User:Michael Bard/From the Other Side - Revision history

ShadowWolf: add {{universe}}

2009-02-14T18:21:10Z

add {{universe}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:21, 14 February 2009
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:From the Other Side}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:From the Other Side}}
	[[Category:Anthropomorphic]][[Category:Cervine]][[Category:Mythical]]		[[Category:Anthropomorphic]][[Category:Cervine]][[Category:Mythical]]
			{{universe\|Metamor Keep}}
	'''November, 707 CR'''		'''November, 707 CR'''

Michael Bard: Final version

2008-12-22T00:04:14Z

Final version

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:04, 21 December 2008
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	{{title\|name=From the Other Side\|author=Michael Bard\|user=Michael Bard}}		{{title\|name=From the Other Side\|author=Michael Bard\|user=Michael Bard}}
	~~{{WIP}}~~
	{{Comment tag}}[[Category:Metamor Keep]]		{{Comment tag}}[[Category:Metamor Keep]]
	[[Category:Michael Bard]]		[[Category:Michael Bard]]
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	'''November, 707 CR'''		'''November, 707 CR'''

	Kane crouched in the massive chamber lit only by the flickering blue-purple of the slowly swirling portal. Oh, it wasn't open ''yet'' but the time was getting closer and closer. Soon the stars would be ''right'', the One would be sacrificed, and Kane would get his dreams.		Kane crouched in the massive chamber lit only by the flickering blue-purple of the slowly swirling portal. Oh, it wasn't open ''yet'', but the time was getting closer and closer. Soon the stars would be ''right'', the One would be sacrificed, and Kane would get his dreams.

	''Bring me through and I will restore your humanity''.		''Bring me through and I will restore your humanity''.
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	“We have the One!”		“We have the One!”

	Blinking, Kane looked at ~~George~~, now ~~female~~, facing him. Her robe was bloody, but her ~~woman’s~~ eyes glowed with fanaticism. “Alive?” Kane really didn’t care which -- ~~she’d~~ already cost him ''far'' too dearly to take any chances with. He’d sent the dagger she’d killed Graffon with as bait for the watch. ~~She’d~~ proven herself so dangerous that he ~~would~~ rather have her dead at anybody’s hands, if that was what was ~~necesasry~~. There were barely ten of his followers left after what ''she’d'' done. And, the summoning could occur without her, it would just have to wait longer. But-- “How many?”		Blinking, Kane looked at Galia, now a child, facing him. Her robe was bloody, but her child’s eyes glowed with fanaticism. “Alive?” Kane really didn’t care which -- The One had already cost him ''far'' too dearly to take any chances with. He’d sent the dagger she’d killed Graffon with as bait for the watch. He'd ordered other families killed to hide the cult. All because she’d proven herself so dangerous that he'd rather have her dead at anybody’s hands, if that was what was necessary. There were barely ten of his followers left after what ''she’d'' done. And, the summoning could occur without her, it would just have to wait longer. But-- “How many?”

	“How--? Seven.”		“How--? Seven.”

	Seven-- And that left ~~six~~. Six for the summoning, six for the final reward.		Seven-- And that left five more, plus himself. Six for the summoning, six for the final reward.

	''Six is enough''.		''Six is enough''.
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	“Search her ''again''!”		“Search her ''again''!”

	“I-- as you wish. And-- the sword.” With that ~~George~~ pulled the cursed blade out from beneath his robe and threw it onto the stone in front of the rabbit.		“I-- as you wish. And-- the sword.” With that Galia pulled the cursed blade out from beneath his robe and threw it onto the stone in front of the rabbit.

	Kane could feel the blade’s hatred. A snarl crept onto his lips as the ''thing'' screamed at him with a cacophony of mistuned strings. Picking it up, he held it so that he could see his lapine visage in the polished metal. “You will close the gate?”		Kane could feel the blade’s hatred. A snarl crept onto his lips as the ''thing'' screamed at him with a cacophony of mistuned strings. Picking it up, he held it so that he could see his lapine visage in the polished metal. “You will close the gate?”
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	The sword screamed with each hit, screams of pain or defiance, or--		The sword screamed with each hit, screams of pain or defiance, or--

	It didn’t matter. Kane didn’t care as the blade stubbornly refused to break even as it bent and its razor edge dulled. Beating it again and again, Kane screamed at it, the piteous scream of a child coming from a rabbit’s twisted body. Screaming again and again until even the sounded faded to a whimper, and then silence. Silence but for the gasping of Kane’s breath as he held the blade, its stubbornly unshattered tip resting on the stone.		It didn’t matter. Kane didn’t care as the blade stubbornly refused to break even as it bent and its razor edge dulled. Beating it again and again, Kane screamed at it, the piteous scream of a child coming from a rabbit’s twisted body. Screaming again and again until even the sounded faded to first a whimper, and then to silence. Silence but for the gasping of Kane’s breath as he held the blade, its stubbornly unshattered tip resting on the stone.

	“Take me to her.”		“Take me to her.”

	~~George~~ turned away, and Kane hopped after in short steps, the tips of his ears brushing against the wet ceiling.		Galia turned away, and Kane hopped after in short steps, the tips of his ears brushing against the wet ceiling.

	With each bounce the cursed sword clanged onto the stone as he dragged it behind him.		With each bounce the cursed sword clanged onto the stone as he dragged it behind him.
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	Kane stared. So, this was ''The One''.		Kane stared. So, this was ''The One''.

	She didn’t look like much. Her chest was covered in blood; her breath bubbled and wheezed from blood-splattered lips. The ~~shirt~~ she wore was torn, almost to shreds, hanging on only by its sleeves. Her pants were caked in mud and dirt. Clasped in her hands was a battered fedora, stained, muddy, but being held like Mary had held--		She didn’t look like much. Her chest was covered in blood; her breath bubbled and wheezed from blood-splattered lips. The leather jacket she wore was torn, almost to shreds, hanging on only by its sleeves. Her pants were caked in mud and dirt. Clasped in her hands was a battered fedora, stained, muddy, but being held like Mary had held--

	Screaming he hopped to the cage and swung the bent blade down towards her skull. Towards the still gleaming pearl of her alicorn.		Screaming he hopped to the cage and swung the bent blade down towards her skull. Towards the still gleaming pearl of her alicorn.
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	“Wake her!”		“Wake her!”

	~~George~~ walked over and dumped of bucket of muddy icy water ~~onto~~ her. The creature’s form shuddered, it coughed and gagged. As Kane watched the wounds slowly closed.		Galia walked over and dumped of bucket of muddy icy water on her. The creature’s form shuddered, it coughed and gagged. As Kane watched the wounds slowly closed.

	“You wanted to kill me.”		“You wanted to kill me.”
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	“You said you’d searched her! Stripped her!”		“You said you’d searched her! Stripped her!”

	Her hand snaked towards the gem and ~~he whipped it away~~. Tossing the sword far from her reach, hopping to the cage, he grabbed it before she could.		Her hand snaked towards the gem but he was faster. His whip snapped, curling around the chain, yanking the necklace off and out of the cage, its chain snapping and tinkling against the rock floor. Tossing the sword far from her reach, hopping to the cage, he grabbed it before she could.

	“But-- we checked for magic--"		“But-- we checked for magic--"

	“You didn’t check hard enough.” Holding the gem up by its chain he looked at it.		“You didn’t check hard enough.” Holding the gem up by one piece of its chain he looked at it.

	''Now'' she looked at him.		''Now'' she looked at him.
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	A glob of spit splatted on the damp stone just before one of his large, scratched and bloody, rabbit paws.		A glob of spit splatted on the damp stone just before one of his large, scratched and bloody, rabbit paws.

	“You’ve lost it. Like you’ve lost the game.” ~~He put~~ the chain around his neck. “Do you know how much I hate you? Do you ''know''?”		“You’ve lost it. Like you’ve lost the game.” Tying the chain together, he put it around his neck. “Do you know how much I hate you? Do you ''know''?”

	She glared.		She glared.

	“Oh-- I’ll teach you. By Eli I’ll teach you what hate ''really'' means.”		“Oh-- I’ll teach you. By Eli I’ll teach you what hate ''really'' means.” He raised his whip.

	~~<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>~~snap snapsnap		snap snapsnap

	The ~~whip~~ rose again and again, snapping across her body like the caresses of a lover. Enough to cause pain, so ''very'' much pain. But never ''ever'' enough to kill her.		The leather weapon rose again and again, snapping across her body like the caresses of a lover. Enough to cause pain, so ''very'' much pain. But never ''ever'' enough to kill her.

	And Kane had all the time in the world--		And Kane had all the time in the world--

	----		----

			Days passed. Weeks. Kane didn't know, and he didn't care. He’d stopped to sleep, stopped to let the pain of her wounds speak to her. He’d doused her in brine, whipped the same point over and over again. Only stopping for her to eat the slop he wouldn’t feed a lutin.

	''It is time''.		''It is time''.

	Kane looked up at the gate. It had been days, weeks, he didn’t know and he didn’t care. He’d stopped to sleep, stopped to let the pain of her wounds speak to her. He’d doused her in brine, whipped the same point over and over again. Only stopping for her to eat the slop he wouldn’t feed a lutin.

	Never had she said a word. Never!		Never had she said a word. Never!
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	“Our salvation!”		“Our salvation!”

	Kane turned to face the gate, arms upraised. Three cultists forming on ~~each~~ side of him. ~~Then they~~ all crouched down and prayed to their lord beyond the gate. And, as they prayed they chanted. The gate grew brighter, the colours rising to putrid pinks and oranges and yellows.		Kane turned to face the gate, arms upraised. Three cultists forming on one side of him, two on the other. They all crouched down and prayed to their lord beyond the gate. And, as they prayed they chanted. The gate grew brighter, the colours rising to putrid pinks and oranges and yellows.

	Yvarra screamed--		Yvarra screamed--

Michael Bard at 21:25, 5 October 2008

2008-10-05T21:25:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:25, 5 October 2008
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	Blinking, Kane looked at George, now female, facing him. Her robe was bloody, but her woman’s eyes glowed with fanaticism. “Alive?” Kane really didn’t care which -- she’d already cost him ''far'' too dearly to take any chances with. He’d sent the dagger she’d killed Graffon with as bait for the watch. She’d proven herself so dangerous that he would rather have her dead at anybody’s hands, if that was what was necesasry. There were barely ten of his followers left after what ''she’d'' done. And, the summoning could occur without her, it would just have to wait longer. But-- “How many?”		Blinking, Kane looked at George, now female, facing him. Her robe was bloody, but her woman’s eyes glowed with fanaticism. “Alive?” Kane really didn’t care which -- she’d already cost him ''far'' too dearly to take any chances with. He’d sent the dagger she’d killed Graffon with as bait for the watch. She’d proven herself so dangerous that he would rather have her dead at anybody’s hands, if that was what was necesasry. There were barely ten of his followers left after what ''she’d'' done. And, the summoning could occur without her, it would just have to wait longer. But-- “How many?”

	“How--? ~~Five~~.” ~~<check>~~		“How--? Seven.”

	~~Five~~-- And that left six. Six for the summoning, six for the final reward.		Seven-- And that left six. Six for the summoning, six for the final reward.

	''Six is enough''.		''Six is enough''.

Michael Bard at 12:03, 5 October 2008

2008-10-05T12:03:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:03, 5 October 2008
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	And his arrival there just in time to watch the lutin kill them all. Watch them kill his wife Mary and their newborn son. And he, ''he'', trapped in this useless cursed ''thing'' could only cower and watch.		And his arrival there just in time to watch the lutin kill them all. Watch them kill his wife Mary and their newborn son. And he, ''he'', trapped in this useless cursed ''thing'' could only cower and watch.

	~~Even now his~~ body burned with hatred.		His body burned with hatred.

	“Yes. My humanity.”		“Yes. My humanity.”
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	Oh, he wanted it--		Oh, he wanted it--

	''I await. I hunger. Soon. Soon!''		''I await. I hunger. Soon. Soon''!

	Oh, Kane was sure everything promised was a lie. But it was a useful lie. It could be true, but-- but if it wasn’t, well then the destruction of the world would take Nasoj down with it.		Oh, Kane was sure everything promised was a lie. But it was a useful lie. It could be true, but-- but if it wasn’t, well then the destruction of the world would take Nasoj down with it.
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	He turned, his robe rustling behind him, and hopped along the wet stone to his lair. It wasn’t much. A small tunnel, an old carpet, a witchlight hanging against the wall. But, it was all he needed. And, in it he felt safe. Safe--		He turned, his robe rustling behind him, and hopped along the wet stone to his lair. It wasn’t much. A small tunnel, an old carpet, a witchlight hanging against the wall. But, it was all he needed. And, in it he felt safe. Safe--

			----

	“Kane!”		“Kane!”
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	“We have the One!”		“We have the One!”

	Blinking, Kane looked at George, no female, facing him. ~~His~~ robe was bloody, but ~~his girl’s~~ eyes glowed with fanaticism. “Alive?” Kane really didn’t care which – she’d already cost him ''far'' too dearly to take any chances with. He’d sent the dagger she’d killed Graffon with as bait for the watch ~~-- she’d~~ proven herself ~~far too~~ dangerous. There were barely ten of his followers left after what ''she’d'' done. And, the summoning could occur without her, it would just have to wait longer. But-- “How many?”		Blinking, Kane looked at George, now female, facing him. Her robe was bloody, but her woman’s eyes glowed with fanaticism. “Alive?” Kane really didn’t care which -- she’d already cost him ''far'' too dearly to take any chances with. He’d sent the dagger she’d killed Graffon with as bait for the watch. She’d proven herself so dangerous that he would rather have her dead at anybody’s hands, if that was what was necesasry. There were barely ten of his followers left after what ''she’d'' done. And, the summoning could occur without her, it would just have to wait longer. But-- “How many?”

	“How--? Five.” <check>		“How--? Five.” <check>
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	“So much for you.” With that, Kane turned the blade and began beating it against the wet stone, beating the side of its blade on the cold and unyielding rock again and again. Beating the thing as he remembered all the damage the sword and the One had done to him. Beating the thing with all his hatred for Nasoj.		“So much for you.” With that, Kane turned the blade and began beating it against the wet stone, beating the side of its blade on the cold and unyielding rock again and again. Beating the thing as he remembered all the damage the sword and the One had done to him. Beating the thing with all his hatred for Nasoj.

	The sword screamed with each hit, screams of pain or defiance, ~~or—~~		The sword screamed with each hit, screams of pain or defiance, or--

	It didn’t matter. Kane didn’t care as the blade stubbornly refused to break even as it bent and ~~dulled~~ its razor edge. Beating it again and again, Kane screamed at it, the piteous scream of a child coming from a rabbit’s twisted body. Screaming again and again until even ~~they~~ faded to a whimper, and then silence. Silence but for the gasping of Kane’s breath as he held the blade, its stubbornly unshattered tip resting on the stone.		It didn’t matter. Kane didn’t care as the blade stubbornly refused to break even as it bent and its razor edge dulled. Beating it again and again, Kane screamed at it, the piteous scream of a child coming from a rabbit’s twisted body. Screaming again and again until even the sounded faded to a whimper, and then silence. Silence but for the gasping of Kane’s breath as he held the blade, its stubbornly unshattered tip resting on the stone.

	“Take me to her.”		“Take me to her.”
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	Somehow Kane dragged his arm to the side so that the sword clanged against the stone.		Somehow Kane dragged his arm to the side so that the sword clanged against the stone.

	Panting he glared at the cause of so much trouble. The light was a bit brighter, the patterns a bit more active, as the blue-purple flickered across her caked white fur.		Panting he glared at the cause of so much trouble. The light was a bit brighter, the patterns a bit more active, as the blue-purple flickered across her caked white fur. She looked scrawny. Limbs too long, sticks extending from a tiny body that was nothing but scar and bone. Her muzzle was thin, over long, stretched into a rictis around the bone of her skull. And the alicorn-- He glared at it, and swore it was glaring back at him. A thing of twisted bone, pale white and sharp. Oh so very ''very'' sharp.

	“Wake her!”		“Wake her!”
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	“Cut the crap! You’re conscious. I can smell it, and I can see it!”		“Cut the crap! You’re conscious. I can smell it, and I can see it!”

	With a moan, she raised her muzzle and looked at him. The blue of her eyes was deep, so deep, like--		With a moan, she raised her muzzle and looked at him. The blue of her eyes was deep, so deep, like Mar--

	“Damn you! Damn you to ~~hell~~!”		“Damn you! Damn you to all nine of the hells!”

	As he watched, she slowly worked the fedora back into something approaching its proper shape, and then put it on her head, slipping a slot in the brim over her alicorn.		As he watched, she slowly worked the fedora back into something approaching its proper shape, and then put it on her head, slipping a slot in the brim over her alicorn.
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	He snapped the whip and knocked the fedora from her head.		He snapped the whip and knocked the fedora from her head.

	Something ~~clattered against the stone~~ and Kane stared. It was a gem, black in the distorted light, with a glittering metal chain.		Something glistened, and Kane stared. It was a gem, black in the distorted light, with a glittering metal chain.

	“You said you’d searched her! Stripped her!”		“You said you’d searched her! Stripped her!”
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	“''No''!”		“''No''!”

	''Yes! You want my gift? Or should I talk to ''another''?		''Yes! You want my gift? Or should I talk to'' another?

	Kane spun around and glared at the gate. It was brighter now, a slowing swirling pool of bubbling blues and purples and reds. Sometimes a face could be seen. Beautific. Wondrous. Other times-- Other times the snarling mindlessness of insanity.		Kane spun around and glared at the gate. It was brighter now, a slowing swirling pool of bubbling blues and purples and reds. Sometimes a face could be seen. Beautific. Wondrous. Other times-- Other times the snarling mindlessness of insanity.

Michael Bard at 02:49, 30 September 2008

2008-09-30T02:49:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:49, 29 September 2008
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	With a moan, she raised her muzzle and looked at him. The blue of her eyes was deep, so deep, like--		With a moan, she raised her muzzle and looked at him. The blue of her eyes was deep, so deep, like--

	“Damn you! Damn you to ~~all nine of the hells~~!”		“Damn you! Damn you to hell!”

	As he watched, she slowly worked the fedora back into something approaching its proper shape, and then put it on her head, slipping a slot in the brim over her alicorn.		As he watched, she slowly worked the fedora back into something approaching its proper shape, and then put it on her head, slipping a slot in the brim over her alicorn.

Michael Bard at 02:47, 30 September 2008

2008-09-30T02:47:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:47, 29 September 2008
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	{{title\|name=On the ~~Hunt~~\|author=Michael Bard\|user=Michael Bard}}		{{title\|name=From the Other Side\|author=Michael Bard\|user=Michael Bard}}
	{{WIP}}		{{WIP}}
	{{Comment tag}}[[Category:Metamor Keep]]		{{Comment tag}}[[Category:Metamor Keep]]

Michael Bard: Draft version of another Yvarra story

2008-09-28T12:25:08Z

Draft version of another Yvarra story

New page

{{title|name=On the Hunt|author=Michael Bard|user=Michael Bard}}
{{WIP}}
{{Comment tag}}[[Category:Metamor Keep]]
[[Category:Michael Bard]]
[[Category:Story]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:From the Other Side}}
[[Category:Anthropomorphic]][[Category:Cervine]][[Category:Mythical]]
'''November, 707 CR'''

Kane crouched in the massive chamber lit only by the flickering blue-purple of the slowly swirling portal. Oh, it wasn't open ''yet'' but the time was getting closer and closer. Soon the stars would be ''right'', the One would be sacrificed, and Kane would get his dreams.

''Bring me through and I will restore your humanity''.

“My humanity--" Kane whispered to himself.

Closing his eyes he remembered. The Battle of the Three Gates. The spell coiling inside him, corrupting him, warping his human form into the twisted rabbit he was now cursed to be. The beast overpowering him, his flight to his family--

And his arrival there just in time to watch the lutin kill them all. Watch them kill his wife Mary and their newborn son. And he, ''he'', trapped in this useless cursed ''thing'' could only cower and watch.

Even now his body burned with hatred.

“Yes. My humanity.”

''Bring me The One. Bring her, give her unto me, and all you desire shall be yours''.

And Kane desired ''so'' much. A return to humanity. The final destruction of Nasoj. The curing of so many that had been cursed. A redemption of his soul, of all their souls. A return of normality he could place at the feet of the Duke.

Oh, he wanted it--

''I await. I hunger. Soon. Soon!''

Oh, Kane was sure everything promised was a lie. But it was a useful lie. It could be true, but-- but if it wasn’t, well then the destruction of the world would take Nasoj down with it.

Destroy him. Avenge his family. And then die and join them as he should have.

He turned, his robe rustling behind him, and hopped along the wet stone to his lair. It wasn’t much. A small tunnel, an old carpet, a witchlight hanging against the wall. But, it was all he needed. And, in it he felt safe. Safe--

“Kane!”

Looking up from the lime-tainted water he’d been licking up from the wall, he answered, in his high pitched squeaky voice. “What?”

“We have the One!”

Blinking, Kane looked at George, no female, facing him. His robe was bloody, but his girl’s eyes glowed with fanaticism. “Alive?” Kane really didn’t care which – she’d already cost him ''far'' too dearly to take any chances with. He’d sent the dagger she’d killed Graffon with as bait for the watch -- she’d proven herself far too dangerous. There were barely ten of his followers left after what ''she’d'' done. And, the summoning could occur without her, it would just have to wait longer. But-- “How many?”

“How--? Five.” <check>

Five-- And that left six. Six for the summoning, six for the final reward.

''Six is enough''.

They had trusted him, and now they were dead. Dead at the hands of the so-called ''One''. He so, ''so'' wanted to kill her.

''Sacrifice her to me''.

“Is she conscious?” he asked.

“Daffyd is putting her into the cage. We stripped her naked, searched her to make sure she was hiding nothing.”

“Search her ''again''!”

“I-- as you wish. And-- the sword.” With that George pulled the cursed blade out from beneath his robe and threw it onto the stone in front of the rabbit.

Kane could feel the blade’s hatred. A snarl crept onto his lips as the ''thing'' screamed at him with a cacophony of mistuned strings. Picking it up, he held it so that he could see his lapine visage in the polished metal. “You will close the gate?”

The blade roared out a challenge of trumpets but that was it.

“So much for you.” With that, Kane turned the blade and began beating it against the wet stone, beating the side of its blade on the cold and unyielding rock again and again. Beating the thing as he remembered all the damage the sword and the One had done to him. Beating the thing with all his hatred for Nasoj.

The sword screamed with each hit, screams of pain or defiance, or—

It didn’t matter. Kane didn’t care as the blade stubbornly refused to break even as it bent and dulled its razor edge. Beating it again and again, Kane screamed at it, the piteous scream of a child coming from a rabbit’s twisted body. Screaming again and again until even they faded to a whimper, and then silence. Silence but for the gasping of Kane’s breath as he held the blade, its stubbornly unshattered tip resting on the stone.

“Take me to her.”

George turned away, and Kane hopped after in short steps, the tips of his ears brushing against the wet ceiling.

With each bounce the cursed sword clanged onto the stone as he dragged it behind him.

----

The cage was made of twisted scraps of heavy rusted iron. There was no plan to it, no right angles. Just whatever the cult could get welded and bound together. Dafydd was hammering a twisted bar of metal around the door to seal it forever. And inside--

Kane stared. So, this was ''The One''.

She didn’t look like much. Her chest was covered in blood; her breath bubbled and wheezed from blood-splattered lips. The shirt she wore was torn, almost to shreds, hanging on only by its sleeves. Her pants were caked in mud and dirt. Clasped in her hands was a battered fedora, stained, muddy, but being held like Mary had held--

Screaming he hopped to the cage and swung the bent blade down towards her skull. Towards the still gleaming pearl of her alicorn.

''She must be sacrificed to me''!

Somehow Kane dragged his arm to the side so that the sword clanged against the stone.

Panting he glared at the cause of so much trouble. The light was a bit brighter, the patterns a bit more active, as the blue-purple flickered across her caked white fur.

“Wake her!”

George walked over and dumped of bucket of muddy icy water onto her. The creature’s form shuddered, it coughed and gagged. As Kane watched the wounds slowly closed.

“You wanted to kill me.”

No motion.

“Cut the crap! You’re conscious. I can smell it, and I can see it!”

With a moan, she raised her muzzle and looked at him. The blue of her eyes was deep, so deep, like--

“Damn you! Damn you to all nine of the hells!”

As he watched, she slowly worked the fedora back into something approaching its proper shape, and then put it on her head, slipping a slot in the brim over her alicorn.

Ignoring him.

Holding out a hand, he felt Hani put his whip into his paw. It wasn’t like the whip ''The One'' had carried, but a cruel thing tipped in glass and shards of metal. Kane took a step back and snapped the whip inches from the unicorn’s ear.

“Face me, Eli damn you! ''Face me''!”

She turned away.

Screaming, Kane slashed the whip across her arm, its edge digging into the fur, into the flesh, splattering her body with fresh crimson.

''Face me''!

“Klepnos take you,” she whispered.

Kane coiled the whip. “We have all the time in the world, you and I. All the time we can ever need.” Holding the sword in one hand and the whip in the other, he struck her again and again. He could see the pain flicker through her eyes, but she refused to look at him, keeping her fists clenched.

He snapped the whip and knocked the fedora from her head.

Something clattered against the stone and Kane stared. It was a gem, black in the distorted light, with a glittering metal chain.

“You said you’d searched her! Stripped her!”

Her hand snaked towards the gem and he whipped it away. Tossing the sword far from her reach, hopping to the cage, he grabbed it before she could.

“But-- we checked for magic--"

“You didn’t check hard enough.” Holding the gem up by its chain he looked at it.

''Now'' she looked at him.

“You want this, don’t you?”

A glob of spit splatted on the damp stone just before one of his large, scratched and bloody, rabbit paws.

“You’ve lost it. Like you’ve lost the game.” He put the chain around his neck. “Do you know how much I hate you? Do you ''know''?”

She glared.

“Oh-- I’ll teach you. By Eli I’ll teach you what hate ''really'' means.”

<nowiki>*</nowiki>snap* *snapsnap*

The whip rose again and again, snapping across her body like the caresses of a lover. Enough to cause pain, so ''very'' much pain. But never ''ever'' enough to kill her.

And Kane had all the time in the world--

----

''It is time''.

Kane looked up at the gate. It had been days, weeks, he didn’t know and he didn’t care. He’d stopped to sleep, stopped to let the pain of her wounds speak to her. He’d doused her in brine, whipped the same point over and over again. Only stopping for her to eat the slop he wouldn’t feed a lutin.

Never had she said a word. Never!

Defiant. That’s what she was. Defiant, and he’d teach her--

''No! The time for the sacrifice is ''now''. The time of my return is ''now.

“''No''!”

''Yes! You want my gift? Or should I talk to ''another''?

Kane spun around and glared at the gate. It was brighter now, a slowing swirling pool of bubbling blues and purples and reds. Sometimes a face could be seen. Beautific. Wondrous. Other times-- Other times the snarling mindlessness of insanity.

He threw the whip away, screaming out the pain in his soul. Damn her. Damn her to every hell in the universe! Clenching his fists, he slowly straightened his water stained robe. “It is time. You know your places. Our salvation is at hand!”

“Our salvation!”

Kane turned to face the gate, arms upraised. Three cultists forming on each side of him. Then they all crouched down and prayed to their lord beyond the gate. And, as they prayed they chanted. The gate grew brighter, the colours rising to putrid pinks and oranges and yellows.

Yvarra screamed--

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