Post by Lerochelle De La Fae on Dec 17, 2009 5:49:00 GMT -5
Ro huffed and narrowed her eyes as she watched the sleeping Sidhe. 'Watch him.' The Old One had said. She shifted on the balls of her feet, then crawled a few inches closer, her head tilting to the side. Why watch him?
Payne groaned softly as he finally climbed toward consciousness. The nightmares had finally released him from their depths. There was a vague ache somewhere upon his body, but it did not compare to the mental and emotional pain that he now owned. He felt grass beneath him, noting that he was nude from the waist up. A sort of panic erupted at the idea that the Demon had actually succeeded in carting him off. He tried to struggle to sit up, to make his eyes work, but obviously he had been out for some time.
Ro jumped and straightened her back, then ducked down again and watched. He would eventually see her, she wasn't hiding and was very close.
Payne Payne eventually got his eyes to work and when they opened what he saw translated to his bruised mind the image of an Imp. He had been taken! The demon had succeeded! Adrenalin was released and made his body move, hands pushing against the ground and shoving him upright as he scrambled backward. Payne's eyes were wide, darting around the area with alarm, as if he made to bolt at any moment.
Ro frowned and pursed her lips "Relax Sidhe." Her ears tilted down, almost drooping. "No one has harmed you here." Every s was drawn out slightly and though she seemed calm, her hands barely moved towards her daggers as she straightened her back again, her head still tilted to the side. Bloodied honey eyes watched him cautiously, and curiously from under her two toned bangs.
Payne felt that there was something about this creature that was familiar, the voice....? the size? Then he looked around again, finally recognizing that he was within the Fae Mound of Wood Bourne. His gaze lowered to the ground as he willed himself to relax, to just breathe and calm down. Slowly, he crossed his legs and settled his hands into his lap. After a long moment of simply.....focusing....he looked up again. There was a slight amount of clarity within them, but there was also an edge to the gaze. When he spoke, his voice was rough from disuse. "Who are you?"
Ro Eyes narrowed and ears perked up on either side of her head as she watched him try to relax. Slowly her hands moved away from her blades. Her hips wiggled from side to side a moment as she crouched down further, bringing her chest to her knees and resting her arms upon them, then her chin on those. Her tail curled around her feet as she spoke simply. "Ro."
Payne recognized the name, "Ro?" Then he remembered meeting the small woman outside of Sanctuary carrying the container of raw meat. "I know you....we've met." He drew a slow breath and the last of his tension seemed to leave. He studied her for a moment, "Goblin....why here? In Wood Bourne? And...why are you ...watching me?" His hands began to move then, fingertips gliding over skin, touching old scars then rising upward to his collarbone. There was no wound, only an ache. "How long have I been out?"
Ro blinked at the barrage of questions and nodded as he remembered her. "I was told to watch you. It has been about..." she clicked, not with her tongue but somewhere deep in her throat. "Three or four days?" Yellow eyes watched his hands move, then went back up to his face. "He said that a demon attacked you. Or something that looked like one."
Payne 's fingers probed the area where Vedic's fingers had ripped through skin and used his collarbone as a handle. "So long....," he sighed as his hand lowered, "...yes..it was a demon, one that I already know." Both hands rose to rub at his face, fingers into his eyes and then back up and through his hair. "Who healed me, do you know?" Then his tri-blue eyes shifted to look for his clothes.
Ro lifted her head, her overly long fingers curling around her knees. "The other Sidhe. Gail I think is her name." Her eyebrows rose "One you already know?" She shifted as if to move closer to him and paused, unsure, her ears perked.
One hand returned to his chest, fingertips touching the raised scars of old whip marks, "Yes....more than I would care to." Then he thought about the name Gail and shook his head, "Gail? As in the moon-child? The healer exiled for being too human?" He vaguely remembered a woman standing at the edge of the lake when he encountered Vedic. Payne's posture was non-threatening in any way, unusual for a Sidhe.
Ro slowly half crawled, half crouch walked closer, her body language telling that she was on alert. Once she was close enough, her hand rose, reaching reverently towards the scars near his own hand. "I am not sure. But she glows with something like the moon. She is too human?"
Payne: "The Queen of Air and Darkness seems to think so." His eyes followed her hand, but made no move to stop her. Instead, his gaze shifted away and hooded. A line of tension threaded through his jaw, but nothing more than that. Images, unbidden, rose in his mind's eye that he truly didn't wish to remember or even look upon at this time. Quietly, "I am lucky then...that Gail was in Wood Bourne. I'm sure that the wound the demon gave me would not heal well on its own."
Ro touched the scars feather light, tracing along one of the more severe of them. Her touch was gentle, unlike what the Goblin's were known for. "You had many nightmares while you were sleeping... did you ever cry out for him?" It was a very Goblin question, and yet it was asked softly.
His head turned to the side a bit more, eyes closing completely as her fingers slid over the scar. Her question went unanswered at first, a slight rise of color within his cheeks. Then he answered, "Yes....often and loudly." There was no more pride in this particular Sidhe. He had learned a very dire lesson in humility as well as others that were just as hard to admit.
Ro nodded, the color in his cheeks making her pause for a moment then her hand pulled away, "I would have too if all of these were caused at once." was spoken as a simple fact, her fingertips moved up to the edge of his ear, tracing it to the tip. She had never been this close to a Sidhe before, at least, not one that allowed her to touch them.
Payne shivered slightly at the touch to his ear, but didn't move away. He drew a slow breath and spoke quietly, "All at once...many times.....with iron tips." Then he reached up and gently encircled her wrist with his fingers, drawing her hand down and away from his sensitive ear. "I'm very sensitive right now, Ro....my skin. Course...since I escaped the demon my skin has been very ....well.....very sensitive." He couldn't think of any other word and he needed the images to stop before he became too uncomfortable.
Ro frowned and hissed at the iron, then bloodied honey eyes glanced to the hand that held her wrist. She didn't know whether to apologize, or not. "Should I apologize?"
Payne: "No, Ro...there is no need. You've done nothing wrong." He let her wrist go, a slow release of his fingers. Then he stood up slowly and moved to where his clothes lay folded next to a rock. As he opened them, he realized the shirt was destroyed. "Bloody damn demon," muttered as he eyed the torn fabric.
Ro clicked and made a soft screech before darting off, down a side corridor returning after a few moments with a shirt tucked under her arm. It wasn't hers, and she was not above stealing or, borrowing as was the case. She could always get the shirt back later as long as it wasn't ruined. She walked up to him and offered him the shirt with a grin that showed the three sets of fangs, and a quick flick of her forked tongue.
Payne turned as Ro screeched and ran off, watching with a slight frown until she returned. One side of his mouth curved into a slight smile as she offered the shirt. He took it and began putting it on.....then paused. He lifted the one arm already in the shirt to his nose and inhaled. He almost made a sound in reaction, but managed to swallow it down, however the slightly lost look on his face couldn't be hidden. He looked at Ro, "Where...did you get this shirt?"
Ro tucked her chin down. "Another room in the mound. I borrowed it so don't get it ruined. He doesn't know I took it yet." She almost looked guilty, but not quite. "Why does it matter? He is not using it."
Rameaus Renard: "It smells of my brother, that's why. He has a room here in the mounds?" He looked up and took a step toward one of the room exits. "Was he there?..No...course not." He shook his head, trying to focus once again.
Ro stepped up behind him "Sir? Are you alright?" She almost reached out to touch his sleeve then stopped. "Your brother? No one was in the room when i got the shirt."
Payne paused and looked down at Ro, "No...no I'm alright...for the most part." Then he started walking again, "Yes, my brother is Payge. He....doesn't know that I live. He believes the demon killed me."
Ro grinned as she walked beside him, though a step behind. "It is a good thing then. He will be happy to see you alive and well"
Payne gave a wry smile, "Somehow...I doubt that. The demon can be....very persuasive in his desires." He came around the final corner to the greater chamber and halted at the base of the steps as he saw his brother for the first time in what felt like eons. "Payge....," the name was whispered and filled with
broken hearted longing.
Ro almost ran into him and peeked around the tall Sidhe as he whispered a name. Her bloodied honey eyes widened and she squeaked softly "Aye, yup, that be him alright." Though he had not seen her yet, she had seen much of his comings and goings.
Payge Indigo heard whispering between two others and they were headed toward him. One he began to recognize, the very sound of that voice curdled against his ear and made his heart begin to race, sending hot blood to the surface. His hand moved to the hilt of his blade and he took a indecisive step back. Watery ocean blue eyes began to glow to life as every muscle tightened in his body. His eyes fell first to the short creature then flicked quickly up to the taller male. Payge froze. His every muscle tensed in place as his gaze fell onto his brother. The very being he had watched torn to pieces over and over in forced nightmares. The screams echoed deep in his mind at the site of that face. His own face, yet not, the face of his beloved twin. Payge began to snarl and showed his teeth as a cornered wolf. His eyes shimmered brightly yet his gaze was dark and venomous. " No...." Growled from his breath.
Payne had known that Payge wasn't going to react well. He had known that Vedic had .....worked hard to destroy the image of Payge's brother, himself. It broke his heart to see Payge act like this, to see the hate, the fear....the desire to kill without question. He did not know if he would be able to convince his twin of the truth, but.... in the end....he'd rather die by his brothers hand, then by the demons. "Payge.....it's really me....I escaped. Please....please hear the truth in my words." He kept his hands before him, open and relaxed. Defending himself would not be an option should Payge attack him.
Ro peered around as the other Sidhe snarled, then clicked. "Oh this isn't gonna be good is it?" she didn't wait for a response, but dashed up the stairs, jumping onto an outcropping of the stones and crawling up them and out of sight behind some vines. This was her place, she eyed her weapons for a second then started strapping them on.
Payge Indigo did not wait to consider, this very scene had been given to him more times then he could truly remember and each time he gave in to the possibility that this truly was Payne he was broken ever deeper with the cackling reminder of his failure to save him. He drew his blade but not with the intent of using it, no, he lifted his left hand and began to whisper the ancient words to bring forth his deepest power, this was the only way to counter the demon and gain time to back from the cavern. Payge's hand began to glow as did his skin, slowly his glamor melting away as he lifted his concentration onto Payne. " You will not have me this night." He whispered between the chanting breath as he pulled his hand of power and with a shuttering force shoved a waking nightmare to all those with minds to see it. The caves would echo with blood curdling screams, the walls melting away to horrid torn flesh and millions upon millions of spiders pouring from the festering bleeding wounds to cover every inch of the cave.
Payne blinked as the illusion took form. He knew his brothers hand of power, had seen it many times at work, but never had he been the recipient. The nightmare that sank into his mind only blended with those of his own. With his mental capacity being bruised as it was from the recent assault of Vedic, his mind crumpled and let him believe that he was back where Vedic had kept him. He sank to the floor, hands moving up to cover his face, to hold his head as he screamed. The sound was filled with desperation, a wail that vibrated off the cavern walls. His own glamor died, his fragile concentration blasted to nothing before Payge's own raging power.
Ro covered her ears for a moment as the screaming and shrieks started, then drew her bow, Fhuar Urchar, from her back. Her tail swirled and coiled around her, swiping at the crawling spiders. The blood did not bother her, she had honestly seen worse, though she silently admitted to herself, not to this large a scale. Her breathing hitched in her throat as she lay down on her stomach and whistled for Mishu, a high trilling whistle that echoed throughout the cavern. Her hands shook as her overly long fingers notched an arrow and pushed aside the now bleeding vines. She saw the one Sidhe fall, and drew back the string. Her tail kept swiping at the spiders as they began crawling over her, up her arms and hands. She ignored them as best she could and took aim. Her voice rang against the stones. "Atal hyn nawr! Mae'n eich brawd!" (Stop this now! He is your brother!)
Payge Indigo 's power thrummed through the cave with its own living heart beat. The scent of blood filled the air so thickly it threatened to choke those effected. He watched Payne crumple to the ground and spared no sympathy, thoroughly believing he was apart of some damned trickery of Vedic's. His snarl grew in satisfaction as he backed away from the scene, yet, keeping the illusion up was draining him quickly. He looked toward the direction the small creature had skittered off to but couldn't spare the energy to search for them. Turning his gaze back onto Payne he spoke, his words rolling from his tongue with venomous rage. " I wont fall into your grasp... This will not take me.." His eyes intensely hateful on Payne. He heard a plea echoed against the horror he inflicted but he didn't turn his attention away. His intention was clear, he must end this quickly, what came next frightened him more then the weapon drawn against him by the small girl. With that he drew his dagger up, crafted from the finest elven metal and aimed it for Payne's heart. His right hand gave a quick flick and off the blade was sent, spinning through the air toward its destination, the one place that might end this new nightmare brought to him. There was a sinking pain in his gut, something didn't seem right.. By now he would watch Vedic tear Payne apart and his brothers blame would rain down upon Payge, this time the torment was stalled. His concern was easily over shadowed by the knowledge that Vedic was ruthless and he would easily stop at nothing to get the best of Payge, even if it meant spending a little more time to confuse him.
Payne: The glittering knife struck true, burying itself in Payne's chest, a rosette of bright blood soaking into the silver-gray cloth. Payne's arm extended toward Payge as he fell backward, his other hand on the hilt of the dagger. "Payge....," but the exclaimed name faded as he settled on his back. The only truly saving grace at this moment was the fact that the blade was not made of iron. It lodged in his heart, which valiantly struggled to beat around the sharp edges, cutting itself further. His tri-blue eyes could just barely see Ro above, swatting spiders but also attempting to aim a bow at Payge. He tried to speak loud enough for Ro to hear, but was unsure if he did, "Ro....no....it's better this way.....better to die at my brothers hands....then the demons." He panted around the words, pain blossoming through his chest. Funny how a Sidhe who was essentially mortal often fancied themselves dying. Death wasn't that easy for such as they. Again he tried to speak....struggling with the words, "Payge...go back....back to the Sithen....go back home and stay....there." Then he fell silent, needing to simply lay still and breathe.
Ro saw the wrist go up and back and took aim for the blade itself, but movement on her hand caught her eye for the barest of s split second and her arrow missed, imbedding itself into the stones beside Payge. The scent of blood caught her, her twin tipped tongue flickered out and tasting the air over and over. This was what she had been bred on, raised on, blood, flesh, and battle. She gasped as red formed on the fallen Sidhe's chest, her eyes not realizing the blade for an instant, then she slid her body sideways and twisted as she rolled off the ledge, her hand automatically reached to the quiver and pulled another arrow. She crouched as she landed, her tail still trying to swat at the spiders that had clung to her as she notched another arrow. She spoke around her tongue as it flickered in and out of her mouth repeatedly, savoring the scent of the blood now. "You die, I get blamed. I don't want that." She started to move closer to Payne, still crouched but her movements were smooth and efficient, almost graceful, keeping the arrow pointed to the other, to Payge.
Payge Indigo paused, his illusion wavering in its effectiveness and slowly it faded. He had backed to the stone door by this point and watched the two silently, his face as stone as the walls that encased them. Something certainly wasn't right.. This was not normal. Panic washed over him and settled in his limbs and his gut. Was it Payne? Those words.. Never had he asked that of Payge before... Could he truly be alive and before him now? He felt an overwhelming sensation of regret, pain, and the deep mocking laugh of the demon deafened him. " Stop this. " He whispered as his hands covered over his ears. Years of this torment, years of this pain and now utter confusion. " This isn't real... No.." The very idea that he had just slain his brother was to much and he backed into the stone, slamming his back against it. " This isn't real. " He couldn't look back up to the two as he felt his mind weakening against this turmoil. "Payne.." He whispered, his words shaken and frightened, needful and filled with the same sorrow. " I failed you.. Your gone... It's me.... It's mine..." He shook his head and frantically tore the large boulder from his way and escaped into the frozen night.
Payne panted where he lay, the breaths shallow and pained. Of course...every beat of his heart was pained as well. He felt Ro nearby, heard her speak. He was also aware of Payge suffering nearby as well, then heard the rock being moved. His head rolled to Ro, "Pulled the blade......then go....go after him...find him....explain." He coughed, face tightening in pain and lips becoming stained with blood, "Maybe....find Gail....if you can. I'll......lay here."
Ro blinked as the illusion vanished, her arrow was trained on Payge as he backed away, putting herself in between the two, then he ran. She had half a mind to stick one in his retreating left cheek, but then Payne spoke. She turned halfway, still watching the door even after the rock slid back into place and crept over to him. Her eyes took in the knife and she frowned, long fingers reaching for it. "A wound like this killed my brother..." She wrapped her fingers around the pommel and could feel his heart beating around the blade itself. With a swift movement she pulled the blade up and out of his chest, watching a new wash of hearts blood flow upward. She folded her bow, and placed it in it's holder on her back, still frowning. The arrow was placed in a side loop on the quiver, the tip covered in a mini sheath. "Why find him? He does not seem to but want to kill you." She clicked disapprovingly then nodded, bending down to quickly lick across his blood stained lips with her forked tongue. "Payment." Then she dashed off towards the rock door.
Payne groaned softly as he finally climbed toward consciousness. The nightmares had finally released him from their depths. There was a vague ache somewhere upon his body, but it did not compare to the mental and emotional pain that he now owned. He felt grass beneath him, noting that he was nude from the waist up. A sort of panic erupted at the idea that the Demon had actually succeeded in carting him off. He tried to struggle to sit up, to make his eyes work, but obviously he had been out for some time.
Ro jumped and straightened her back, then ducked down again and watched. He would eventually see her, she wasn't hiding and was very close.
Payne Payne eventually got his eyes to work and when they opened what he saw translated to his bruised mind the image of an Imp. He had been taken! The demon had succeeded! Adrenalin was released and made his body move, hands pushing against the ground and shoving him upright as he scrambled backward. Payne's eyes were wide, darting around the area with alarm, as if he made to bolt at any moment.
Ro frowned and pursed her lips "Relax Sidhe." Her ears tilted down, almost drooping. "No one has harmed you here." Every s was drawn out slightly and though she seemed calm, her hands barely moved towards her daggers as she straightened her back again, her head still tilted to the side. Bloodied honey eyes watched him cautiously, and curiously from under her two toned bangs.
Payne felt that there was something about this creature that was familiar, the voice....? the size? Then he looked around again, finally recognizing that he was within the Fae Mound of Wood Bourne. His gaze lowered to the ground as he willed himself to relax, to just breathe and calm down. Slowly, he crossed his legs and settled his hands into his lap. After a long moment of simply.....focusing....he looked up again. There was a slight amount of clarity within them, but there was also an edge to the gaze. When he spoke, his voice was rough from disuse. "Who are you?"
Ro Eyes narrowed and ears perked up on either side of her head as she watched him try to relax. Slowly her hands moved away from her blades. Her hips wiggled from side to side a moment as she crouched down further, bringing her chest to her knees and resting her arms upon them, then her chin on those. Her tail curled around her feet as she spoke simply. "Ro."
Payne recognized the name, "Ro?" Then he remembered meeting the small woman outside of Sanctuary carrying the container of raw meat. "I know you....we've met." He drew a slow breath and the last of his tension seemed to leave. He studied her for a moment, "Goblin....why here? In Wood Bourne? And...why are you ...watching me?" His hands began to move then, fingertips gliding over skin, touching old scars then rising upward to his collarbone. There was no wound, only an ache. "How long have I been out?"
Ro blinked at the barrage of questions and nodded as he remembered her. "I was told to watch you. It has been about..." she clicked, not with her tongue but somewhere deep in her throat. "Three or four days?" Yellow eyes watched his hands move, then went back up to his face. "He said that a demon attacked you. Or something that looked like one."
Payne 's fingers probed the area where Vedic's fingers had ripped through skin and used his collarbone as a handle. "So long....," he sighed as his hand lowered, "...yes..it was a demon, one that I already know." Both hands rose to rub at his face, fingers into his eyes and then back up and through his hair. "Who healed me, do you know?" Then his tri-blue eyes shifted to look for his clothes.
Ro lifted her head, her overly long fingers curling around her knees. "The other Sidhe. Gail I think is her name." Her eyebrows rose "One you already know?" She shifted as if to move closer to him and paused, unsure, her ears perked.
One hand returned to his chest, fingertips touching the raised scars of old whip marks, "Yes....more than I would care to." Then he thought about the name Gail and shook his head, "Gail? As in the moon-child? The healer exiled for being too human?" He vaguely remembered a woman standing at the edge of the lake when he encountered Vedic. Payne's posture was non-threatening in any way, unusual for a Sidhe.
Ro slowly half crawled, half crouch walked closer, her body language telling that she was on alert. Once she was close enough, her hand rose, reaching reverently towards the scars near his own hand. "I am not sure. But she glows with something like the moon. She is too human?"
Payne: "The Queen of Air and Darkness seems to think so." His eyes followed her hand, but made no move to stop her. Instead, his gaze shifted away and hooded. A line of tension threaded through his jaw, but nothing more than that. Images, unbidden, rose in his mind's eye that he truly didn't wish to remember or even look upon at this time. Quietly, "I am lucky then...that Gail was in Wood Bourne. I'm sure that the wound the demon gave me would not heal well on its own."
Ro touched the scars feather light, tracing along one of the more severe of them. Her touch was gentle, unlike what the Goblin's were known for. "You had many nightmares while you were sleeping... did you ever cry out for him?" It was a very Goblin question, and yet it was asked softly.
His head turned to the side a bit more, eyes closing completely as her fingers slid over the scar. Her question went unanswered at first, a slight rise of color within his cheeks. Then he answered, "Yes....often and loudly." There was no more pride in this particular Sidhe. He had learned a very dire lesson in humility as well as others that were just as hard to admit.
Ro nodded, the color in his cheeks making her pause for a moment then her hand pulled away, "I would have too if all of these were caused at once." was spoken as a simple fact, her fingertips moved up to the edge of his ear, tracing it to the tip. She had never been this close to a Sidhe before, at least, not one that allowed her to touch them.
Payne shivered slightly at the touch to his ear, but didn't move away. He drew a slow breath and spoke quietly, "All at once...many times.....with iron tips." Then he reached up and gently encircled her wrist with his fingers, drawing her hand down and away from his sensitive ear. "I'm very sensitive right now, Ro....my skin. Course...since I escaped the demon my skin has been very ....well.....very sensitive." He couldn't think of any other word and he needed the images to stop before he became too uncomfortable.
Ro frowned and hissed at the iron, then bloodied honey eyes glanced to the hand that held her wrist. She didn't know whether to apologize, or not. "Should I apologize?"
Payne: "No, Ro...there is no need. You've done nothing wrong." He let her wrist go, a slow release of his fingers. Then he stood up slowly and moved to where his clothes lay folded next to a rock. As he opened them, he realized the shirt was destroyed. "Bloody damn demon," muttered as he eyed the torn fabric.
Ro clicked and made a soft screech before darting off, down a side corridor returning after a few moments with a shirt tucked under her arm. It wasn't hers, and she was not above stealing or, borrowing as was the case. She could always get the shirt back later as long as it wasn't ruined. She walked up to him and offered him the shirt with a grin that showed the three sets of fangs, and a quick flick of her forked tongue.
Payne turned as Ro screeched and ran off, watching with a slight frown until she returned. One side of his mouth curved into a slight smile as she offered the shirt. He took it and began putting it on.....then paused. He lifted the one arm already in the shirt to his nose and inhaled. He almost made a sound in reaction, but managed to swallow it down, however the slightly lost look on his face couldn't be hidden. He looked at Ro, "Where...did you get this shirt?"
Ro tucked her chin down. "Another room in the mound. I borrowed it so don't get it ruined. He doesn't know I took it yet." She almost looked guilty, but not quite. "Why does it matter? He is not using it."
Rameaus Renard: "It smells of my brother, that's why. He has a room here in the mounds?" He looked up and took a step toward one of the room exits. "Was he there?..No...course not." He shook his head, trying to focus once again.
Ro stepped up behind him "Sir? Are you alright?" She almost reached out to touch his sleeve then stopped. "Your brother? No one was in the room when i got the shirt."
Payne paused and looked down at Ro, "No...no I'm alright...for the most part." Then he started walking again, "Yes, my brother is Payge. He....doesn't know that I live. He believes the demon killed me."
Ro grinned as she walked beside him, though a step behind. "It is a good thing then. He will be happy to see you alive and well"
Payne gave a wry smile, "Somehow...I doubt that. The demon can be....very persuasive in his desires." He came around the final corner to the greater chamber and halted at the base of the steps as he saw his brother for the first time in what felt like eons. "Payge....," the name was whispered and filled with
broken hearted longing.
Ro almost ran into him and peeked around the tall Sidhe as he whispered a name. Her bloodied honey eyes widened and she squeaked softly "Aye, yup, that be him alright." Though he had not seen her yet, she had seen much of his comings and goings.
Payge Indigo heard whispering between two others and they were headed toward him. One he began to recognize, the very sound of that voice curdled against his ear and made his heart begin to race, sending hot blood to the surface. His hand moved to the hilt of his blade and he took a indecisive step back. Watery ocean blue eyes began to glow to life as every muscle tightened in his body. His eyes fell first to the short creature then flicked quickly up to the taller male. Payge froze. His every muscle tensed in place as his gaze fell onto his brother. The very being he had watched torn to pieces over and over in forced nightmares. The screams echoed deep in his mind at the site of that face. His own face, yet not, the face of his beloved twin. Payge began to snarl and showed his teeth as a cornered wolf. His eyes shimmered brightly yet his gaze was dark and venomous. " No...." Growled from his breath.
Payne had known that Payge wasn't going to react well. He had known that Vedic had .....worked hard to destroy the image of Payge's brother, himself. It broke his heart to see Payge act like this, to see the hate, the fear....the desire to kill without question. He did not know if he would be able to convince his twin of the truth, but.... in the end....he'd rather die by his brothers hand, then by the demons. "Payge.....it's really me....I escaped. Please....please hear the truth in my words." He kept his hands before him, open and relaxed. Defending himself would not be an option should Payge attack him.
Ro peered around as the other Sidhe snarled, then clicked. "Oh this isn't gonna be good is it?" she didn't wait for a response, but dashed up the stairs, jumping onto an outcropping of the stones and crawling up them and out of sight behind some vines. This was her place, she eyed her weapons for a second then started strapping them on.
Payge Indigo did not wait to consider, this very scene had been given to him more times then he could truly remember and each time he gave in to the possibility that this truly was Payne he was broken ever deeper with the cackling reminder of his failure to save him. He drew his blade but not with the intent of using it, no, he lifted his left hand and began to whisper the ancient words to bring forth his deepest power, this was the only way to counter the demon and gain time to back from the cavern. Payge's hand began to glow as did his skin, slowly his glamor melting away as he lifted his concentration onto Payne. " You will not have me this night." He whispered between the chanting breath as he pulled his hand of power and with a shuttering force shoved a waking nightmare to all those with minds to see it. The caves would echo with blood curdling screams, the walls melting away to horrid torn flesh and millions upon millions of spiders pouring from the festering bleeding wounds to cover every inch of the cave.
Payne blinked as the illusion took form. He knew his brothers hand of power, had seen it many times at work, but never had he been the recipient. The nightmare that sank into his mind only blended with those of his own. With his mental capacity being bruised as it was from the recent assault of Vedic, his mind crumpled and let him believe that he was back where Vedic had kept him. He sank to the floor, hands moving up to cover his face, to hold his head as he screamed. The sound was filled with desperation, a wail that vibrated off the cavern walls. His own glamor died, his fragile concentration blasted to nothing before Payge's own raging power.
Ro covered her ears for a moment as the screaming and shrieks started, then drew her bow, Fhuar Urchar, from her back. Her tail swirled and coiled around her, swiping at the crawling spiders. The blood did not bother her, she had honestly seen worse, though she silently admitted to herself, not to this large a scale. Her breathing hitched in her throat as she lay down on her stomach and whistled for Mishu, a high trilling whistle that echoed throughout the cavern. Her hands shook as her overly long fingers notched an arrow and pushed aside the now bleeding vines. She saw the one Sidhe fall, and drew back the string. Her tail kept swiping at the spiders as they began crawling over her, up her arms and hands. She ignored them as best she could and took aim. Her voice rang against the stones. "Atal hyn nawr! Mae'n eich brawd!" (Stop this now! He is your brother!)
Payge Indigo 's power thrummed through the cave with its own living heart beat. The scent of blood filled the air so thickly it threatened to choke those effected. He watched Payne crumple to the ground and spared no sympathy, thoroughly believing he was apart of some damned trickery of Vedic's. His snarl grew in satisfaction as he backed away from the scene, yet, keeping the illusion up was draining him quickly. He looked toward the direction the small creature had skittered off to but couldn't spare the energy to search for them. Turning his gaze back onto Payne he spoke, his words rolling from his tongue with venomous rage. " I wont fall into your grasp... This will not take me.." His eyes intensely hateful on Payne. He heard a plea echoed against the horror he inflicted but he didn't turn his attention away. His intention was clear, he must end this quickly, what came next frightened him more then the weapon drawn against him by the small girl. With that he drew his dagger up, crafted from the finest elven metal and aimed it for Payne's heart. His right hand gave a quick flick and off the blade was sent, spinning through the air toward its destination, the one place that might end this new nightmare brought to him. There was a sinking pain in his gut, something didn't seem right.. By now he would watch Vedic tear Payne apart and his brothers blame would rain down upon Payge, this time the torment was stalled. His concern was easily over shadowed by the knowledge that Vedic was ruthless and he would easily stop at nothing to get the best of Payge, even if it meant spending a little more time to confuse him.
Payne: The glittering knife struck true, burying itself in Payne's chest, a rosette of bright blood soaking into the silver-gray cloth. Payne's arm extended toward Payge as he fell backward, his other hand on the hilt of the dagger. "Payge....," but the exclaimed name faded as he settled on his back. The only truly saving grace at this moment was the fact that the blade was not made of iron. It lodged in his heart, which valiantly struggled to beat around the sharp edges, cutting itself further. His tri-blue eyes could just barely see Ro above, swatting spiders but also attempting to aim a bow at Payge. He tried to speak loud enough for Ro to hear, but was unsure if he did, "Ro....no....it's better this way.....better to die at my brothers hands....then the demons." He panted around the words, pain blossoming through his chest. Funny how a Sidhe who was essentially mortal often fancied themselves dying. Death wasn't that easy for such as they. Again he tried to speak....struggling with the words, "Payge...go back....back to the Sithen....go back home and stay....there." Then he fell silent, needing to simply lay still and breathe.
Ro saw the wrist go up and back and took aim for the blade itself, but movement on her hand caught her eye for the barest of s split second and her arrow missed, imbedding itself into the stones beside Payge. The scent of blood caught her, her twin tipped tongue flickered out and tasting the air over and over. This was what she had been bred on, raised on, blood, flesh, and battle. She gasped as red formed on the fallen Sidhe's chest, her eyes not realizing the blade for an instant, then she slid her body sideways and twisted as she rolled off the ledge, her hand automatically reached to the quiver and pulled another arrow. She crouched as she landed, her tail still trying to swat at the spiders that had clung to her as she notched another arrow. She spoke around her tongue as it flickered in and out of her mouth repeatedly, savoring the scent of the blood now. "You die, I get blamed. I don't want that." She started to move closer to Payne, still crouched but her movements were smooth and efficient, almost graceful, keeping the arrow pointed to the other, to Payge.
Payge Indigo paused, his illusion wavering in its effectiveness and slowly it faded. He had backed to the stone door by this point and watched the two silently, his face as stone as the walls that encased them. Something certainly wasn't right.. This was not normal. Panic washed over him and settled in his limbs and his gut. Was it Payne? Those words.. Never had he asked that of Payge before... Could he truly be alive and before him now? He felt an overwhelming sensation of regret, pain, and the deep mocking laugh of the demon deafened him. " Stop this. " He whispered as his hands covered over his ears. Years of this torment, years of this pain and now utter confusion. " This isn't real... No.." The very idea that he had just slain his brother was to much and he backed into the stone, slamming his back against it. " This isn't real. " He couldn't look back up to the two as he felt his mind weakening against this turmoil. "Payne.." He whispered, his words shaken and frightened, needful and filled with the same sorrow. " I failed you.. Your gone... It's me.... It's mine..." He shook his head and frantically tore the large boulder from his way and escaped into the frozen night.
Payne panted where he lay, the breaths shallow and pained. Of course...every beat of his heart was pained as well. He felt Ro nearby, heard her speak. He was also aware of Payge suffering nearby as well, then heard the rock being moved. His head rolled to Ro, "Pulled the blade......then go....go after him...find him....explain." He coughed, face tightening in pain and lips becoming stained with blood, "Maybe....find Gail....if you can. I'll......lay here."
Ro blinked as the illusion vanished, her arrow was trained on Payge as he backed away, putting herself in between the two, then he ran. She had half a mind to stick one in his retreating left cheek, but then Payne spoke. She turned halfway, still watching the door even after the rock slid back into place and crept over to him. Her eyes took in the knife and she frowned, long fingers reaching for it. "A wound like this killed my brother..." She wrapped her fingers around the pommel and could feel his heart beating around the blade itself. With a swift movement she pulled the blade up and out of his chest, watching a new wash of hearts blood flow upward. She folded her bow, and placed it in it's holder on her back, still frowning. The arrow was placed in a side loop on the quiver, the tip covered in a mini sheath. "Why find him? He does not seem to but want to kill you." She clicked disapprovingly then nodded, bending down to quickly lick across his blood stained lips with her forked tongue. "Payment." Then she dashed off towards the rock door.