Cats in a Bag
Re: Cats in a Bag
"Hmmm." Aurelio leaned to the side, placing his glass down on a side table set to one end of the sofa. "Perhaps my reputation precedes me, and you have listened to the mice like a good Puradyne should. My, I should be so proud of dear Erebos." Aurelio's smile, that time, was as seemingly genuine as the words he spoke. He showed mildness to Erebos, placing his other arm across the back of the sofa. "Your innocence is always so refreshing, cousin."
Re: Cats in a Bag
Erebos' eyes became as cold as black ice, though his face did not change. Innocence was something Erebos lacked, something that had died a long time ago inside him. Erebos was as far from a Puradyne as one could get, though no one would suspect so. Him and his father made on offering of Bishani to the Temple every so often in order to keep in good spirits with congregation. Erebos' eyes became distant, as if he was looking through the walls of Jaded to somewhere much darker.
...Erebos saw his hands, red and slick with blood...
...Than he saw the surpise of the criminals' faces as black smoke ran up their bodies...
...Power surging through his veins as well as blood falling down his body in black rivers...
...The muscles of the their throats convulsed, Erebos could feel it as if his hand were in their throats...
...Their eyes lay open, staring at him forever...Black blood surrounded him...
Erebos' gaze fell to the floor, searching as a dull headache started behind his eyes. "If only that were true." He said softly, his face carefully guarded, for fear of what someone would see there.
...Erebos saw his hands, red and slick with blood...
...Than he saw the surpise of the criminals' faces as black smoke ran up their bodies...
...Power surging through his veins as well as blood falling down his body in black rivers...
...The muscles of the their throats convulsed, Erebos could feel it as if his hand were in their throats...
...Their eyes lay open, staring at him forever...Black blood surrounded him...
Erebos' gaze fell to the floor, searching as a dull headache started behind his eyes. "If only that were true." He said softly, his face carefully guarded, for fear of what someone would see there.
Re: Cats in a Bag
Aurelio grunted. He leaned his head further to the left and propped it up on his hand, finishing the move off with a sigh. There was a half-truth in what he'd said earlier: he and Erebos had never been on the outs. They had coexisted with some measure of friendliness, and some of rivalry for all the years of Erebos' life. There had been times when Aurelio dispensed advice to Erebos. There had been times when Erebos had helped Aurelio from tight spots (though, given his age and Aurelio's, those had been admittedly few; Aurelio had all but told his younger cousin that frequent such encounters between the two of them would do nothing for Erebos' amitions). They were family, Aurelio's status be damned.
So, it would likely been not so surprising when Aurelio looked at -- nearly through -- Erebos. Three, five seconds of that silent stare before those eyes turned in a direction that was not Erebos. Aimless. Bored, even. "Yeah?" Aurelio's voice was neutral, and could even be considered disinterested.
Their bickering would never end, but it could be put on hold.
So, it would likely been not so surprising when Aurelio looked at -- nearly through -- Erebos. Three, five seconds of that silent stare before those eyes turned in a direction that was not Erebos. Aimless. Bored, even. "Yeah?" Aurelio's voice was neutral, and could even be considered disinterested.
Their bickering would never end, but it could be put on hold.
Re: Cats in a Bag
Erebos took a deep breath, trying to push the pain from his head. He had to stop feeling, stop caring about the past. He wished he could be like his cousin, in the sense of his cold carelessness. Erebos always felt too much, he always tried running from his feelings. In the end they always won. In the end they cost two men their lives. Perhaps if he could turn it all off, the guilt, the hole in his heart his mother left when she passed, he would be happier.
Erebos' eyes looked straight into Aurelio's, his gaze was serious and sharp as a razor. "Cousin, I do apologize for the way our family treated you. You really didn't deserve what happened. " Erebos smiled, and his eyes warmed a bit. "The politics in this city are tough, and there are many fat people sitting on thrones." He had lowered his voice, careful not to be overheard for the walls were just walls and ears could be up against them listening.
Erebos' eyes looked straight into Aurelio's, his gaze was serious and sharp as a razor. "Cousin, I do apologize for the way our family treated you. You really didn't deserve what happened. " Erebos smiled, and his eyes warmed a bit. "The politics in this city are tough, and there are many fat people sitting on thrones." He had lowered his voice, careful not to be overheard for the walls were just walls and ears could be up against them listening.
Re: Cats in a Bag
"We weren't talking about me." Aurelio's eyes were still set somewhere away from Erebos, his tone mild.
Re: Cats in a Bag
Erebos began to look a bit uncomfortable, planting his feet on the ground and sitting straight backed in his chair. "Certainly, we were talking about the absence of my innocence. Aurelio." He said, his eyes searching for something in his cousins face. "We all have our part to play, I try to be overlooked. I would rather clothe myself in sheep's clothing than lead people on a wolf hunt. If one must feign innocence, well that is just another mask I must wear."
Erebos didn't enjoy talking about himself, the more he remembered the past the more of a headache he seemed to be getting. It made him uncomfortable to talk about himself, he was more familiar with complementing people on their dress, and discussing their newest investment.
Erebos didn't enjoy talking about himself, the more he remembered the past the more of a headache he seemed to be getting. It made him uncomfortable to talk about himself, he was more familiar with complementing people on their dress, and discussing their newest investment.
Re: Cats in a Bag
Aurelio's lips twitched in an expression that never fully actualized. "As I said," he murmured. He appeared relaxed -- comfortable, even -- as his eyes finally returned to Erebos. "I didn't call you here to give you advice, but even so it would almost appear as if you have taken some lesson too close to heart. Then again, Uncle Ourea always was . . . fanciful."
His pointer finger began tapping steadily against the side of his head.
His pointer finger began tapping steadily against the side of his head.
Re: Cats in a Bag
"Lessons were made to be taken seriously, and fanciful is a gracious way of putting it. I can't deny he has a good mind for business but...he was never a family man. " Erebos rubbed his head with one hand, trying to relieve the pressure. He downed the rest of his drink, hoping it might help. "My mother deserved better."
The throbbing in his head had made it harder to keep his mask on, his emotions were easier to read. His pain showed in his eyes, and on his thin lips.
The throbbing in his head had made it harder to keep his mask on, his emotions were easier to read. His pain showed in his eyes, and on his thin lips.
Re: Cats in a Bag
"She did," Aurelio said. He dropped his hand from his head, fingers stilled, so his hand and forearm hung limp. "So did you."
Re: Cats in a Bag
Erebos was taken aback by his cousin's words. They had never been terribly close but still, he hadn't expected those words. His mother deserved a better life than she had, she deserved a kinder death as well. He watched day after day as she withered away. His father didn't bother to sit beside her as she died, he was off somewhere furthering the family name. He held her hand and looked into her eyes as she died. He lay beside her for hours until their maid found them, by them her hand had grown cold and stiff in his. He still dreams about her, and her blue eyes staring into forever vacant and unseeing.
"I should have died instead, I deserve it." Erebos absently ran his thumb along his side, tracing his scar. After a few moments he began to rub his head, the alcohol had helped a little but it wasn't nearly enough to cure his pain. "My mother never hurt anyone."
Just like his mother's eyes the men he killed stared at him, looking into his soul. He is a wolf parading with sheep. He can feel the craving for chaos, for emotions to run high. It's like an ache, or an itch that he can't scratch. Ever since he had killed those men the ache was always in the back of his mind, wanting to be free. It was alive inside of him, trapped inside his very veins.
"I should have died instead, I deserve it." Erebos absently ran his thumb along his side, tracing his scar. After a few moments he began to rub his head, the alcohol had helped a little but it wasn't nearly enough to cure his pain. "My mother never hurt anyone."
Just like his mother's eyes the men he killed stared at him, looking into his soul. He is a wolf parading with sheep. He can feel the craving for chaos, for emotions to run high. It's like an ache, or an itch that he can't scratch. Ever since he had killed those men the ache was always in the back of his mind, wanting to be free. It was alive inside of him, trapped inside his very veins.
Re: Cats in a Bag
Aurelio's head dipped forward. He looked at Erebos while the younger man talked, but then looked down. His lips had tightened, though he covered it by rubbing his chin. Aurelio was moving more than he typically did in a conversation. It wasn't fidgeting, not exactly, but there was a certain restlessness to his movements not typically there. Something Erebos had said, or some thought of Aurelio's own, was affecting him.
"Did you?" Just those two words: free of judgement, of expectation. They were no longer rivals in that room, not two toms testing for weakness. They were cousins. They were family.
"Did you?" Just those two words: free of judgement, of expectation. They were no longer rivals in that room, not two toms testing for weakness. They were cousins. They were family.
Re: Cats in a Bag
Erebos' eyes fell to the floor, he had never told anyone what happened that day. He had never told anyone he had killed. His family would disown him if they found out, or worse. Erebos was lost for a moment in the past, something he tried to run from every second of every day.
Pain blossomed through his lower torso, as he felt the sword part his skin. The large man that had been holding him suddenly shoved him to the ground. Erebos brought his pale hand to his stomach. His blue eyes looked down at his naked skin, from one hip stretched an ugly cut, it ran just above his belly button and stopped halfway across his other side. Blood had already started pouring down his body.
Erebos’ head started to throb, it was an ache that built in intensity until every sound was drown out by the shear pain of it. He could no longer feel the cut from the man’s sword, instead his head felt like it might explode. He looked above him, the two men looked to be talking though his ears were deaf to any sound. One was pointing at Erebos, laughing.
All the hatred, sorrow, and guilt broke through the careful wall he had built in his head. Pain increased these feelings, twisting them into a some kind of monster that clawed at his head. He felt an intense need to make his pain solid, to make it real, something he could see. Underneath his hand that clutched his gash the blood began to run black. He wanted to make them pay for what they had done, it was a need so strong he could feel it in his veins, it was like ice crystals flowing through his body.
Erebos laughed as the pain inside his head finally lessened, and he felt pure power running through his body. The two men looked down at him, fear reflected in their eyes. They were frozen, staring at Erebos. Erebos reached out with his bloody black hands, clutching the men’s ankles. He didn’t know why he felt the need to do so; he just knew he had to.
Black smoke slithered from the puddle of black blood and climbed up the men’s bodies. They started at the stuff, perhaps in shock of the whole situation and not sure exactly what to do. Their faces were that of horror, probably realizing they had robbed the wrong traveler.
Erebos chuckled, feeling power surging through him. He was strangely calm, as if he had known all along he had the capability to do magic. Every second he could feel his body getting weaker as more blood, blackened by the blood tithe it took to keep the darkness alive, ran into the dirt.
“Die.” He whispered, smiling.
He released all of his rage into one last burst of energy, and the blackness climbed into the men’s throats. He could feel the shadow, as if it was an extension of his body such as a hand. He felt the smoke turn solid, and he felt the convulsing of the men’s throats from the inside. They tried to claw the darkness out of them, tearing at their own throats with their dirty fingernails that left red marks. After a few moments their hands fell to their sides. The men crashed to the ground, unmoving. Their throats stopped trying to breathe.
Erebos stared at the vacant bodies, eyes forever staring off into the void. Their eyes were accusing, like at any moment their mouths could move and tell the story of their deaths. Black smoke crawled from their open mouths, snaking back to his body. He watched in awe as the darkness slid through the gash in his stomach and disappeared.
His eyes squeezed closed, and his head felt as light as a feather. His body was weak, drained from using his power. He had noticed the longer he sustained the shadow the greater the amount of blood that ran down his side, turning black. The shadow had seemed to crawl out of his cut and then back into it, as if they were in his body all along.
Erebos looked up with dark, painful eyes. He had always thought of Aurelio as a brother, for they bickered as brothers do and but always seemed to be able to forgive. They were blood. Erebos had gone his whole life carrying his secret inside of him, now he just wanted to be rid of it.
"Cousin, I have killed." Erebos said calmly, staring at Aurelio.
If his cousin ran to his father and Erebos was hunted down for being a wolf, well that was what he deserved.
Pain blossomed through his lower torso, as he felt the sword part his skin. The large man that had been holding him suddenly shoved him to the ground. Erebos brought his pale hand to his stomach. His blue eyes looked down at his naked skin, from one hip stretched an ugly cut, it ran just above his belly button and stopped halfway across his other side. Blood had already started pouring down his body.
Erebos’ head started to throb, it was an ache that built in intensity until every sound was drown out by the shear pain of it. He could no longer feel the cut from the man’s sword, instead his head felt like it might explode. He looked above him, the two men looked to be talking though his ears were deaf to any sound. One was pointing at Erebos, laughing.
All the hatred, sorrow, and guilt broke through the careful wall he had built in his head. Pain increased these feelings, twisting them into a some kind of monster that clawed at his head. He felt an intense need to make his pain solid, to make it real, something he could see. Underneath his hand that clutched his gash the blood began to run black. He wanted to make them pay for what they had done, it was a need so strong he could feel it in his veins, it was like ice crystals flowing through his body.
Erebos laughed as the pain inside his head finally lessened, and he felt pure power running through his body. The two men looked down at him, fear reflected in their eyes. They were frozen, staring at Erebos. Erebos reached out with his bloody black hands, clutching the men’s ankles. He didn’t know why he felt the need to do so; he just knew he had to.
Black smoke slithered from the puddle of black blood and climbed up the men’s bodies. They started at the stuff, perhaps in shock of the whole situation and not sure exactly what to do. Their faces were that of horror, probably realizing they had robbed the wrong traveler.
Erebos chuckled, feeling power surging through him. He was strangely calm, as if he had known all along he had the capability to do magic. Every second he could feel his body getting weaker as more blood, blackened by the blood tithe it took to keep the darkness alive, ran into the dirt.
“Die.” He whispered, smiling.
He released all of his rage into one last burst of energy, and the blackness climbed into the men’s throats. He could feel the shadow, as if it was an extension of his body such as a hand. He felt the smoke turn solid, and he felt the convulsing of the men’s throats from the inside. They tried to claw the darkness out of them, tearing at their own throats with their dirty fingernails that left red marks. After a few moments their hands fell to their sides. The men crashed to the ground, unmoving. Their throats stopped trying to breathe.
Erebos stared at the vacant bodies, eyes forever staring off into the void. Their eyes were accusing, like at any moment their mouths could move and tell the story of their deaths. Black smoke crawled from their open mouths, snaking back to his body. He watched in awe as the darkness slid through the gash in his stomach and disappeared.
His eyes squeezed closed, and his head felt as light as a feather. His body was weak, drained from using his power. He had noticed the longer he sustained the shadow the greater the amount of blood that ran down his side, turning black. The shadow had seemed to crawl out of his cut and then back into it, as if they were in his body all along.
Erebos looked up with dark, painful eyes. He had always thought of Aurelio as a brother, for they bickered as brothers do and but always seemed to be able to forgive. They were blood. Erebos had gone his whole life carrying his secret inside of him, now he just wanted to be rid of it.
"Cousin, I have killed." Erebos said calmly, staring at Aurelio.
If his cousin ran to his father and Erebos was hunted down for being a wolf, well that was what he deserved.
Re: Cats in a Bag
Aurelio went still, hand once more left to dangle off the back of the couch. His expression was held in place: what it lacked in warmth it also lacked in coldness. He gave the calmness Erebos showed him right back, without flinching. Aurelio had always been dependable like that.
"Is there risk of anyone discovering this?" He held up a hand before Erebos could reply. "Be sure of your answer before you speak."
"Is there risk of anyone discovering this?" He held up a hand before Erebos could reply. "Be sure of your answer before you speak."
Re: Cats in a Bag
Erebos bowed his head, holding it between his hands. He wanted the throbbing to stop, he wanted to let the darkness out. Erebos was familiar with this feeling, he had it a lot these days. He had to be calm, only than would the pain dissipate. He sucked in a ragged breath.
"No, you and I are the only living that know. " Erebos replied, his voice was rough. He closed his eyes slowly, trying to calm his heart.
"No, you and I are the only living that know. " Erebos replied, his voice was rough. He closed his eyes slowly, trying to calm his heart.
Re: Cats in a Bag
"No witnesses? You're sure."