Her sleep had not been restful, as short as it was. Nightmares plagued her, waking her frequently. She'd just woken from another when Eltana's voice rang up the stairs. Disoriented and exhausted, the man's screams still ringing in her ears, Seona dressed quickly and made her way down the stairs, trying to be quick. She knew it would not be wise to keep her master waiting. She got to the top of the stairs and made the mistake of looking down. The remains of servants littered the floor, their blood seemingly everywhere. A scream threatened to claw its way up her throat, only to be released in a whimper. Screaming would not help them now. Whatever did this to those servants was dangerous - far more so than she - and that could only mean one thing in Seona's mind: Eltana was in danger. Turning she sprinted to her room, grabbed the knife she'd acquired last night only to sprint back to the stairs, taking them down as quickly as she dared as she slid the dagger into the sleeve of the dress she'd chosen at random. Jumping over the bodies, and minding the blood, she rushed to where she heard voices.
When she entered, she took in the scene and shivered. Something - couldn't be human - sat in a woman's skin. Bile rose in her throat, only to be swallowed back as she took in the gore covered being. Its blue eyes unnerved her, but still she moved so that she was beside Eltana; and mostly between him and the thing. A quick glance over had her noticing a man as well, but he didn't concern her. What worried her was the thing.
"Sorry for being slow, was sleeping." She said softly, gripping the hilt of the dagger under her sleeve. The dress was a tad too big for her - and the larger sleeves helped conceal the blade, though she doubted if the creature hadn't noticed it already. Seona knew she wasn't the best at subterfuge, but it was better than brandishing it.
Underhanded Innocence
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
"A pleasure to finally meet you in person, Miss Seona. Now that everyone is here, I believe we should get started."
Once the creature finished speaking, she tore out from her fleshy cocoon and slithered to the ground. The snake rose to her full height, her head nearly touching the ceiling, and fixed her beady eyes on Seona, displaying her fangs with a wide smile. Though she was mostly serpentine, she also had arachnid qualities: numerous furry legs lined her tail, and there were several spinnerets around her mouth. Her upper body was more human, resembling a pale young woman with protruding veins and long, weblike black hair.
Coiling her tail, she sank down and leaned forward to get a closer look at Seona. "I'm impressed. I never would have thought such a little bird could terrify one of Lord Segostro's decoys like that. We were expecting your master's wraith last night, but I'd say this change turned out for the better."
Eltana sat down on his armchair and glared at the woman, unfazed by her menacing appearance. After spending years working with Vanyusha, he was used to seeing all sorts of horrors. "If you're here to warn me, rest assured I don't intend to cross your master again. I know when I'm beaten. Besides, my business with him was hardly personal."
The snake woman laughed. "Oh, Lord Remathia! Father has no quarrel with you. Nothing wrong with trying to make a name for yourself in a new city. Your friend Haylon's another story, but we'll get to him later. Right now I want to speak with your little bird."
"What could you possibly want with her?"
"I've been instructed to extend an offer," she explained, keeping her eyes on Seona. "My name is Yelena, child. There's no need to be afraid -- I mean no harm to you or your master. I know my appearance is a little alarming, but I'm a shifter much like yourself. Whatever brought you to Marn, may I ask? This city isn't exactly hospitable to our kind."
Once the creature finished speaking, she tore out from her fleshy cocoon and slithered to the ground. The snake rose to her full height, her head nearly touching the ceiling, and fixed her beady eyes on Seona, displaying her fangs with a wide smile. Though she was mostly serpentine, she also had arachnid qualities: numerous furry legs lined her tail, and there were several spinnerets around her mouth. Her upper body was more human, resembling a pale young woman with protruding veins and long, weblike black hair.
Coiling her tail, she sank down and leaned forward to get a closer look at Seona. "I'm impressed. I never would have thought such a little bird could terrify one of Lord Segostro's decoys like that. We were expecting your master's wraith last night, but I'd say this change turned out for the better."
Eltana sat down on his armchair and glared at the woman, unfazed by her menacing appearance. After spending years working with Vanyusha, he was used to seeing all sorts of horrors. "If you're here to warn me, rest assured I don't intend to cross your master again. I know when I'm beaten. Besides, my business with him was hardly personal."
The snake woman laughed. "Oh, Lord Remathia! Father has no quarrel with you. Nothing wrong with trying to make a name for yourself in a new city. Your friend Haylon's another story, but we'll get to him later. Right now I want to speak with your little bird."
"What could you possibly want with her?"
"I've been instructed to extend an offer," she explained, keeping her eyes on Seona. "My name is Yelena, child. There's no need to be afraid -- I mean no harm to you or your master. I know my appearance is a little alarming, but I'm a shifter much like yourself. Whatever brought you to Marn, may I ask? This city isn't exactly hospitable to our kind."
Re: Underhanded Innocence
If she had been scared of the woman before, it didn't even compare to the fear she felt now. The apparently female creature was huge - far larger than Seona could have ever anticipated, and that frightened her. She was a snake, yet at the same time she was a spider - neither of which Seona was particularly fond of. She shook as she took it in, the owl within her staring as well, wide eyed and feathers puffed. As an owl, she could eat both spiders and snakes - but not this big, and not when something was both of them. It was unnatural and scary.
Even as the creature assured her that it would not harm her Master or herself, Seona moved to place herself further between Eltana and the creature. She did not trust it. But it had asked a question, and while Seona did not like the creature, it would be rude not to answer her.
"Seona does not know why she is here. No memories. What does your Master want with Seona?" She wasn't interested in any sort of offer that would take her away from Eltana - not when she was just starting to be useful to him. However... she risked a glance back at him before looking back up and into the spider-snake's eyes. If it would help her Master, she might consider it.
"Before Yelena answers - she must know. Seona does not want to leave Master Eltana's side. Seona is Eltana's servant." She said, trying to be firm, though her voice shook as much as her body did. Dealing with a man was one thing - she could handle humans... but this... this was no where near human. This was oversized prey, which therefore made it a predator. The paradox of it, and the how unnatural it was, terrified Seona to the core. This thing was not right.
Even as the creature assured her that it would not harm her Master or herself, Seona moved to place herself further between Eltana and the creature. She did not trust it. But it had asked a question, and while Seona did not like the creature, it would be rude not to answer her.
"Seona does not know why she is here. No memories. What does your Master want with Seona?" She wasn't interested in any sort of offer that would take her away from Eltana - not when she was just starting to be useful to him. However... she risked a glance back at him before looking back up and into the spider-snake's eyes. If it would help her Master, she might consider it.
"Before Yelena answers - she must know. Seona does not want to leave Master Eltana's side. Seona is Eltana's servant." She said, trying to be firm, though her voice shook as much as her body did. Dealing with a man was one thing - she could handle humans... but this... this was no where near human. This was oversized prey, which therefore made it a predator. The paradox of it, and the how unnatural it was, terrified Seona to the core. This thing was not right.
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Eltana Remathia
- Outsider
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 8:46 am
- Name: Eltana Remathia
- Race: Half-Elf
Re: Underhanded Innocence
There was no doubt what Yelena's offer would be. If Segostro was anything like him, he wouldn't dream of passing up such a valuable asset. With Vanyusha gone Eltana found himself more dependent on Seona than he ever imagined, so parting with her was not an option, especially after how much effort he put into training her. An agent like Seona was hard to come by – loyal, effective, and unquestioning. Better yet, she lacked Vanyusha's unpredictability and his frustrating “can't hurt anyone directly” curse. With time she might be able to surpass him.
But he might not have a choice. Seona had little chance of defeating that monstrosity alone. But more importantly Narain was still Yelena's hostage. Attacking Yelena would mean Narain's life if they failed to kill her; and for all he knew she could have someone watching over Narain, waiting to kill him if she didn't return by a certain time. He wasn't willing to take that risk.
“Don't worry about that, my dear,” Yelena chuckled as she slithered around the floor, her tail loosely circling Seona. “I wouldn't dream of separating you from your master. I share a similar bond with my father, you see.”
“Then what do you want?” Eltana snapped.
“Lord Segostro has looked after shifters like Seona and myself for many years, training them to realize their full potential. After learning of Seona's performance last night, he instructed me to extend an invitation for both of you to visit him in Corezo.”
“After I agreed to help Haylon beat him senseless. This doesn't reek of a trap, not at all,” Eltana said, quirking a brow. “And if your master is still in Corezo as Haylon said, how could he possibly know all this happened?”
Yelena smiled, bearing her fangs. “Father's known about this little operation for a while, remember? Seona included. When word reached him that the great Lord Remathia was looking after a shifter child, it was obvious what you were planning for her. You're not the type to adopt someone out of the goodness of your heart, with all due respect.”
Her gaze drifted to Haylon. “As for a trap, we don't go through an elaborate ruse if we want someone dead. Like you, we prefer to get right to the point. Which reminds me...” Within seconds she lunged at Haylon, flipping over the couch. When she rose her head was tilted backward and Haylon's lower half was sticking out of her extended mouth, wiggling frantically. He slowly vanished down her throat, his muffled screams fading into silence.
She looked back at Eltana, who was staring uncomfortably. “I apologize for the couch. Feel free to discuss the offer with Seona. I'm sure you need time to digest the information, so take all the time you need.”
But he might not have a choice. Seona had little chance of defeating that monstrosity alone. But more importantly Narain was still Yelena's hostage. Attacking Yelena would mean Narain's life if they failed to kill her; and for all he knew she could have someone watching over Narain, waiting to kill him if she didn't return by a certain time. He wasn't willing to take that risk.
“Don't worry about that, my dear,” Yelena chuckled as she slithered around the floor, her tail loosely circling Seona. “I wouldn't dream of separating you from your master. I share a similar bond with my father, you see.”
“Then what do you want?” Eltana snapped.
“Lord Segostro has looked after shifters like Seona and myself for many years, training them to realize their full potential. After learning of Seona's performance last night, he instructed me to extend an invitation for both of you to visit him in Corezo.”
“After I agreed to help Haylon beat him senseless. This doesn't reek of a trap, not at all,” Eltana said, quirking a brow. “And if your master is still in Corezo as Haylon said, how could he possibly know all this happened?”
Yelena smiled, bearing her fangs. “Father's known about this little operation for a while, remember? Seona included. When word reached him that the great Lord Remathia was looking after a shifter child, it was obvious what you were planning for her. You're not the type to adopt someone out of the goodness of your heart, with all due respect.”
Her gaze drifted to Haylon. “As for a trap, we don't go through an elaborate ruse if we want someone dead. Like you, we prefer to get right to the point. Which reminds me...” Within seconds she lunged at Haylon, flipping over the couch. When she rose her head was tilted backward and Haylon's lower half was sticking out of her extended mouth, wiggling frantically. He slowly vanished down her throat, his muffled screams fading into silence.
She looked back at Eltana, who was staring uncomfortably. “I apologize for the couch. Feel free to discuss the offer with Seona. I'm sure you need time to digest the information, so take all the time you need.”
Re: Underhanded Innocence
Seona had wanted to do nothing else but shift and fly away when the things tail slid loosely around her, but her morals kept her feet firmly on the ground. She needed to protect her master. Not that she'd be able to do much besides possibly give him a small window of time to escape. She was bracing herself for such a maneuver when the thing said it didn't intend to separate her from Eltana. She was still leery, and kept an eye on the monster even as she spoke with Eltana, most of it going over her head.
She'd caught something about going to somewhere with Eltana, and him believing it was a trap. She wanted to scream that yes, it obviously was a trap - going anywhere with this monster was a trap! She was about to snap out her thoughts when the thing flashed from her view, disappearing with the man on the couch. When she came up, his legs still wriggling, Seona felt bile rise up in her throat. She watched in fascinated horror as the man's lower body disappeared down her throat, his screams slowly dying out. She stumbled backwards a step or two as the thing addressed Eltana, still mindlessly trying to keep herself between it and him.
She swallowed hard and turned her head slightly to look at Eltana, keeping the monster within her peripherals. "Seona does not like this." She whispered as low as she could, not wanting it to overhear her. "But maybe there no other choice? We might end up like Ha-Hay... Hay...lon." She was scared, making speech much harder to come by, but she made an effort to be understood. She took the chance to look Eltana squarely in the eye. "Seona will follow Master Eltana. Seona trusts Master Eltana." She murmured before turning to look at the monster fully, the blade in her hand still hidden badly in her sleeve, her stance a mediocre attempt at protective and intimidating. Changers she felt like an idiot.
She'd caught something about going to somewhere with Eltana, and him believing it was a trap. She wanted to scream that yes, it obviously was a trap - going anywhere with this monster was a trap! She was about to snap out her thoughts when the thing flashed from her view, disappearing with the man on the couch. When she came up, his legs still wriggling, Seona felt bile rise up in her throat. She watched in fascinated horror as the man's lower body disappeared down her throat, his screams slowly dying out. She stumbled backwards a step or two as the thing addressed Eltana, still mindlessly trying to keep herself between it and him.
She swallowed hard and turned her head slightly to look at Eltana, keeping the monster within her peripherals. "Seona does not like this." She whispered as low as she could, not wanting it to overhear her. "But maybe there no other choice? We might end up like Ha-Hay... Hay...lon." She was scared, making speech much harder to come by, but she made an effort to be understood. She took the chance to look Eltana squarely in the eye. "Seona will follow Master Eltana. Seona trusts Master Eltana." She murmured before turning to look at the monster fully, the blade in her hand still hidden badly in her sleeve, her stance a mediocre attempt at protective and intimidating. Changers she felt like an idiot.