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 Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 1:07 pm
 { Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ She gently unpinned the glowing tulip from his lapel, smiling slightly all the while. She wasn't going to let him call her by her first name just yet. Besides, she told herself, there's still a while to go before I have to choose.
"Thank you," she took a step back and met his shadowed eyes. "Would you mind if I took some of the sweets back to my chambers?"
He nodded.
"I'll leave you to your dinner, then." With that, she scooped some rock candy, coconut ice and liquorice into a napkin and folded it neatly. She returned to Simon, bowing politely, and spun on her toes to leave.
***
I wonder what Pierre is up to. Stupid vampire. He keeps popping into my head. Get out!
Jamie was in a good mood when she met up with Edward next. For some puzzling reason only a handful of suitors wanted to see her. This could have attributed to her chirpiness.
"Hello," she peeked around a corner where two masked men were playing chess. This is going to be amusing. She stood at the side of the table, not inching to any of the suitors more than the other.
"Miss Katherine," they got up in unison to greet her.
"Oh, no. Don't let me disturb you. I'm curious to which of you will win."
The blonde hesitated to presume, but did so nevertheless and won the dark haired vampire within the next five rounds.
"Oh, let me try?" She took a seat next to the dark haired youth and returned all the pieces to their original positions. Edward seemed uncomfortable with the thought of her sitting so close to Howell, but it couldn't bother her any less. She was going to have some fun toying with the both of them. They were there for her amusement, right?
Jamie checkmated him with her queen and castle. Edward stared at the pieces, wide-eyed, and she gave a satisfied giggle.
"Now you owe me an ice cream." His eyes met hers and softened.
"Howell," she turned to the man who had left her side to play a tune on the piano - she had hardly noticed his repositioning.
"Why don't you join us?"
This time, both suitors looked confused and uncomfortable towards each other. They nodded and led her out to the market, allowing her to walk with each on a arm.
***
Jamie sank into a hot bath. Her studies would start soon and she needed to recollect her thoughts. Each suitor was unique, though she only liked three of them - Edward for entertaining her, Howell for his usual charm, and Simon for his unpredictability.
The scent of vanilla filled the room as she massaged the shampoo into her hair.
She was becoming a bit more accustomed to the idea of courting, but she still didn't know which one to pick. She needed a little more proof to who they truly are.
What are you, behind those masks?
She threw her head back and sighed peacefully. There was hope in her soul - she didn't know where it came from nor how it got there, but she intended on using it all to focus on her studies and prepare for the Ordeal. It didn't worry her as much as before. Perhaps it was because the courting were more stressful, or that she was slowly starting to trap herself in some kind of carefree state.
After reading and rereading the summary Pierre had so kindly made for her, she made her way to his quarters.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 1:09 am
Pierre collapsed weakly on his bed, still in his disguise. He had not fed and he could feel his protective enchantments around Jamie beginning to slip. He knew that soon she would be choosing a suitor; the likelihood that it would be him was small and without his protection... He crossed the room to his blood stores and found it empty. "Damn..." Slamming his fist upon the stone wall angrily, he quickly scanned his memory for any blood he might have hidden away somewhere within the grounds; nothing.
Vampires and humans alike were surprised when he came sprinting through the halls and barreled through the gates toward the center of a town to a lounge he knew well. He was not prepared for what he saw when he entered; Jamie sat next to a dark haired man he knew as Howell, while playing chess with Edward. Anger and jealousy surged through him. Resisting the urge to slaughter Howell and Edward, he quitely crept to the back room of the shop.
"Can I help you," said a voice to his right. "I've been sent by recomendation of Prince Pierre," he lied to the man. The man grinned. "Then welcome. I am Carver. What can I interest you in, mister...?"
Pierre sank into a velvet chair. "Simon. I need some blood. Quickly." Carver looked him over and nodded gravely. "I can tell. You must be related to Pierre. He too waits until the last minute." He offered Pierre a bottle full of hot, fizzing black liquid. "Drink some now and take the rest with you. Only five hundred red crowns, Lord Simon," he said, his eyes narrowing.
"Worry not. I can pay." Pierre produced the red-gold metal coins from within his robes and counted them into the man's hand. The man retreated, leaving Pierre to pour the steaming liquid into a heavy sliver goblet. He touched the goblet to his lips, letting the liquid slide over his tongue, and feeling it settle deep within him; oddly, it was freezing cold inside of him, for all its heat and steam. He sank back into the chair and let it work through him...
* * *
The bottle had reached the halfway mark when he heard a knock at his chamber door. Without waiting for him to respond, it opened. With a jolt, he realized he had not bothered to change from his disguise... and Jamie was here for her lesson. Slowly, he turned to face her, his mind working rapidly to formulate a plan.
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 4:07 am
 ⓭ R E M ° D' A R A M I T Z ⓭
Rem returned from her journey to discover that Jamie was to be courted. She watched carefully from afar and smiled as she saw her little pawn courting Jamie. He had certainly turned the charm on full blast. She chuckled. How easy it had been to lure him away, how easy to slip the medallion around his neck, how easy to control him. But this Simon... I don't know him. He could be trouble if Jamie picks him. Though I suppose I could always find a new way of killing her. At least I'll have Pierre all to myself. But that alone wasn't enough. She couldn't simply have Pierre. She had to make Jamie suffer for her impudence, she had to utterly destroy the little wench. She smiled to herself. "I guess I better get going. I have a b*tch to kill..."
* * *
Two courting days had passed and still Rem had not been able to find Pierre, let alone get him on his own. She saw Jamie enter Pierre's chambers for her second lesson and narrowed her eyes. "Very well. It seems I'll just have to wait until she leaves, go in there, and take what's mine..."
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 5:54 am
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ Jamie's heart seemed to stop and her books scattered on the floor. Her entire being paralyzed and cold chills ran down her spine, causing her skin to become frigid. Her body moved forward, as if she couldn't control it, and came to a halt in front of Simon. She gently raised a hand and touched his mask ever so lightly with her fingertips. Her hands were oddly cold, but her movements were steady. Seeing him in Pierre's chambers caused something to stir deep within her. It was as if her subconscious mind was connecting neurons that her consciousness failed to pick up. Her chest ached and it reflected in her aquatic blue eyes, but they did not leak a tear.
They look so much alike - Simon and Pierre. Their blonde hair - whether it's tied back or falling over his face in curls. Even their eyes share some similar traits.
Her hand wandered to the edge of the mask and she slid a long nail underneath it absentmindedly. She could unmask him and clear her confusions right there and then, but she hesitated and let her hand fall to her side while looking down with a slight blush. It would not be part of the tradition to do so, and Simon could be disqualified. Perhaps he was a relative of Pierre. She winced, still looking down, at her thoughts - how she wished Pierre had asked to court her before all the others.
"I am sorry," she whispered, but soon recovered from her entranced state and glanced towards the door as if with some serious purpose.
"Where is Prince Jean-Pierre?" She remembered what Rem had said about calling Pierre by his name and thought it would be better to use his title. It could hide the fact that his silly little slave fell in love with him as well as indicate her respect for him. If Simon was family of Pierre, he should know that she respects the Prince and, therefore, their bloodline/family.
Something bothered her and she failed to stop herself before her mouth blabbered out a question that was really none of her business.
"What are you doing here?" Her eyes met his again and she forced herself to hold his gaze no matter how much he reminded her of Pierre.
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 6:14 am
Pierre felt relief wash over him as she dropped her hand from his mask and said the first thing that came to mind. "I've come looking for my cousin. It seems he has had some matter to attend to. I am to tutor you today," he lied smoothly.
He picked up her books and set them on the table, skimming through them. He felt distaste for the way she referred to him in such a formal tone. Deep down, it saddened him. He flicked through some pages before looking up; she had not moved.
He stood and pulled out a chair for her, motioning to it. "Please. Sit," he requested with a kind smile. She still didn't move. Pierre walked over and steered her gently by her shoulder. Once she was seated, he returned to his chair. "Let me catch up," he said, flashing her another smile. He returned his attention to the book in front of him.
You've got this under control. Even if she notices you look like him, she thinks you're a cousin. You can do this, he told himself. Pierre couldn't help glancing up at her with longing. He could take off his mask and the whole thing would be over. She would know. Oh, sure. Or you could just kill the other suitors and force her to love you, he thought sarcastically.
"Well, where should we begin then, Miss Katherine? Histories, rituals, heirarchy? Laws perhaps?" She said nothing, but continued to watch him. He could feel her suspicion. It unnerved him.
"Laws it is. Um... well, there's the killing laws. Basically, you inherit everything of the one you kill. You also have to have a reason to kill that person, like a crime they comitted - theft, treason, rape, murder. If you have no reason for killing another, it's labeled as murder. You inherit nothing and are sentenced to death in the Sun Tower. If you have no reason and just want someone dead, you have to do it in secret. You can't admit it, so you won't inherit anything, but at least they'll be out of the way," Pierre rambled, attempting to distract her.
"Are you okay," he finally asked, feeling it was best to avoid suspicion by asking bluntly, "You've been staring at me." He poured himself another glass of the steaming, bubbling, black liquid. He eyed her with what he hoped looked like playful suspicion.
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:23 am
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ Jamie quickly lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes. What if it is him? She blushed at the thought, but could not bring herself to smile.
Then she remembered something. "Does that includes mates?"
If he said yes, it meant Rem already had Pierre in her grasp. She wanted to break something, but she knew well it wouldn't be her place. Everything was slowly, but surely slipping away and she was about to be free. It was for real this time. There would be no one to protect and she would earn enough money and time to focus on herself for once, but she couldn't think of her life without Pierre. It was something that was starting to bother her greatly. Rem would always be there, no matter where Jamie turned.
She kept her gaze pinned to the book, trying her very best to hide the flame of jealousy in her eyes.
What has gotten into you? Why are you so attached to someone you'll probably never see again after the Ordeal? You are being pathetic, Jamie. Wake up! You've never been much of a dreamer or a believer of love, so why start now?
Suddenly, Jamie was grateful for Simon's presence. Pierre would have embraced her pitiful being and made the parting even worse. At least now she could spend a little more time with one of the suitors she actually liked.
She dared to meet his eyes again, her face portraying nothing but pure curiosity.
[[Sorry it's so short and I took so long to reply! Hope I'm not hated yet... sweatdrop ]]
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Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 6:02 pm
Pierre felt a surge of hope at the tone of her voice. "Not in the way you might think," he replied. "Take Jean-Pierre for example. I've heard tell of the death of Lord Alan. His mate, whatever her name may be, will not be Jean-Pierre's mate unless he chooses. However, she will - or she might haev done so already - come to live on his property and serve him - kind of like an assistant - until he releases her after a month or she finds another mate."
Pierre took another sip from his goblet, feeling his strength returning. He longed to assure her that he would never take Rem as his mate, but knew that doing so would ruin his cover. After all of his hard work, he couldn't afford to do that. Instead, he decided to risk suspicion.
"You know," he said airly as he sank back into his chair, "Pierre speaks very highly of you. He told me he is proud of your progress. Your heartbeat doesn't even bother him anymore," he said with a playful wink. "Heartbeats used to bother him. He was bitter, I suppose," he continued in what he hoped was a pensive tone.
He cleared his throat and continued the lesson. "Let's see," he said, flicking through the pages. "How about the Ordeal you'll be facing? I can't tell you much, but I can tell you that if you choose a suitor - which is not required - he will be present along with Jean-Pierre to prepare you before you enter the Chamber. If you do not choose a suitor, Jean-Pierre will be the only one to accompany you. Preparation includes..." He scanned the page and read, "The cleansing - a sort of bath with purified water and sacred oils, which you will take in private - the feast, and the watch. At the beginning of the watch, those who are with you will read you the sacred texts while you meditate. Sage, rosemary, thyme, lavender, and different flowers will be burned during this part of the ritual which will last until sunsut. Then you will enter the chamber and be released when the new moon is at its brightest."
Pierre looked up from the text and felt the strong urge to reach out and comfort her. It took all of his self control not to turn her and flee with her to the lands below. With a trembling hand, he reached out and held hers, sorrow and desperation clear in his eyes. He was hopelessly in love, and even though he was 'Simon' he sincerely wished that Jamie would pick no one and love him - as Pierre - instead.
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:38 pm
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ Her eyes darted to meet his and her expression betrayed her surprise. She then looked down at their hands for a while, blushing, before she pulled her hand back and held it to her chest.
She didn't feel confused as she had expected, but she was curious about the look in those murky eyes of his. She has only once seen that before. It indicated some attraction, but it was not lust. Therefore she found it difficult to place. It wasn't anything superficial, but it was there, drifting on the surface of his being and in the atmosphere.
"How much time do we have before the courting?" she asked in a shy whisper. She recalled what Pierre had said about not having a suitor. She had to choose, despite her feelings for him. Besides, she thought, have I not already moved on? I mean, here I am sitting with Simon and feeling warm and fuzzy inside. She wanted to laugh at herself for falling in love with the Prince, of all people. At least she would still be able to hear from him, or at least keep Rem at bay, if she chose Simon.
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:05 pm
"Before the courting," he asked, frowing, "Well, we have three more days until you choose and you won't have to see any more suitors until tomorrow night," he said. "However, your Ordeal is the day after you pick who you are to..." Pierre trailed off as his voice caught painfully in his throat. He closed his eyes, memorizing her scent.
In three days, she would choose. Three days... and he might never see her again. I have to do something... I have to tell her how I feel. But not as Pierre. As me. He opened his eyes once more, wanting to scream in frustration. "Miss Kathrine," he asked softly, not meeting her gaze and making sure to choose his words carefully, "How do you feel about me truely? As compared to... let's say, Pierre?"
He could feel the tension thick in the air and quickly explained, "I only ask because you two seem to... I mean the way you talk about each other," he sighed and smoothed back his hair. He caught himself too late and hoped she wouldn't see "Simon" performing one of Pierre's habits. "I am only curious. As a friend. And nothing you say will leave this room. If Pierre were to court you in my place, how would you feel about that?"
He waited anxiously for her reply. Sure, that isn't suspicious at all, he told himself. But I have to know. Oh, please don't pick Simon. Don't pick anyone. Love me instead... His hands shook slightly as he reached for the goblet once more, trying to direct his attention to something else to calm his nerves.
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:54 am
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ Her eyes filled with tears and she stood by helplessly as they rolled down her pale cheeks. Everything would have been fine if he hadn't mentioned Pierre. Why did he? It demolished the emotional wall she has built up since their last kiss. It was still fresh in her memory, much like the wounds it brought. Now it was scratched open and bleeding for all to see - for Simon to see.
If she told him the truth, would he still have her?
"I-" she tried, but her voice was a weak whisper and she had to clear it before attempting to speak again. "When I first came here, I didn't know anything about this world, or even my world for that matter." She looked off into the distance to avoid his gaze and to steady her guts.
"They caught me like a wild animal and appointed me to Jean-Pierre. I was to be his slave. If I had the power I would have killed him for causing me that knock-down, if you will, in pride and status, but, despite his strength, there was something about him that bid me not to." She blinked away the tears with a neutral expression, but they continued to streak down to her jaw.
"He respected me, even though he slapped me around at times."
She looked down, the agony for what she was about to say was visible in her eyes.
"He saved me... More than once," she croaked.
"And he made me see another side of humanity, even though he isn't even human. Is that stupid?" She looked up at Simon, confusion and hurt written all over her face. Then she allowed her head to sink into her hands, clasping fistfuls of white hair while uttering muffled sobbing-sounds.
"I suppose love is stupid. It isn't about love, though. Compatibility..."
"But..." She sat up straight again and tried to force her emotions away, smiling at Simon.
"I have to be strong. It's the only way I can repay him and bring honor to his name. I was his first personal slave and I don't intend to let him down. If he would have courted me, I wouldn't hesitate, but he can't. There's too much pressure on a Prince to pay me any mind. And I respect that."
With a nervous giggle, she added, "You can call me Jamie if you want. Since the Kat is out of the bag now anyway." She hoped he would forgive her and understand. She knew she would pick him. He truly was different. More than that, he reminded her of Pierre - a trait she hoped will make her forget about her first love.
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:13 am
Pierre felt the pain stabbing deep. Despite what she said, she seemed to love his guise more than who he really was. She was happier. He drained the rest of his goblet and rose from his chair, trembling. "There's something I should tell you," he said, his voice shaking, "Something that..." He trailed off, fingering the edge of the mask.
"I wonder," Pierre continued, sitting down again and placing his hands on the table in front of him, "If it were to come down to... to either me or Pierre, who would win your heart?" The silence hung heavy in the air. He nodded slowly. "I think that will be all for the lesson today, then."
He stood once more and crossed the room, running his hands over the tapestries, one of them depicting two vampire lovers entertwined in the clouds. A fresh wave of sadness hit him. He sank to the floor and pulled away his mask, keeping his back to Jamie. He could feel her eyes on his back. He thought of all the time he had spent with her, memorizing her face, her voice, her fragrance... loving her. He thought of the many hours he spent writing her song, all the while thinking of her tenderly while she slept. Yet again, he wished he could shed a tear for her, just to let her know that he was sincere. And still... nothing...
The memory of her lips pressed against his made his head reel. He ached to reach out to her, to hold her and tell her that everything would be okay. But I can't. Not while she still feels that I am too important to love her, that I never could. I need to show her. I need her to understand. He tossed his mask aside; it fell softly to the carpet. Pierre kept his gaze low, staring without seeing.
"Jamie," he said in a whispered voice, barely audible. My Jamie...
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:45 am
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ Jamie hesitated, "Simon, don't ask me that..."
How could she tell someone who is courting her with honest intentions that she is hopelessly in love with someone else - and with the Prince of Ravenheart, of all people. It would sound like she was some fan-girl, but she didn't feel that way deep inside. Pierre knew her and she knew him. Or at least she thought she did.
She recalled their last encounter, regretting her cold and resentful behavior.
Three days, she thought gloomily, wishing that she could have a few more days to be with Pierre as they were a while ago - free of every worry.
Then, suddenly, he tore off his mask and threw it to the floor. She froze, her skin going cold. But the knot in her throat didn't emerge until he said her real name. She thought she might have been just hearing things, but...
"Pardon me?" she neared him slowly, aware that he might turn around and his disguise would be ruined. She picked up his mask and brought it to him, standing at his back so that he would not get into any unknown trouble if he revealed his identity to her by accident.
"I'll close my eyes," she whispered and did so.
"As for your question, I cannot answer it. I am sorry. I know as much as you do about emotions, and love - perhaps even less. I'm really sorry."
She didn't like the silence and wish he would say something.
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 3:02 am
That's it, then, he thought to himself in a slight panic, She will never be mine... He turned around and saw her closed eyes, but he did not take the mask. Instead, he stood slowly, hanging his head, filled with heartbreak. He reached out and played with a strand of her hair like did when she had fallen asleep in his arms. It seemed like so long ago. He leaned in slowly and kissed first her rosey cheeks, and then her soft lips, slowly wrapping his arms around her tenderly.
Pierre could feel her pulse, feel her gasp of surprise as he held her closer; it was too much for him to bear. He let his arm fall gently and, finding her hand, took the mask from it, breaking the kiss. Silently, he raced across the room, down the hall, and out of sight before she could open her eyes and see.
* * *
Pierre hid himself deep within the towering rows of bookshelves, nestling himself in the furthest corner he could manage. The window to his left was slightly open, the wind blowing the curtains and allowing strips of light to dance across the floor. Pierre sat there trembling, unable to bring himself to stand and face the world. Hour after hour he sat, face buried in his hand, mask on his lap. Marveling at his bad luck, he replayed the scene over and over in his mind, feeling that this was surely the acutest form of suffering the gods could inflict upon him.
And then the darkness fell, leaving his heart to open to all that had happened. He felt cleansed, in a way. For the first time since dying, he felt truely dead.
For so long, I had lived without my humanity. I've resented humans and their beating hearts in my bitterness. And then she comes along and, despite my best efforts to hate her, I fall in love with her. And just when I feel human, feel that I can be happy - truely happy - it is taken from me... When she chooses another, it will surely be the death of me. None of it mattered, after all...
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:40 am
{ Ｊａｍｉｅ Ｋａｔｈｅｒｉｎｅ }Ｔｈｅ Ｓｅｅｋｅｒ Tears were running in all directions as Jamie giggled and clapped her hands together, twirling in circles.
"He did it!" she laughed as everything started to make sense. The more she thought about it, the more giggly she became.
"Why didn't I see this before? He resembles Pierre way too much," she fell silent and her giddiness sobered. What if it wasn't him after all?
She traced her lips with her fingertips, remembering the kiss.
"I wonder, then, if it's possible for two persons to kiss the same..."
***
Jamie made her way down to the study. Since she was free and about to become a vampire, she thought she would do up some extra reading. She picked a book on protection charms and skimmed through the pages, but her thoughts kept flashing back to Pierre and the unbelievable similarities between him and Simon. She knew Simon was just a disguise and...
Why wasn't Pierre there to teach me? Why was Simon there instead? He seemed so comfortable in the room and I haven't heard or seen anyone except me (and that person who wanted to kill him) enter Pierre's room so freely. He has to be him. It sounds absurd, but if it is...
Her thoughts trailed off into silence for a moment and she felt a smile tug at the corners of her mouth.
I have to make sure. I have to find Pierre.
She closed the book and returned it to it's rightful place. She made a pit stop at her quarters to grab a hat and a bottle of water, and then ventured out to explore and find the truth.
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Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:01 am
⓭ R E M ° D' A R A M I T Z ⓭
Rem saw Pierre sprint from the room, mask in hand, and realized the truth. Anger surged through her, pushing her to her limit. She followed him and watched him through the book stacks. So... he loves the pathetic mortal after all. I had better do something quickly, whether it be to kill her or... or kill him. She hated the thought of killing him, but if it had to be done... if he loved her this much... She brooded until night fell and made her choice.
If I can't have him, no one can. She whipped around the corner to face him and his attention snapped to her as she spoke, her voice shaking slightly with anger. "I loved you. When you came here, before you were turned, I loved you! I loved you before she was even born! And you love her instead? If you won't love me, then you will fear me with your last breath!" She lurched at him, striking out with a small, thin knife that she had concealed.
[OOC - Thanks for ridding me of this character!]
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