Aspasia - Africa (Part II) - 6/7/2009
"Well, it seems I am at the right place at the right time. How odd that. Please, go ahead and do your..." he waves his hand languidly as punctuation, "...dagger thing. I am so intrigued by what might happen next.”
*You are not the only one.*
Her left eyebrow arches up and the woman nods, as if taking the stranger at his word, or perhaps trusting Jack and Inali to run interference if needed. She does not reply, but turns away again, one hand reaching to the small of her back, where the stone dagger has rested against her skin, tucked away from sight.
Jack keeps an eye on the stranger and Aspasia, silently considering the situation. Inali looks over the stranger with sharp focus, a feral hint of Charlotte in her ice blue eyes. She unconsciously puts her body between Aspasia and the stranger.
None of her research indicated to Aspasia the consequences of producing the dagger. Of allowing the blade to kiss the air.
Lightening arcs across the sky and the Amazon’s sense of reality shifts… Raven is there and to all her senses it *is* Raven, only steps away.
He fires his twin pearl handle colts, bullets tearing into the Unholy's flesh. She growls but does not stop savaging the neck of Exodus Celestine. He reaches out a hand towards Raven, barely enough strength to uncurl his fingers from their death grip. His face is pale. His eyes are fading. Raven screams and leaps at the Unholy bearing claws. She is ready for him, catching him by the throat with her clawed left hand. Exodus becomes ash...and Raven is not far behind.
Muscles locked, keeping her frozen, the Amazon struggles to intervene, to save him and then lightning crashes and the world turns upside down a second time.
She watches as Exodus plunges his spear into the Unholy's side.
Pythia foresaw this!
But, as the Unholy’s Angel acts, the monster finally parts enough flesh on Raven's neck to crush his spine.
NO! Again the Amazon is frozen, unable to act.
Turning to ash, the Trickster looks up at Exodus and smiles "Run." There is the tink tink tink of metal on metal and his left hand has a thin wire with small loops of metal on it...grenade pins. Exodus turns to run but is too late...flame fills the hilltop burning his hair, his flesh, leaving only ash on the wind.
Aspasia can smell the scorched earth, feel her own skin blistering and melting away into ash and lightning crashes.
Heaving from the incredible damage on their bodies, Exodus gives his best grin to his childe. The Unholy lies in ash at their feet, her claws not enough to overcome their luck. Raven looks up, claw marks deep along the side of his face peeling back the skin from his jawline to scalp and returns the smile.
Aspasia’s heart breaks anew at the sight, his expression. It is Raven, each time.
Then, his face freezes in unexpected shock. Two pistols ring out and Exodus' head explodes into ash. "No..." is all he has time for before two more shots ring out, flinging him backwards, his body ashing before he hits the ground. Rose Nevar walks over, blowing the smoke from the barrels of her guns and picks up the Unholy's hat to place on her own head.
The Amazon’s beast rages. It is enough to allow her the ability to growl, and for her free hand clenches in a fist as she shakes her head in denial, but unable to do anything more. No! Not every time. Not every time!
*Despair*
As the different scenarios play out, there is no external sign of her agitation, as Aspasia’s expression turns absolutely frigid. The Cherokee takes Aspasia's free hand and squeezes it gently, comfortingly, yet briefly before that hand drops away. Distantly, the Amazon feels it, but her soul is not at the moment, anchored to her body. It remains elsewhere.
Lightning crashes.
"If I may be so bold," starts the stranger, "Perhaps the young miss should focus less on what has already been lost here and more on what is about to be done. Otherwise, we'll be watching them die all evening and I am quite sure none of us want that.”
Aspasia’s beast whispers in her mind, even as she is on alert for the next vision the next sighting the combat. *Perhaps the interloper’s blood could break the cycle? At the least, he is a target not of your caring.*
"No."
Her daughter speaks. The words slip away with no meaning, but the tone and the emotion link is there. Inali seeks to steady her. One reason she permitted this child to come. The strength of the bond.
Almost she regrets what will come to pass. If one path is true. If she does bring him out of the gates. If there is a trade. The strongest bond will deal her the greatest distraction and damage.
They can kill her if Inali is there. If he remembers. And Aspasia is sure of that.
The Amazon answers the man and her daughter both. "I came here to destroy it. That is what is to be done." Her grey-green eyes are cold. She is clearly drawing on inner strength to remain composed and to constrain her emotional responses. She spares one glance for Jack, to check on his location and apparent state.
He will see the purpose in this.
She has not shared with him the reason she wanted his companionship on this journey. He thinks it because they have been Nomadic together for some months now. That prevented uncomfortable questions.
But, it is because Jack, of all now living, has seen her at the lowest point to the beast's dominance. He will not hesitate when the time requires. He will know if she is beyond saving. What she expected, swore to Raven and he to her - the Angel's childe cannot fulfill. So, Apollo's priest will be her security. His hand will not falter, nor his heart.
Jack, starts to mutter. "He turned the page once more and showed me a picture of a man who stood before the altar of the Damned, and spat upon it, and dashed the censer, candles and hosts beneath his feet. The man turned and looked out of the picture at me, and smiled, and I could see fire burning in his eyes."
Still detached, by will and circumstance, the words resonate with Aspasia, as does the priest’s voice. Iereas has read that to her before. It’s from his book. But, if he is trying to send her a message, she cannot puzzle the meaning behind it. And surely, surely in another moment the gods will show her Raven again.
While she waits for that delicious and terrible torment, behind Aspasia, her daughter chooses to engage the stranger in conversation. The words float past; all she heeds are the tones in each voice. The man is amused, almost drunken - but that could be explained by the lachrima in his possession. Inali is calm, sociable. And then, he states, "I am Zagreus."
Aspasia's brow furrows in reaction, but she remains silent, her hand gripping the knife as if it has become an extension of herself. It is almost enough to draw her away from scanning the sands, waiting for the next vision. Zagreus is a god to the followers of Orpheus. The son of Zeus reborn in the form of Dionysus after his death from treachery.
And she had vowed to Raven, one year in the past that she would not be Penelope, but Orpheus. And that for faith the gods would bend to her plea.
Was this kindred also tool of the gods then, claiming that role that he was here? Waiting for her?
This thought causes Amazon to direct a measure of her attention to the ongoing conversation, unlike before.
Jack snorts. "Never heard of you, ami. Care to get to the point before my give a shit breaks completely?"
In contrast, Inali manages to seem courteously inquisitive. "My apologies, Zagreus, but I am not familiar. It is nothing personal, you see. And while I would be interested in hearing stories and legends from you, I am more interested in what you are doing in this precise spot and how you seem to know that we would be here and what we are planning to do here."
As would I, but not now. Enough delay. If I am right, I will see Raven soon enough.
Reluctantly accepting that the lightning strikes have chosen to abate, Aspasia grumbles. "We can take time to talk when our task is done. So long as he interferes not, I care not if he watches."
She reaches into a pouch at her hip, drawing from it a small leather bag with a beaded exterior. "I am interested only if you have information of use Zagreus that will aid in making sure this item is permanently removed from existence. Otherwise, you may witness in silence."
The woman lifts her eyes, looking past the form of her daughter to stare at the man's face.
Zagreus fires a look at Jack that is much like a child gloating that "mom" scolded his brother, turning to Inali he smiles, "Of course dear girl. By now, you have heard the rumors of the Urbiphages...the shadowy creatures devouring the essences of cities, and of the Lasa...the blood gods, and of the frenzy plagues that threaten to destroy entire Kindred domains. They are but a reflection of what is truly happening."
"Every few centuries, everything changes. What it means to be a vampire changes. The fall of the Old Man's pet project caused the rise of Covenants and with them the Traditions...there used to be only one you know. The original Emperor of the Night, the real one not that Mongol-oid, when he went so too did the potential for greatness, for a grand society, leach from what it is to be Kindred."
He takes a long swallow of lachrima and continues, "And now we are at another one of these focal points. From here, everything changes. But unlike all the other focal points, where changes to Man wrought changes in us...this time it is a series of events, alterations to time, alterations to what we are, that have made this come about. Fascinating really.”
"I am here because here is where something interesting is going to happen. Flavianna Galla told me so, and I paid good price to find something to relieve the boredom.”
That is a reason I can believe. Foolish to think our actions would go entirely unanticipated. Gods bear witness then - though this creature may not be their chosen vessel. Or perhaps a gift. Something I can test myself against, when ritual is done.
Better that than those who travelled with me, if blood hunger comes.
Zagreus directs his attention last to Aspasia. "Well, I do happen to have a few ideas on how you can accomplish your task. But I have to wonder if you have any ideas what so ever on how to do it yourself. Brute force is very far from enough."
Opening the leather pouch slightly, juggling it and the knife carefully, she tips out a small amount of grey ash into the palm of her hand and draws the pouch strings tight by gripping one end with her teeth, before tucking it safely away. With deliberate intent, she spreads the ash along the handle and blade of the knife and then along her palms.
Have felt it in my grasp. Raven’s claws could not mark it. But, it lies fragile in my hands. Yielding to me in a way that it was not to him. Perhaps because of his bloodties, but reason matters not against the reality. It will break for me.
"Let's not rule it out as a first option," Aspasia murmurs, kneeling down on the sand, taking the knife in both hands, exerting her strength and channeling her anger and frustration.
The knife starts to crack and creak under the strain of the Amazon's grasp. But suddenly, there is a sharp crack from Inali and she folds in half the wrong way, her spine shattered. Jack tries to stifle a scream also starts to bend backwards as well.
Watching, Zagreus shakes his head, "Tsk tsk. Gangrel clan knife...break it and you break your Clan. You don't want to end up like the poor Akhud now do you?"
*You are not the only one.*
Her left eyebrow arches up and the woman nods, as if taking the stranger at his word, or perhaps trusting Jack and Inali to run interference if needed. She does not reply, but turns away again, one hand reaching to the small of her back, where the stone dagger has rested against her skin, tucked away from sight.
Jack keeps an eye on the stranger and Aspasia, silently considering the situation. Inali looks over the stranger with sharp focus, a feral hint of Charlotte in her ice blue eyes. She unconsciously puts her body between Aspasia and the stranger.
None of her research indicated to Aspasia the consequences of producing the dagger. Of allowing the blade to kiss the air.
Lightening arcs across the sky and the Amazon’s sense of reality shifts… Raven is there and to all her senses it *is* Raven, only steps away.
He fires his twin pearl handle colts, bullets tearing into the Unholy's flesh. She growls but does not stop savaging the neck of Exodus Celestine. He reaches out a hand towards Raven, barely enough strength to uncurl his fingers from their death grip. His face is pale. His eyes are fading. Raven screams and leaps at the Unholy bearing claws. She is ready for him, catching him by the throat with her clawed left hand. Exodus becomes ash...and Raven is not far behind.
Muscles locked, keeping her frozen, the Amazon struggles to intervene, to save him and then lightning crashes and the world turns upside down a second time.
She watches as Exodus plunges his spear into the Unholy's side.
Pythia foresaw this!
But, as the Unholy’s Angel acts, the monster finally parts enough flesh on Raven's neck to crush his spine.
NO! Again the Amazon is frozen, unable to act.
Turning to ash, the Trickster looks up at Exodus and smiles "Run." There is the tink tink tink of metal on metal and his left hand has a thin wire with small loops of metal on it...grenade pins. Exodus turns to run but is too late...flame fills the hilltop burning his hair, his flesh, leaving only ash on the wind.
Aspasia can smell the scorched earth, feel her own skin blistering and melting away into ash and lightning crashes.
Heaving from the incredible damage on their bodies, Exodus gives his best grin to his childe. The Unholy lies in ash at their feet, her claws not enough to overcome their luck. Raven looks up, claw marks deep along the side of his face peeling back the skin from his jawline to scalp and returns the smile.
Aspasia’s heart breaks anew at the sight, his expression. It is Raven, each time.
Then, his face freezes in unexpected shock. Two pistols ring out and Exodus' head explodes into ash. "No..." is all he has time for before two more shots ring out, flinging him backwards, his body ashing before he hits the ground. Rose Nevar walks over, blowing the smoke from the barrels of her guns and picks up the Unholy's hat to place on her own head.
The Amazon’s beast rages. It is enough to allow her the ability to growl, and for her free hand clenches in a fist as she shakes her head in denial, but unable to do anything more. No! Not every time. Not every time!
*Despair*
As the different scenarios play out, there is no external sign of her agitation, as Aspasia’s expression turns absolutely frigid. The Cherokee takes Aspasia's free hand and squeezes it gently, comfortingly, yet briefly before that hand drops away. Distantly, the Amazon feels it, but her soul is not at the moment, anchored to her body. It remains elsewhere.
Lightning crashes.
"If I may be so bold," starts the stranger, "Perhaps the young miss should focus less on what has already been lost here and more on what is about to be done. Otherwise, we'll be watching them die all evening and I am quite sure none of us want that.”
Aspasia’s beast whispers in her mind, even as she is on alert for the next vision the next sighting the combat. *Perhaps the interloper’s blood could break the cycle? At the least, he is a target not of your caring.*
"No."
Her daughter speaks. The words slip away with no meaning, but the tone and the emotion link is there. Inali seeks to steady her. One reason she permitted this child to come. The strength of the bond.
Almost she regrets what will come to pass. If one path is true. If she does bring him out of the gates. If there is a trade. The strongest bond will deal her the greatest distraction and damage.
They can kill her if Inali is there. If he remembers. And Aspasia is sure of that.
The Amazon answers the man and her daughter both. "I came here to destroy it. That is what is to be done." Her grey-green eyes are cold. She is clearly drawing on inner strength to remain composed and to constrain her emotional responses. She spares one glance for Jack, to check on his location and apparent state.
He will see the purpose in this.
She has not shared with him the reason she wanted his companionship on this journey. He thinks it because they have been Nomadic together for some months now. That prevented uncomfortable questions.
But, it is because Jack, of all now living, has seen her at the lowest point to the beast's dominance. He will not hesitate when the time requires. He will know if she is beyond saving. What she expected, swore to Raven and he to her - the Angel's childe cannot fulfill. So, Apollo's priest will be her security. His hand will not falter, nor his heart.
Jack, starts to mutter. "He turned the page once more and showed me a picture of a man who stood before the altar of the Damned, and spat upon it, and dashed the censer, candles and hosts beneath his feet. The man turned and looked out of the picture at me, and smiled, and I could see fire burning in his eyes."
Still detached, by will and circumstance, the words resonate with Aspasia, as does the priest’s voice. Iereas has read that to her before. It’s from his book. But, if he is trying to send her a message, she cannot puzzle the meaning behind it. And surely, surely in another moment the gods will show her Raven again.
While she waits for that delicious and terrible torment, behind Aspasia, her daughter chooses to engage the stranger in conversation. The words float past; all she heeds are the tones in each voice. The man is amused, almost drunken - but that could be explained by the lachrima in his possession. Inali is calm, sociable. And then, he states, "I am Zagreus."
Aspasia's brow furrows in reaction, but she remains silent, her hand gripping the knife as if it has become an extension of herself. It is almost enough to draw her away from scanning the sands, waiting for the next vision. Zagreus is a god to the followers of Orpheus. The son of Zeus reborn in the form of Dionysus after his death from treachery.
And she had vowed to Raven, one year in the past that she would not be Penelope, but Orpheus. And that for faith the gods would bend to her plea.
Was this kindred also tool of the gods then, claiming that role that he was here? Waiting for her?
This thought causes Amazon to direct a measure of her attention to the ongoing conversation, unlike before.
Jack snorts. "Never heard of you, ami. Care to get to the point before my give a shit breaks completely?"
In contrast, Inali manages to seem courteously inquisitive. "My apologies, Zagreus, but I am not familiar. It is nothing personal, you see. And while I would be interested in hearing stories and legends from you, I am more interested in what you are doing in this precise spot and how you seem to know that we would be here and what we are planning to do here."
As would I, but not now. Enough delay. If I am right, I will see Raven soon enough.
Reluctantly accepting that the lightning strikes have chosen to abate, Aspasia grumbles. "We can take time to talk when our task is done. So long as he interferes not, I care not if he watches."
She reaches into a pouch at her hip, drawing from it a small leather bag with a beaded exterior. "I am interested only if you have information of use Zagreus that will aid in making sure this item is permanently removed from existence. Otherwise, you may witness in silence."
The woman lifts her eyes, looking past the form of her daughter to stare at the man's face.
Zagreus fires a look at Jack that is much like a child gloating that "mom" scolded his brother, turning to Inali he smiles, "Of course dear girl. By now, you have heard the rumors of the Urbiphages...the shadowy creatures devouring the essences of cities, and of the Lasa...the blood gods, and of the frenzy plagues that threaten to destroy entire Kindred domains. They are but a reflection of what is truly happening."
"Every few centuries, everything changes. What it means to be a vampire changes. The fall of the Old Man's pet project caused the rise of Covenants and with them the Traditions...there used to be only one you know. The original Emperor of the Night, the real one not that Mongol-oid, when he went so too did the potential for greatness, for a grand society, leach from what it is to be Kindred."
He takes a long swallow of lachrima and continues, "And now we are at another one of these focal points. From here, everything changes. But unlike all the other focal points, where changes to Man wrought changes in us...this time it is a series of events, alterations to time, alterations to what we are, that have made this come about. Fascinating really.”
"I am here because here is where something interesting is going to happen. Flavianna Galla told me so, and I paid good price to find something to relieve the boredom.”
That is a reason I can believe. Foolish to think our actions would go entirely unanticipated. Gods bear witness then - though this creature may not be their chosen vessel. Or perhaps a gift. Something I can test myself against, when ritual is done.
Better that than those who travelled with me, if blood hunger comes.
Zagreus directs his attention last to Aspasia. "Well, I do happen to have a few ideas on how you can accomplish your task. But I have to wonder if you have any ideas what so ever on how to do it yourself. Brute force is very far from enough."
Opening the leather pouch slightly, juggling it and the knife carefully, she tips out a small amount of grey ash into the palm of her hand and draws the pouch strings tight by gripping one end with her teeth, before tucking it safely away. With deliberate intent, she spreads the ash along the handle and blade of the knife and then along her palms.
Have felt it in my grasp. Raven’s claws could not mark it. But, it lies fragile in my hands. Yielding to me in a way that it was not to him. Perhaps because of his bloodties, but reason matters not against the reality. It will break for me.
"Let's not rule it out as a first option," Aspasia murmurs, kneeling down on the sand, taking the knife in both hands, exerting her strength and channeling her anger and frustration.
The knife starts to crack and creak under the strain of the Amazon's grasp. But suddenly, there is a sharp crack from Inali and she folds in half the wrong way, her spine shattered. Jack tries to stifle a scream also starts to bend backwards as well.
Watching, Zagreus shakes his head, "Tsk tsk. Gangrel clan knife...break it and you break your Clan. You don't want to end up like the poor Akhud now do you?"