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 Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 4:21 pm
 The night air was warm, far too warm for Proserpine’s liking as she took to the skies in search of her resting place near the mountain side. It was too thick with the days humid rain, too wet for her body to move quicker. It weighed her down and made her quite annoyed. This was the last thing she wanted to deal with on a day like today. Her meal had escaped her earlier which first put her off in a bad mood, her current plaything of a mate hadn’t shown up on time, and now the air was weighing her wings down so she couldn’t fly higher. Well, she could fly higher if she wanted but it would have taken quite the bit of extra effort. Effort Proserpine did NOT want to exude at the current time.
So she glided along the tree tops, the top leaves barely grazing her black colored cloven hooves. This did little more than annoy her even more than she already was; she would feel little pity for the next soquili she came across so help her Kalona. The next soquili to cross her path and piss her off would be the first to taste miss grumpy pant’s wrath. Anyone would be wise to steer clear if they valued their throat. She was hungry, tired, and in need of some silent solitude. Or sleep, sleep was a good thing.
What she didn’t notice right away, however, was a rustling and disturbance below her in a nearby clearing. A flash of red and another flash of color, she only noticed when the tangy smell of blood touched her nostrils. She stopped for a moment and hovered, taking in a few more breaths of the copper smell and looking below to find the source. Someone has just hurt or killed something else and she’ll be damned if she couldn’t get a piece of it herself. Proserpine wasn’t afraid to get into a battle of wills to get a good meal, especially if that meal was already dead or close to death. So she descended into the trees and landed, coming upon a rather bulky and darkly colored Soquili she had never seen before. She immediately went on the defensive side, looking at him critically and sizing him up.
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Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:03 pm
 It was a glorious night.
Blood dripped from the scraggly fur of his chin as the demonic stallion raised his head, tongue darting out to catch a droplet of the coppery fluid as a dark grin grew on his features. Although tonight's prize was somewhat smaller than what he would have preferred, the blood was sweet- young blood usually was. The carcass of the newborn bear cub was almost artfully strewn about, arranged in a hastily sketched pentagram in the dirt. The mother had been harder to kill, but she was of no use to him, and lay in a haphazard mess on the other end of the clearing.
His Master would be pleased with his offering tonight.
It had nothing to do with hunger. If he so desired, Diabolus could have lived off of plants alone, passed for any normal Soquili with kalona traits... but he was something greater. His blood was far more deserving than that of those who feasted on the trash that covered these lands. And it wasn't simply for the sustenance... in fact, the demon rarely, if ever, consumed all of what he killed- sometimes, they were sacrifices in the name of his Master.
Others, they were simply for the pleasure of killing.
Interrupted from his musings as a shadow passed overhead, yellow eyes focused on a silouhette against the moon's light. One brow raised as the distinct features of a kalona became starkly apparent as she neared, not nearly as silent or as stealthy as Diabolus expected she thought she was. Well... not trash, then. Still a lesser being, but at least one that had merit. Any that killed or had the ability to kill held potential, they simply needed to be... molded in the right way.
In any case, as she neared, and abruptly took on a defensive posture, an amused smirk adorned his maw. So the lesser mare had spirit, did she? Easily broken, he was sure, but there could be even better uses for a gall such as this. Gold eyes met red as he challenged her appraising glare with a flat look, punctuated only by the lashing of his spaded tail. If she wanted a fight, she would have one... but Diabolus thought there may be a far more interesting outcome to be had.
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Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 5:59 pm
Upon seeing exactly how big the stallion was and the look he was giving her, a look of cool indifference, Proserpine slashed her tail behind her in annoyance. She may be hungry but she wasn't stupid. There was no way she would have been able to take him on alone, it would have been suicide to do so. That was something was not keen on doing at the current moment for she actually valued her own life just a bit more than an easy meal. As it was Proserpine continued to stand her ground, however she changed her stance just a bit to give off the air of to not mess with her and she won't mess with him. She wasn't there for a fight because she wasn't stupid enough to do so.
Her eyes quickly scanned everything else in the immediate vicinity, taking note of the weird symbols on the ground and two carcasses strewn about the area. She found this rather...different. There wasn't a thought of interest or curiosity per say, at least, what she'd ever admit to. However this stallion, with his glowing golden eyes, seemed very different than the others she had ever met. He had the features like her kalona self, however there was something deeper, darker, something she couldn't place. Proserpine couldn't help but feel a slight, unnerving respect, for this male she had never met before.
She scowled silently to herself. She knew she should have stayed near the mountains. Whatever her God Kalona had in store for her right now she wasn't exactly sure she was going to enjoy it yet.
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 10:59 pm
Despite the hostility he could feel practically radiating from the kalona mare in waves, Diabolus was amused to see that she kept her distance, eying him with an intense wariness that belied her caution. He snorted, the small grin on his maw growing slightly at how she held herself. So, she was intelligent, this one- it appeared she knew power when she saw it. That could prove useful, if she was... pliable enough.
After giving her a thorough once-over, the satanic stallion glanced back at the larger bear corpse, returning his gaze to her after a moment of contemplation. A devious grin spread across his features as he stepped to one side, gesturing grandly at the mother's body with a sweep of one onyx-feathered wing, yellow glowing gaze all but leering at her petite form. "You must be hungry. I have enough to satiate us both." It was a calculating move, and one that would undoubtedly work to his advantage, whether she accepted the offer or not. A demon did not make offers unless they expected something in return... but she didn't have to know that, yet.
"What is your name, Mare?" the low rasp broke the silent standoff between them while he awaited her decision, still deceptively at ease, even with the tense atmosphere that surrounded the clearing. The eerie smile did not leave his dark face, though his golden eyes darted back and forth attentively, assessing every reaction, every nuance that might be used to his advantage.
While not unfamiliar with these lands, things had undoubtedly changed since the last time these hooves had walked this earth, and more than a follower, a guide would be useful. Of course, once her usefulness at that particular task had been worn out, she would need to adapt to suit his needs in other ways, or she would face his wrath. He had no doubt that she could be of service in other ways, if molded properly, but whether or not she could be coerced would be something he wound enjoy exploring.
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Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2011 11:56 pm
Proserpine bristled at the snort and eyed him and the mentioned carcass carefully. Some was just....off about this stallion. But she couldn't place exactly what. It bothered her. It bothered her greatly and made her even more wary. However, her empty stomach, if it had its way, would throw all caution to the wind and have her sink her teeth into the warm flesh. But no, she wouldn't allow herself to do that. She wouldn't do anything further until she knew just a bit more about this stallion. For all she knew he would attack her when her guard was down, possibly kill her, and then use her form in the same manner as he did so here. It was either that or something else entirely. Nothing was ever free when it came to soquili like her.
Never wavering her glowing crimson eyes met his matching glowing gold, "hunger does not mean being blinded into letting ones guard down so quickly. For all I know this is a trap you've cleverly devised to capture more unsuspecting pray that come upon this place."
Her tailed flicked again in contemplation. He was smart, she'd give him that, for asking her name. It was uncommon for any soquili she came across to ask for it. Granted, those soquili never had the time too before she took them down for a meal. As it was she couldn't help give him a well rounded look, sizing him up before she might comply. Was it a part of a game? Get her guard down before striking? No....no....maybe....she was unsure still. Should she give him this one courtesy?
"Proserpine," she spoke a moment later, taking the bait, "I am called Proserpine. Now tell me, what is yours? It is only common courtesy to reply in kind."
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:46 am
One dark brow raised at her rather astute observation, a glimmer of approval shining in golden hues as Diabolus shifted to watch her more closely. So, a challenge it was, then. It seemed his attention was warranted, and the task would be one that he enjoyed.
"I assure you, the blood spilled tonight was not for the purpose of attracting undue attention. Even if I may be glad of the company it brought me," the satanic stallion gave a dark grin, speaking in half-truths as he continued to evaluate the mare. "Although I do applaud your resolve. It's not every day one hesitates at the offer of a free meal." And indeed it was not. Many a victim had he lured into his clutches with the simple offer of a handout- but they were not worthy to grace his shadow, foolish as they were.
Even as he calculated her, he could see her sizing him up in return, shifting in indecision. At the reluctant admission of her name, his head dipped in false courtesy, though the menacing grin upon his features only grew in intensity. "Proserpine. How fitting." The small compromise came with an immediate demand for recompense, and Diabolus did not hide the pleased slant to his expression as he responded in kind.
"I have many names. Though... the dwellers of these lands have taken to calling me 'Diabolus'. You may do so, if you wish." In truth, the name meant as little to him as the dirt beneath his cloven hooves, but the winged stallion suspected he might come to appreciate its notoriety in time, if his cards were played correctly.
"Tell me... Proserpine, are there more of your kind in these lands? Or does a creature of the night such as yourself prefer to hunt your game alone?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:15 pm
"Diabolus," the mare muttered softly under her breath.
The name itself rolled off her tongue smoothly, quite like a fine wine. The name, it was a dangerous one. But yet as she looked at him, it seemed to fit him like a well worn leather glove. If her parents taught her anything right it was to seek value in your name and take note of the names around you as a name normally meant a leading path into the heart of the one who called themselves such. She was taught to recognize powerful and old names, especially those of a darker coloration, and Diabolus was definitely one of the powerful names of old. Oddly enough it didn't bother her, didn't make her tremble in fear, however she could feel the power radiating off of this one who called himself Diabolus. And the fact that he had been called by other names made her curious as to what else hid until that seemingly deadly smirk. What other secrets was he holding. The thoughts honestly made her inwardly drawn to find out those answers. But how would be the key, and that's if he truly wasn't lying about seeking out more kills for the evening. Not that she couldn't defend herself if the need was there.
"Most of my kind hail from the darkest places of the soquili lands where the day walkers dare not tread. Some believe we spawned from the same tree the purewalkers did. We like to haunt those who would be fools to cross us, taunt them and laugh as our target seemingly cannot get away. Our hunting skills are supreme, our ability of flight is absolute and a silent killer. Lesser soquili see nothing but our shadow once its too late and we descend on them. Some of us hunt in packs or "herds"," the word herds gave her a bad taste in her mouth as she continued on, " others, like myself, hunt alone, preferring to rely only on our own skills to make a kill. However, it is truly up to preference how we, assassins of the night, pray upon the day walkers."
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 1:25 am
She seemed suspicious and wary, but intrigued. Diabolus judged that he had her attention, and his name had sparked some sort of recognition from her... well, good. Not that he needed the help of notoriety, but it was good that his reputation would garner a little fear. It always made things more fun. Though he saw none of this from Proserpine- and as much as it annoyed him, it pleased him even more.
"Oh?" he drew out the word, exaggerating its length as the ever-present smirk widened upon his maw, slitted golden hues glowing in darkness as Diabolus took one step forward, towards the mare, then sidestepped, making a slow path around her rigid form. "Tell me then, 'Assassin of the Night'... do you avoid hunting with the others because you abhor the idea of sharing a kill, or do you simply loathe the thought that one of them might steal," he punctuated the sentence with a low hiss, close to her ear, "away the thrill of spilling your prey's blood?" Sharp, spaded tail brushed her leg in an almost seductive manner as he completed the circle around her stationary frame, gold meeting red with a self-satisfied gleam. "Do you believe your skills absolute?" his head tilted in a mock-innocent pose, "or do you just not play well with others?"
Whether his questions were meant to mock, incite, or genuinely draw an answer was ultimately unclear, but the satanic stallion prided himself in shrouding his intentions in mystery. What fun would it be if he laid all his cards on the table? If she could pass the test of wits, perhaps he could more seriously consider molding her into a useful puppet, but she had to prove herself, first.
And, of course, she would have to come to appreciate the Game.
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Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:18 pm
Proserpine lifted her head in a bit of a proud and arrogant manner, the brush of his tail against her form only making her eyes narrow as she replied to him. She would not let him get to her, she was strong, and she was proud of who she was. Nothing was going to change that, nobody was going to change that so long as she was still living, breathing, and killing her prey. In some ways she wanted to prove that to him, show him that her skills were indeed absolute and without remorse. That she thrived on spilling warm sticky blood on the forest floor. It was an adrenalin rush and she reveled in it.
"It is not a matter of playing with others. It is a matter of instilling an unyielding fear within your target, watching that fear consume them as you mark them for death, seeing their breath become ragged as their life's blood spills onto the ground."
She paused for a moment to take a breath and allow the images to enter her mind. Her mouth curving upwards into a grin as she continued to answer him the best her young mind could think of.
"My skills are absolute and without a faltering thought of maybe I shouldn't. Any kill I make is my own. I dare anyone to try and take it from me. They will lose and they will lose dearly."
Proserpine paused once more to stare directly back at Diabolus, no trace of fear or hesitance in her gaze, "now tell me, follower of the fallen deity, what brings you here. It can't just be for a vacation. I don't see that being your style."
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:28 pm
Although her answer was perhaps a bit more narrow than Diabolus had been looking for, her frankness nonetheless drew an answering smirk upon his maw, though the changes of expression were nigh indistinguishable. "Perceptive, this one," he spoke aloud, granting her an acknowledgement with a bit of seriousness. "Tell me then, Proserpine, why do you think your kind dwell only in darkness, when your prey are so much more plentiful in daylight?"
The answer was an obvious one- one he suspected that all lesser breeds knew- daylight creatures found safety in numbers. Kalona were dangerous, but their own notoriety unfortunately cost them the element of surprise- a vital component to a being that hunted alone. He went on without waiting for an answer, trusting that his question had made its own point. "You are few, and you are scattered, but you are strong. Have you never thought that your skills could be better served as a whole?" The dark stallion tossed his head, golden eyes narrowed in devious delight. "You are so assured of these skills you possess... and yet they are wasted upon hapless passerbys and ignorant wanderers. Why not turn them against... a worthy enemy?"
Grinning darkly, the demonic stallion dragged the tips of one feathered wing through the bear corpse's still-warm blood, watching raptly as it dripped from the tips. Lifting yellow eyes to meet her dubious gaze, he gestured towards her for consent before moving forward to drag one wingtip over the top of her muzzle, leaving a wet stain of blood there. It was potent, acrid- he expected her superior senses would smell nothing except that blood until she wiped it off. "Imagine that what blood you could spill in a year would be yours in spades by the day."
He imagined he had garnered her attention, at least, with that little display, but she may require more... convincing. The demonic stallion smiled again, this time with sharp teeth bared, tail whipping back in forth in obvious pleasure.
"Tell me, Proserpine, have you never desired a greater purpose?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:17 pm
She couldn’t help but listen in rapt attention to his words, each becoming thicker and thicker with boldness and power. And what she couldn’t help but notice, absolute deviousness and subtle violence. Never once had Proserpine met such an individual. By the time she could hunt on her own she had left her parents. They had done nothing but hold her back from her true potential, and so she held them from their true potential, with their lives. Their blood had become her new coat by the time she was able to take flight, the puddles of blood pooling into a new sort of ground for her to walk on. While it wasn’t her first taste in blood, it was her first real kill of those who would run from her. Regret was nothing of sort in her mind, not even now as she stood before a stallion that she knew could kill her if he wanted to.
And so she was becoming bored of her simple life of flying and hunting at night. Rinse, wash, and repeat daily. It was becoming more of a chore than anything else. She craved something more to happen. And her God had done so. Her God had deemed her worthy of throwing something new into the raging inferno just underneath the surface of her skin, something that would erase that boredom in the blink of an eye. And she found herself craving more like Diabolus has stated. She did want something more than what she was doing. She did want to spill the blood of lessers and those who would think that they were superior. They were nothing compared to the power of the darkness. And with Diabolus standing here in front her, she knew in the black heart of hers that he would be that key. The key to unlocking the horrors the lesser soquili dared to avoid by staying within the sunlight.
The curvature of her muzzle pulled back into a dark smirk of her own, the blood permeating her nostrils in an addicting combination of iron and sweat, “to not be interested in such a notion is unbecoming of what makes up my blood,” her tongue slid up to lick off the blood he had placed on the top of her nose, “tell me, if I should follow you into the darkness that others dare not tread, just how many will learn that even in the sunlight they are not safe? That we are not to be ignored?”
Her wings ruffled a bit as a light wind picked up around them. The silence was thick with her raging inferno of a mind, body, and black soul and his imposing figure. He was going to be a leader. If he was going to create pain, others within the darkness, like herself, would flock to him.
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 9:45 pm
There. In that moment, he could see only a glimpse of indecision before he knew he had her in his clutches. And why shouldn't he? Clearly he was doing her a favor- the lesser breeds of these lands should not rule over their betters. And if he gained something from it... well, Diabolus could never claim benevolence. He smirked to himself at the thought. She would be a useful tool, that much was obvious already. Intelligence, confidence, a steely resolve... perhaps even a bit of loyalty there, if he played his cards right.
In any case, when she asked her question, he was ready with the answer he knew she wanted to hear.
"Should you prove to be valuable at my side?" he grinned, golden hues flashing darkly. "Countless souls. Dozens, hundreds, thousands. However many you desire to fall at your feet, I will give you the power to make it happen." He began to pace before her once more; the long, graceful, stalking steps of a tiger, rather than the restless anxiousness of one backed into a corner. This was familiar territory, ensnaring others, and she had fallen willingly into his game. Perhaps he could even teach her to be an active competitor, if she proved worthy enough.
"And in return..." he paused here in his steps, golden eyes locking directly on her own crimson irises, "I ask only that I may call upon you to... make use of your skills, when I have need of them." His true purposes could be touched upon at a later time, if she passed his tests, but Diabolus knew he had ensnared her already. Now he needed only to determine where she would fall in his hierarchy, once it came into being.
"So, Proserpine, what is it you truly desire?"
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 3:00 pm
Hmmm, what did she desire? Such an interesting notion that Proserpine couldn’t help but take a moment to muse about it. Desire was an interesting topic. It represented what one wanted in life. What one wanted in the moment. And even what one wanted but didn’t know it consciously. It represented the unconsciousness, the nature of things. What it meant to be who you were. Such a simple word that was for certain. And Diabolus knew this. He had to know. She had to know that he knew. But she didn’t mind it. He was strong mentally and physically. No doubt he was worth the following he so longed for and craved.
So there she stood, staring at him silently. Thinking about what she truly desired. But what she desired wasn’t fully known to her. She knew she desired to bring pain unto others. To prove that the kalona breed wasn’t one to be messed with. But that wasn’t necessarily what she TRULY wanted. Her tail flicked in agitated thought. What did she truly want? To desire family was weak. To desire acceptance was weak. To desire anything other than control and domination was weak. She knew this. She’d be stupid not to.
“What I truly desire,” she began, “ is for those who dare tread lightly by to be punished. To desire anything else besides control, domination over the lesser kind would be an abomination of my breed. Of my blood. What you offer me, Diabolus, is a means to an end. A means as to dominate the weak, grow stronger within my own right, and have someone who understands the truth of the matter, the truth of the status quo.”
Proserpine stood up straighter, “I will follow you Diabolus. I will provide you with a way to destroy those all who would oppose you. A way to take down your foes. A way to instill fear unto those who challenge your rule, your ways. Those who would seek to do you harm shall be punished to the full extent of the natural law, the natural order of things. Weaker beings are food for the strong. They are nothing but pawns to be used and abused until they either overstay their welcome or lose their resourcefulness. So unto that end I will abide by your rules and decisions until we reach the desired end.”
She knew she was going to start a very dangerous path with this oath. But it gave her a dark tingle down her spine. One of excitement and glee. She would prove herself to him that she was worthy and loyal to be by his side, taking orders, and carrying out whatever sentence he so desired upon his foes. Yes, yes she would.
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