sol to deal with their own things. Ajani continued to watch them as the queen whispered into Sol's ear. He wished he knew what they were talking about.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:15 pm
“Once we are in a more, private setting, I'll tell you all my secrets. It shouldn't be a surprise to you that I have so many. I will share them all with you.” Starting with his real name. He was tired of using a code name. It didn't matter at this point. He would kill her anyways. Hell he could tell her most of his real secrets and it wouldn't matter. The dead are not the type who tell secrets.
The queen leaned into him, a smile still on her maw. “Even though you are now my guard I still expect you to be with me. You will be my side at all times. Do you understand? Your first job is to keep me protected, but your second is to make sure I am happy. You have a little entertainer in you and your beautiful, far more beautiful then any of my other guards. I think that you have the chance to be one of my consorts. Wouldn't you like that?”
A consort, mate to the queen. That was the life of Rose, but he wasn't sure what Sol would do. It seemed like a pretty boring life. “I think I would enjoy that very much.” He whispered back, giving her a kiss on the cheek. He could feel his heart warm up. This wasn't like him, he thought. He felt like even as himself being her mate wouldn't be terrible, that he could get used to it.
Was, was he in love?
Sol had never really felt romantic love. He loved his sister Rada of course and he loved Ajani in a friend sort of way. However he had never felt anything like this before. He wasn't sure if it was his true feelings or not either. It could be just an act, an act that fooled even him.
“Come along my Rose, we have many things to discuss.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:41 pm
Ajani watched as Sol and the queen left. He wanted to stop them, but knew it would be in vain. Sol would spend more time with her alone, but it could either help or hinder him. He could learn secrets she only trusted guards with. Or she could wrap around his mind and get him to see the world through her eyes. He didn't show his concern on his face. Instead he continued to dance. Tomorrow he would be sure to talk to Sol some way. He would figure out something.
The plan was getting further and further from its objective. He would keep tabs on Sol. While he was viewing the pride from above he had seen different escape routes. If he needed to he could escape with or without Sol. When he did escape he would tell the pride of the failure, and hopefully not of Sol's betrayal. He was sure the young cheetah wouldn't betray them. However he couldn't be certain. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to see him see this pride as a new home. He already got along with most of the guards.
In 'Nera Sol had two friends. His sister Rada and him. Here he was already loved by the queen. Ajani hoped that Sol's relationship with himself and Rada were enough to keep him in their side.
Patience again was key here. How to act, and react would be something he would need to be werry of. He couldn't fully trust his friend, but at the same time right now Sol was the only one he could trust.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 11:09 pm
Sol knew he would have to decide what action to take soon. Being around the queen would make things more complicated in the long run. He would test to see if she was worth having an ally of. If he did good with her, perhaps this pride could become an ally of Nera instead of an enemy. That way everyone would win.
He doubted if it would be that simple though. The queen loved wars and upon hearing the weakened state of Nera she would most likely attack. If she won she would imprison those she wanted to keep and kill the rest. Despite his love for war, he did not want to see Rada captured or killed. If he was the queen's consort he could always ask that his sister be spared. However unlike him Rada had those she cared about in the pride. She wouldn't back off without a fight.
Trying for peace was obviously not an option. Really the only option he had was to kill her. They went to her private den and she curled. He laid down next to her.
“Alright my warrior Rose, time to tell me some of your little secrets. I want more then anything to trust you, but I can tell that you are hiding many things.” She said to him, watching him carefully.
He could kill her right not. No one would notice. Afterward he could get Ajani and they could run for it. They could collect their earnings later.
Instead he let out a chuckle. “Well the first thing you should know about me is that my name isn't Rose. It is Sol-Lucius.”
Let the betrayal begin.
WC: 2,981
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