Post by Pandora LeAmour on Jun 17, 2009 0:20:23 GMT -5
Pandora LeAmour
Tathar Seregon
Hajia Portier
William the Tower Guard
Location: Tower Library
Time: five hours after sunset.
He donned his cloak, having accidentally on purpose waited for the very last possible moment to depart, pulling the hood well over his features, hands retrieving the simple wooden box that housed his offering to the vampire. He was hopeful that she would approve, and she likely would...She had very nearly fawned over the mere sketch of the piece, so as he brought it to life he began to wonder what her reaction to it would be. Exiting his shop and locking up tight he headed off through the village toward the Tower for the second night in a row.
He kept to the shadows, moving swiftly. He did not want to be in posession of this thing for very long...While he had made it, it would seem that it knew what it's purpose was, and while he was certain that it was just foolish thoughts of his own, it almost made him feel uneasy...put off....He reached the Tower door and rapped upon its surface, the scent of the shifter fresh on the air here as he waited for William to grant him admittance, wondering if she was inside or out.
William peered through the small slit in the door, and upon first glance spotted the customary green cloak waiting on the other side of the door. With a grunt, he bent ever so slightly and placed his shoulder underneath the wooden lock. Straightening his legs, the lock began to slide upward as he pushed into it, until finally it was high enough to come unlocked. He carefully pulled the door open a fraction of a bit before lowering the heavy wood. Free of it's weight, William was then able to continue pulling the door open, walking backwards as he did so. It was then that he caught the wiff of the Lycan in the air and knew exactly whom was under that cloak.
"Evening, Sire. Shall I announce to her you are here?"
He shook his head to William, glad that he seemed to be feeling even a little bit better than he had been only the night before. No, he wanted to keep his arrival a surprise, though he doubted that it would be so, since her hearing was just as good as his
Pandora was so deeply into her own thoughts that Tathar's arrival had almost gone unnoticed. It wasn't until the scent drifted into the Meeting Room, that Pandora snapped out of her stance, uncertain how long she had been standing there.
She ran two gloved hands through her hair, suddenly wishing that she could slip to her own private quaters and fix her appearance, then suddenly realizing what she was thinking, quickly banished the thought and lowered her hands. Taking her seat once more, Pandora quickly picked up a parchment, the same one she had been trying to read three seperate times already, and turned her eye's to it.
He moved soundlessly within the meeting room, footfalls making nary a sound, not even the cloak swished, as it was a few inches too high up from the floor to do so, and he moved toward her, pulling the hood down from his head, keeping the box firmly within his free hand. He did not stop until he was standing dreadfully close to her, leaning down and pushing what papers she may have in front of her on the table to the side, settling the box down gently, lingering for a moment before righting himself, looking at her...watching....wanting to see her expression, see every twitch however slight of the muscles of her face when she opened it. The thing was hers, now...He wanted nothing more of it than to see whether or not he had succeeded in her expectations.
Pandora couldn't help the arch of her eyebrows as the Smithy took it into his own hands to push aside the parchments she had been trying for the life of her to sort through for three nights now. However irritating it was, the sight of the box that he set down in place of the papers lifted her spirits once more, and she all but gushed.
"You didn't finish it already, Smithy!"
Greedy gloved hands reached out, and Pandora very carefully lifted the lid of the box to reveal the custom made order sitting there inside.
"You did!"
With a fast movement, Pandora quickly sprak to her feet, the wooden chair toppling to the floor, her own shoulder brushing up against the Lycan in her excitement. Reaching carefully in, Pandora enclosed her gloved fingers around the new dagger's handle and withdrew the magnificant beast from it's case. With a genuine grin, Pandora stepped back, not even taking notice that Tathar was close enough to bump up against, and slashed out her arm to the right side, getting a feel for the weight and angility of her new toy.
With a skilled movement, Pandora tossed the dagger into the air, and caught it with her left hand, aiming to slash in that direction, the tip of the dagger just missing the hovering Lycan. It was then that she got a grip of herself, and instantly wiped the childish grin off her face, replacing it with a taunt expression, her lips pressing firmly together.
Very casually, she said "It shall do." [/b]And began to lower the dagger back into the box whence it came.[/color]
Her expression and reaction was.....priceless....to say the very least, especially coming from a vampire, and a Master at that. How very unbecoming of her, but he wouldn't say anything if she wouldn't. His eyes followed the thing as the toyed with it, not bothering to move as she brushed against him when she stood in such a hurried fashion, though as the cruelly shaped blade came so very close to his form he almost moved...almost...He wasn't about to show fear for the very weapon that he had only hours before lovingly completed as one of the best he had produced in over three decades...even if that feeling of fear was genuine. His eyes fell onto the only feature that the sketch had not had, and that was the highly polished ruby embedded in the base of the hilt, seeming as if it already had a thirst for blood. He didn't know what it was...but every so often he would create a weapon that exceeded his expectations, and almost seemed to take on a life it's very own...but maybe it was just the years beginning to get to him. As she composed herself in a fashion much more like her normal businesslike self he took a seat, the nearest one, in fact, and clasped his hands together, supporting himself on his elbows against the table, a slight grin on his lips
"I am glad that you approve."
As he took a seat, Pandora opted to remain standing, her eye's still feasting on the lastest addition to her belongings. A quick glance to the Lycan as he spoke, and back to the new treasure.
"Well, don't act so smug, Lycan."
Finally, and quite regretfully, Pandora closed the lid to the box and placed her gloved hand atop it. Her eye's then travelled back to the Lycan.
"What do I owe you?"
Even as she asked it, Pandora began patting down her clothes in search of some coin.
He smirked...He wasn't being smug, he was simply relishing in the victory over her self control....but he wouldn't tell her that. No, he wanted very much to stay in her favor, and as she started to look for coins he held up his hand to stop her
"You demanded it of me, remember...? Just mark it as a you owe me and I will be more than satisfied."
To be truthful, he had very low expectations as to her actually doing so...After all, who had heard of a vampire owing a lycan anything? Mainly, it was done as a sarcastic move...It felt good to be the one doing the baiting, for once.
Pandora came up emptyhanded in her attempt to locate some coin on her person. Who carried money around at home, anyways? She was, however, quite set on paying him, even as he stated otherwise.
"I owe noone and much perfer to keep it that way, Lycan. Either name your price, or take it elsewhere."
Pandora bit her tongue. She had sworn to herself that she would be nice should he actually come, and here she was being the same old crabby old lady she always was. He made it immensly difficult, though. Surely he didn't think she would not pay him for his work.
To ease the harshness of her words, Pandora spoke again. This time her voice was gentler then usual, though I wouldn't go so far as to call it kind.
"I'm sure you understand why I do not offer owings. They tend to come back and bite one in the ass. Thus, I repeat. The price?"
He had expected that reply..At least she was her normal self, though he did long for her to be near starved again, for some odd reason. Maybe it was the fact that she had been more...Spontaneous...? Was that the word he was searching for? In any case he pushed the thought from his mind, looking at his hands for a moment, thinking it over. A commissioned item like this particular piece was never cheap, and the fact that it's purpose was what it was, that would factor in as well, though it would be drastically reduced from what he would normally ask for since she did provide the silver...But as she spoke, her tone softer than normal, his thoughts started to drift once more before he almost literally shook them from his head, attention moving to her once more
"Understandable. Well, then...I suggest a compromise. Pay what you want, that way you get the satisfaction of knowing that you owe me nothing, and I don't feel that I bled you dry...No pun intended, of course."
Pandora tossed her head back and laughed. Really laughed. The first he's ever heard. Hell, the first anyone within the Tower had ever heard. Bled her dry was a nice pun, even if he did not intend it.
Recovering, Pandora chuckled quietly, speaking with a grin upon her face.
"Fair enough. I'm afraid I must take a trip to my private quaters to gather said coin. Do you care to wait here or in the library?"
Already, she was lifting the box that the dagger lay in, and hefting it onto her hip so that she could cradle it under her arm as she walked. Stepping away from the table, and slowly beginning to walk towards the Meeting Room Door, Pandora passed behind him, and chuckled again as she replayed his words in her mind.
Her laugh startled him....He'd never heard her do so...Hell, he didn't even think she was capable of laughter, but then again he had never really tried that particular brand of humor around her, either. Well, he would have to note that for later use, say, just in case he arrived and she was in a particularly bad mood. He considered her words for a moment or two before replying...Wondering exactly what tomes she had at her disposal, as the only books he'd had the chance to peruse lately...lately being within the past several years...were written by humans. All about their beliefs and repentance for sins and whatnot....Surely she would have something more worth a read, so he stood, not really sure as to where the library was
"The library will suffice, as long as I may examine the material."
Pandora gave a gentle nod of her head, and continued to lead the way out of the Meeting Room, the new prideful dagger under her arm. She spoke over her shoulder, though not raising her voice as there truely was no need. He would hear her had she whispered it.
"By all means. The parchments within the Library are at the ready for any NightWorld wishing to examine them. However, I'm afraid we do not have stairs here within the Tower. Then again, you made it to my private quaters on two seperate occassions. I'm sure you'll have little trouble climbing the knicks again."
When she stepped out of the Meeting Room, Pandora turned left and headed towards the rear of the Tower where the only enterance and exit door was located. Then, rapping gently on William's door, she pushed it open and stepped inside. William barely glanced up as she appeared, and instantly returned his attention to the book in his hand.
"This way, Lycan."
Without waiting for Tathar to catch up, seeing as he had to climb, Pandora made the easy jump from the ground floor, through the tunnel, which was technically just a hole in the ceiling, and onto the second floor of the Tower where the NightWorld Library was housed.
Setting the box with her dagger down on the floor, she stepped further into the darkened room, her ability to see in the darkness a blessing at this point. She made it to the center of the tower where a single table was located, and scooped up the small lantern located there. Quickly flicking it on, she then headed back to where the dagger box was, to wait for Tathar to arrive.
He was nearly ecstatic at being allowed to read something that was actually worth the parchment it was written on, and he followed quickly, matching her pace and keeping a respectable enough distance behind her and to her right. Her mention of the lack of stairs made him wonder...Had she truly remembered the second time, then? When he had carried her up there he had thought her to be in an extremely weakened state, but apparently she'd had enough strength to at least observe her surroundings. He wouldn't bring it up though, lest he hurt her pride by doing so. He gave a polite nod to William as they passed and continued to follow dutifully, watching as she made the leap that he couldn't in this shape and making his way quickly from handhold to handhold until he stood on the ledge as well, looking around in the utter darkness and taking a few steps foreward, stopping when he saw the lantern light up.
Pandora held the now lit lantern out towards the Lycan, already eager to get to her private quaters where she could set the dagger before someone decided they wanted it for their own.
"Feel free to take a gander at anything here within the shelves."
The parchments provided here on the second floor were accessable to any member of NightWorld. She had her own private collection in her quarters. Stooping down to retrieve the box with the silver dagger snuggly wrapped in it, Pandora turned her back to the Lycan. Not a brave move, but no one kills in the library. Also not a brave assumption, but still one she pretended her move was based on. Rising to her feet again, she gave the Lycan a small smile, and stepped nearer the edge. The jump from the second floor to her private quaters was a little higher then the one from the groundfloor to the library, but for Master Vampire, it was a mere stepping stone.
She left the Lycan among the NightWorld stories, and quickly disappeared into her own quarters to deposit the new dagger, retrieve the required coin, and throw a quick change in there. Pandora could never wear the same outfit for more then a few hours without feeling stuffy. She probably dirtied more clothes then the Queen herself.
Finding herself unable to hold it back any longer, she pulled to her feet and scooped up her boots. Holding her cloak tight about her she took the backboundaries to the tower. She eyed where the lights were, noting that the Guards wouldn't notice her anyway. Smirking slightly as her skill was just enough to handle this, she put her boots on and made her way around to the door, she would atleast do this part right. upon ariving at the tower door William looked to her and she didn't have to say a word.
He nodded, turning to watch her leave for her chambers, noticing that she was doing increasingly bold moves such as showing her back to him with greater frequency these days. He was almost beginning to wonder if she was starting to trust him in some form or fashion. But, that was impossible, at least as far as their kinds were concerned, so he settled for turning around and scanning the shelves, eventually picking up a book on history. The events of the past always fascinated him to a degree...How, eventually, the same things happened centuries later to a completely different area, evolving only slightly as they did so. History repeated itself, and he thought for a moment, wondering on a particular event, or whether or not it had ever happened before, replacing the book on the shelf where it had been before and perusing them once more.
Once in she nodded to william, and he went off to get something muttering to himself. Blinking she picked up a lantern sitting on his desk and headed on, she just wanted to explore..She usd the rough edges and anything she could grab to pull herself up through the hole. Shifting her weight holding the lantern in her teeth. This was rough, would have been easier if she could just... AHA!..Finding the edge of the hole she pulled herself up into the room. Dark where she was, pulling the lantern from her teeth she looked around as she would note that she was none the less in Pandora's Sanctuary..the Library.
Pandora still wasn't back yet, but he didn't mind. For the moment he was enjoying himself simply with the books, every now and again pulling one from the shelves to scan a few pages before replacing it and searching out another, only to do the same thing over and over...He didn't mind...She could take all the time in the world...at least, as long a time as it took for him to grow bored with these tomes.
She usd the rough edges and anything she could grab to pull herself up through the hole. Shifting her weight holding the lantern in her teeth. This was rough, would have been easier if she could just... AHA!..Finding the edge of the hole she pulled herself up into the room. Dark where she was, pulling the lantern from her teeth she looked around as she would note that she was none the less in Pandora's Sanctuary..the Library.
His mind was currently occupied, as well as his back being turned, so he took the sounds coming from outside the room to be one of the servants going about their duties, so he ignored them, instead moving farther back into the fountain of knowledge that dwelled here, pouring over more and more pages. He was never really formally educated, but rather, had been tutored once or twice, and after that point he had taken it upon himself to learn as much as he could, having inherited his Father's unquenchable thirst for knowing. He would never admit to this, of course, but then again it was severely unlikely that any here had ever been anywhere near the lands he was exiled from....Vampires especially were killed on sight. Theirs was a secretive tribe, tending to keep to themselves whenever possible and interactions with outsiders were kept to a strict minimum.
She raised herself to her booted feet. Dusting herself off, she held up the lantern. Lookin around she froze as she saw Tathar. Lovely, he would probably be upset she was here, as he was supposed to be with Pandora. She had probably retreated to her chambers to find herself more suitable. Shaking her head slightly she took a slow breath and made her way to him, standing behind him a few paces she cleared her throat. And continued to look about.
.."So many books, how could one choose?"...
She thought on her feet well, she chewed over what she would say her reason for being here was, roaming about and exploring wasn't exactly expected from someone who was respectable. They were invited.
The fall from the upper floor to the Library was an easy one, and Pandora had no need to actually bend her limbs to accomodate the distance. Instead, she landed just slightly arched, to prevent her kneecaps from shattering, and instantly straightened up again. She had traded the mens trousers and light shirt for a simple gown of one layer. A deep blue with offwhite lace around the helm at the bottom, and across her bossoms.
The gown itself was so simple, infact, that it didn't bellow out at the fall, but rather shifted ever so slightly. When she straightened, it too striaghtened and fell into place. Without her gloves on, the paleness of her skin seemed the only thing visible in the awful light within the Library. Using her left hand, Pandora tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, then began slowly crossing into the Library itself, her eye's directly ahead. She depended on her sense of smell to lead her into the direction that Tathar was currently located.
She very quietly came up behind one of the many bookshelves, and peeked around. A playful smile tucked up the corners of her lips as she spotted the Lycan shifting through one of the parchments. With feet bare, she quite litterly tiptoed around the bookshelf, attempting to sneak up behind him.
It wasn't until Portier stepped into her line of sight, that Pandora realized they weren't entirely alone after all. Of course Portier would be here. She should have known. That woman always seemed to show up at the worst of moments. Choosing to toy with this opportunity, Pandora came closer to Tathar, and slipped her bare arms around him, locking the figers of her left hand around the wrist of her right. She shifted her entire poster so that she was peering around Tathar, her head about level with his shoulder and that was all.
Eye's opon Portier, Pandora spoke softly. A little too softy, which was a large change from her usual tone.
"I see you've met my second in command, Portier."
His ears caught the sound of someone clearing their throat and he snapped around, book still in hand, a snarl on his face and his free hand out at his side with it's palm facing her as if he had claws at the ready...However, seeing as it was just Hajia he softened, though he was still slightly sore at her. Even though she had apologized to him, he didn't take very kindly to being ordered around by one without position to do so...But his tone was a bit nicer as he spoke to her this time
"Simple. You don't choose. Start at the beginning and go until you are finished, the same strategy is also used for fighting light infantry."
He had started to ask why she was here, as he was under the impression that Pandora was off duty for the remainder of the night, but he felt slender arms wrap around his torso, and it caught him off guard for a moment until her scent reached him. It was....strange...She'd never acted this way toward him before, and he was wondering if it was only because the shifter was here. Her voice, as well as her words surprised him even more...As far as he'd known, he was simply the blacksmith, but if she said it was so, then he wasn't going to argue with her...at least not right now
"I see that you are back, Pandora."
Her insides cringed a little at her word. It slice her right down the middle. But her eyes took over an icy glow. Shifting the weight of her form to the left she nodded. Slowly, dropping herself onto a bow to the both of them. They'd better enjoy it becase it would NEVER happen again.
She noted Pandoras demeanor, and instantly felt horrible for coming here, even if finding them had been a mistake, she contemplated leaving but she knew Pandora was testing her. Testing her to the point of madness. She did deserve it so she swallowed slowly and gestured to them
"..I am sorry for intruding, I was hoping to find a book here."
She wished she hadn't left her cloak with William. She wished she could use it to hide how she felt. She was stubborn and strong and at this moment she had never felt anymore the complete opposite.
"...I didn't expect to find you here.."
Pandora simply smiled as sweet as a smile she could muster while being in such close proxmity to a mortal enemy. Her voice, luckily, did not betray her uncomforts.
"But of course, m'darling. I said I would be."
Releasing her left hand from it's hold on her right wrist, Pandora slowly walked around the Lycan, her arm sliding around his waist as she did so. She remained standing so close beside him, that their sides met.
"I leave you to the books for ten minutes and you managed to pick up a stray. How quant."
Icy blue eye's watched Portier as the shapeshifter struggled with the setting. Turning her back to Portier, Pandora placed a single hand to the Lycans chest, her palm against his shirt, and then withdrawing it slowly so that only the tips of her fingers touched, and then nothing at all.
"Of course you didn't, Portier. You're not around enough to know where I frequent."
She wiggled her brows, for only the Lycan to see having Portier at her back, and stepped away from the two of them, heading instead towards the table.
"I shall leave you two to your previous discussion."
Without looking behind her, Pandora made certain to walk slowly, and add an extra little swagger in her stride, until she disappeared around the next shelf of parchments, heading for the abandoned table, and ultimately, leaving the Lycan and the Shapeshifter with both lanterns.
His attention was mainly on Pandora for the moment, but he did manage to see, as well as scent, the sudden unease and frustration that seemed to flow off of the shifter in waves, raising a lone eyebrow as she bowed to them. Well now, that was definitely odd...He'd never been bowed to before. He was not sure it was something he could grow accustomed to. He started to say something once more, this time it being something along the lines of the fact that this was a library, so a book would be easy to find, but that damned vampire moved again, sliding around him and leaning against him...He clenched his free hand into a fist, digging his nails into the skin of his palm enough to pierce it slightly as he kept himself from doing what he wanted to...Of course, this was inside the sleeve of his cloak, which he had never removed thankfully. And she did it again, this time moving to stand in front of him...facing him...her hand on his chest like that slowly drawing it away. He would have to have a serious discussion about her actions when he got the chance...Not really sure as to what to say to Hajia at the moment, watching as Pandora walked away with such a step, gaze turning back to the shifter. He felt no need to apologize, as he'd done nothing wrong...Her discovery of them being mere coincidence...or had the vampire planned it?
"Was there anything in particular you wished to discuss, Hajia...?"
She gritted her teeth, she had had just about enough of this. Even though Tathar was being as nice and tolerable as he could be. She moved around the Library row. Arching her brows high. Her boots clicking rather loudly with her annoyance.
" now just a damned minute..Pandora LeAmour!"
She clamped off the rest until she had made her way to standing right behind Pandora. She pulled a scroll from her skirt folds and tapped it against her palm.
" You can be the person you are, and snub me.. Perhaps even try to goid me with what you have that I don't...But I won't stand here and watch you rub my nose into the ground because I left for a call I couldn't ignore. If I hadn't of gone you nor I nor anyone would exist in freedom!"
As she spoke her tone got a little firmer and a little lighter but she refused to yell.
" I had no intention of finding you here, I wouldn't think a romantic evenin with a hunk like him would envelope you in the library. So forgive my intrusion. "
She leaned against the table the scroll being smushed in her hand. The Dark Counsils seal broken, but clearly visiable. Looking to her with a very set jaw she continued.
" I came in search of a book that would allow me to know the places to find a runamuck assassin who is said to be rutheless, and more powerful than even I can imagine. If I could find him first things could be adverted.."
She held back for a moment not wanting to induldge the finer details. Turning slightly she took in Tathars form. She didn't want to tell Pandora this, she wanted to let it happen at this moment. She had returned for a damn good reason and she was about to snap. Her insides just under boil her orbs shifted to a soft red.
"...Someone is prophisized to attack you once again. To cause an upstir. To promote inconsitency. You wanted to know my real reason for being here, it's to keep you once AGAIN, from the confines of where noone wishes to reside."
Her chest was heaving by then, lifting her hand she brushed it through her hair. Turning on her heel she walked to a shelf and then along it..searching.. The scroll never leaving her hand.
Pandora let a mortals weary sigh escape her, simply to show how much this information affected her. Really, she had no need to breath, so the sigh was for complete show. Without turning to face Portier, Pandora spoke loud enough for the both of them to hear her.
"If events are to take place, they shall take place. It is not your nor my place to interfere."
Pandora then turned, to face Portier, and in place Tathar, her expression alive with the age of whom she truely was.
"If it is meant to be, so shall it be, Portier. I have survived thus far, and if I am meant to continue, I shall continue to survive. The divine fate shall play it's part, no matter whom or what attempts to meddle in afairs they ought not to get into."
She then used the nail of her right hand to slide against the inner of her left wrist, it's sharpness slicing through the skin with ease. As the crimson of blood gleamed from her otherwise pale skin, Pandora looked up past Portier and into Tathars eyes, even though he would not meet her gaze. Popping the tip of her finger into her mouth to erase any signs of the blood from her nail, Pandora waited in the silence. Then, withdrawing her finger, she spoke once more.
"You are correct about one thing, Portier. A library is no place for romance. It is my evening off, and thus you will not burden me with your theories. Browse the books, if you'd like. But I will hear no more of this foolishness about protecting me, have I made myself perfectly clear?"
Her eye's went from trying to capture Tathar's gaze, to Portier, and then to her wrist, where a small pool of blood trinkled down her hand, and dropped soundless from the tip of her fingers.
Apparently he wasn't to be a part of this little argument between the two of them, preferring to stay out of such things, especially since it was none of his business, so he meandered off to peruse more of the books. He would leave the two of them to settle their dispute amongst themselves, even though his attention diverted to his being called a "Hunk" he believed was the word used. Women these days apparently thought he was very attractive, even moreso than he had been a century earlier. Interesting, but he did eavesdrop onto their conversation, finding himself rather unable to do otherwise since the shifter was being so very loud about it. The talk of a prophecy and whatnot making him shake his head, listening as Pandora spoke, turning to look at her, his own eyes meeting hers for a fleeting second before finding that familiar spot on her forehead, if he was able to draw his gaze away at all. He agreed with her statement. If one was meant to live or die, it would happen. Events would unfold as fate laid them out on the table...And it was then that the scent of blood met his nostrils, the hairs along his arms and the back of his neck standing on end, an almost electric shiver running down his spine. His eyes narrowed, and if anyone were to turn and see, his eyes flashed their feral bright green in the light of the lantern, only this time it was for several long moments rather than the fleeting second that it normally endured, and he could not help but allow a low and rumbling, almost sensuous, growl escape his jaws, stepping foreward and brushing past Hajia as he made his way toward Pandora. How did she know how to push his buttons like this he would likely never know, but she knew them nonetheless, and he stepped around her, standing dangerously close as his eyes darted to look at the shifter.
She turned then and flung the scroll, it landing on her table. Her eyes dared another look Pandoras way. Stepping to the drop where she had found her way in. She paused only long enough to glance back at her. Tathar was sending off hormones like crazy how cute. Her orbs would have rolled if she cared, but she did not. Tipping her head slightly she eyed them both
"...Read it...It is my job to mess with destiny when time is distorted and people get to where they shouldn't be..my dear..sweet Vamp. you know this, you've known for a long time."
She grabbed up the lantern she had placed nearby, looking to tathar she sneered slowly. If Pandora wanted to play games, she would play right back.
" ..And if you ever want a real woman...to show you a night from hell...I'll be around..."
She clicked her tounge agasisnt the roof of her mouth and with that she was gone, down into the dark hole.
Pandora's expression changed to that of knowing satisfaction as she glanced the green eye's of the Lycan from across the room. Even as he approached her, she squeezed her left fist, causing the flow to increase ever so slightly. As of yet, he hadn't tasted her blood. He had scarred her, he had battled her but he hadn't known at all.
She followed his every step with her gaze, distintly aware that Portier had thrown the parchemnt at the table. She didn't care to cast a glance at it. That's what work was for and tonight, god dammit, there would be no more work.
As Portier headed the way she came, Pandora slowly raised her wounded left hand, the scar facing her own posture, while the wound faced the approaching Lycan. As his eyes darted to Portier, Pandora glanced in that direction as well, just in time to catch the shifters comment to her Lycan and she hissed involuntarily.
The shifter was quick to leave, not giving Pandora the chance to fire comment back at her. Instead, she turned her eye's to Tathar once more.
"So what will it be... A night of damanation, or a night from hell?"
She had lowered the wounded wrist to her side as she asked, as if it would cease being a distaction.
She showed herself out. Her brows downcast. She would have to beat it into her head, this wasn't something in the stars persay but something that had been drafted. The scroll would discribe it all she only hope Pandora wasn't so stubborn about this. Leaving with her back to the Tower she hid behind her cloak. She would only return to the Tower, or Pandora. Should Pandora Send for her.. Until then, she would read the book she had taken from the library. "-Delicacy, Demons, And Incriptions-"..It would tell her all she would EVER need to know.
His only reply to the shifter as she left was a threatening snarl, animalistic as could be given his form, even though his vocal chords did a marvelous job with imitating the sound it would normally be before his eyes returned to pandora's form, sniffing the air around her. Something was...different...about her. The last time had been a fluke. Their little trist a simple spur of the moment instance, and he knew that, but this time...No, this time she was egging it on, and he wasn't about to complain. He did not speak, finding that the fact that he was still standing right here with her to be enough of an answer.
Seeing he did not make for the drop was as good an answer as any, And Pandora rose her left wrist up until it was level with her own eyesight.
"I do love it when you speak like that."
A playful smirk crossed her expression, and she sought out his gaze again, her wounded wrist in plain sight for him.
The top row of her teeth raked against her lower lip, her position clearly stating that she didn't plan to go anywhere any time soon. Shifting backwards ever so slightly until her bottom bumped up against the table behind her, Pandora sat, her behind landing on the scrolls that Portier had tossed there but moments ago.
With eyebrows raised, she simply sat there, her arm held up at eye level, icy blues watching Tathar as if she expected him to perform a trick.
The scent of her blood was driving his mind crazy, his thoughts buzzing here and there, never really able to focus on one single thing except for that crimson flow....Never before had he felt the call of blood in such a fashion, though he'd never seen nor scented so much spilled blood of a Master, either, and as she sat on the table he was right there in front of her...He felt...hungry...for some reason...And not just for sustenance
The smile on her face, or rather sneer, was a telltale of exactly what she was thinking. She knew. Slowly, Pandora reached out with her right hand, seeking his. She didn't want to hold it. Such a mortals attempt to claim and show off possession of someone. No, she didn't need to claim him she already had him, hook line and sinker, for the moment.
Instead, she placed his hand around her left wrist, and slowly rose it upward, clearly giving him the invitation to do exactly what he was fighting not to.
Any rational Vampire would never let a Lycan taste their power. Hell, they'd never lock themselves away in a library with one either. Pandora, clearly, wasn't rational, but then again no one ever claimed she was.
He did not note her expression, only that she existed, and that he wanted her...completely...and for himself, loathe to share with anyone else...He would never admit it, and rightly so, for he would have trouble remembering exactly what was going on here in this place amongst the tomes of NightWorld....The beast was the one calling the shots for him at the moment, and as she took her wrist in his own and offered it up to him he was only too happy to oblige, jaws opening wide, carefully latching onto it, relishing the taste of her, as well asnthat of her lifes blood...And to ensure that he would get a decent amount he bit down around the wound, urging more blood to well up out of it and into his mouth, moving closer to her as he did so, though he may have overdone the strength of it a little...He was like a dog with it's favorite bone, right now.
The gasp that escaped her slightly parted lips was not that of pleasure, but of pain as the salava of a Lycan entered her wrist. It burned, but was quickly diminished by the new sensation of her blood being taken rather then receiving. Honestly, Pandora had never experienced it before. No wonder why her Prey squirmed and begged for release. No wonder why Vampires had the ability to glamor.
She harshly bit down on her lower lip, her eye teeth piercing the skin of her lower lip as she bit back the painful gasp that threatened to escape once more.
With his jaw locked onto her wrist, and his own hand still holding it in place, Pandora had no choice but to follow through. Her hand instantly came up to rest against the back of his neck, not in carress, but rather in defense should she need to grip the skin there in order to pry his mouth away.
Her eye's remained open, but unseeing, as she watched, lost in this new sensation. The pain was there, but not unbearable. If it weren't for the fact that he was Lycan, there probably wouldn't have been any at all. Pandora herself had to struggle not to toss glamors up as she suspected the moment she did, he would retreat.
Her body became weaker as he drew her lifeforce from her, each suck lulling her deeper into the cloudy banks of a drunken mind.
Staggering against him ever so slightly, she slackened her arm, in hopes he'd take notice of the change and stop before he drained her.
He drank and drank, feeling thirst to the point as if he had been wandering a desert for weeks on end with nothing to quench it. His mouth felt dry, the crisp taste of the blood a shock to his senses, and he pulled her closer to him as her hand found the back of his neck, as if he were guarding her from prying eyes and like-minded beasts...But as she weakened, so did the flow, and his own mind fought to the surface for control, releasing her wrist and breathing deeply, erratically, as if he had been underwater for too long and his lungs were screaming for air, that feral look still in his eyes, though now they would shine with a glimmer of understanding and rationale...He hoped that he had not gone too far.
When he released her, Pandoras instint kicked in and she leaned back away from him, her right hand planting on the surface of the table behind her to keep her as steady as could be expected given the state she was now in. So this is what it felt like to be drained of life. This is what it felt like knowing you could die. How... rejuvinating.
Though foggy from lack of energy, lack of lifeforce, a lopsided and childish grin broke the surface of her disoriented exdpression. Her voice, just barely above a whisper, seemed to slip out of her lips, even when she was unaware they were moving.
"Tell me that is not what you've wanted since you arrived."
Most likely, he hadn't even thought of it. But Pandora wanted confirmation that she had not just done something he would hold against her. She cradled her left wrist to her chest, before rising it to her mouth. Quickly she flickered the tip of her tongue over the wound in hopes her own salava would encourage the skin to knot and heal. She'd never attempted to heal her own wounds after being drained of blood, and had absolutely no idea if it would work, but Pandora knew her body. She knew that if it didn't heal, the wound would continue to bleed until there was nothing left.
Her eye's sought his again, knowing even now he would be unlikly to be looking at her own blues, and she repeated her question, even quieter then before.
"Tell me even as you hated me, did you not wonder? Did you not want to see what it would be like?"
He breathed a few more times before even trying to contemplate her words...He had been curious, yes....He had wondered...And it felt...strange...Taboo...He felt slightly dirty, like he'd done something terrible, but he did not regret it, even as he leaned in to her, lowering his form so at the very least she could have her fill of his own blood, almost nuzzling against her neck before whispering his reply, words low and quiet, even as he felt stronger, much more so than she was right now, almost drunk off of it
"Aye.....I have..."
Pandora gave a slow shallow nod of her head, halfheartedly pushing him away. She all but leaned back onto the table, curling her arm up underneath of her as if a mortal child seeking comfort in a limbed pillow. Her legs too curled up so that her entire body was in that of a fetal position. Pandora, in all her undead years, had never layed any way but riggid and flat on her back.
"Leave me now, Tathar Seregon... I need to rest..."
She, too, did not regret the experience. If anything, it proved to be an educational lesson, though somewhere inside, Pandora didn't weigh too much on that arguement. She wouldn't have offered it up for anyone else. Why on earth had she done so for a Lycan, someone whom was destined to hate her with every fiber of his being? Perhaps, it was simply because she did not think she could win him. Was it the challange? Or was it something that Pandora no longer believed she could ever do. Right now, it mattered not.
She knew she should feed, She knew that should the Tower servants find her here, curled up on the Library table, fitfully dancing somewhere between sleep and death, there would be all sorts of stories floating around if and when she awoke. She did not care. Being at a loss for blood while battle was quite different. Even then, the adrenaline from the battle still kept you focused kept you strong. Here, there was only a foggy mind, and the desire to sleep forever.
Her voice cut out as she tried to form the next set of words that she wanted to loop together to make a decent sentence. Where he was buzzing, high on her lifeforce, she was already gone.
"Thank.. Tath... for... Me...Time."
And then she relished all control of the world around her, her actions and her basic will to survive, and sank blissfully into unawareness.
Tathar Seregon
Hajia Portier
William the Tower Guard
Location: Tower Library
Time: five hours after sunset.
He donned his cloak, having accidentally on purpose waited for the very last possible moment to depart, pulling the hood well over his features, hands retrieving the simple wooden box that housed his offering to the vampire. He was hopeful that she would approve, and she likely would...She had very nearly fawned over the mere sketch of the piece, so as he brought it to life he began to wonder what her reaction to it would be. Exiting his shop and locking up tight he headed off through the village toward the Tower for the second night in a row.He kept to the shadows, moving swiftly. He did not want to be in posession of this thing for very long...While he had made it, it would seem that it knew what it's purpose was, and while he was certain that it was just foolish thoughts of his own, it almost made him feel uneasy...put off....He reached the Tower door and rapped upon its surface, the scent of the shifter fresh on the air here as he waited for William to grant him admittance, wondering if she was inside or out.
William peered through the small slit in the door, and upon first glance spotted the customary green cloak waiting on the other side of the door. With a grunt, he bent ever so slightly and placed his shoulder underneath the wooden lock. Straightening his legs, the lock began to slide upward as he pushed into it, until finally it was high enough to come unlocked. He carefully pulled the door open a fraction of a bit before lowering the heavy wood. Free of it's weight, William was then able to continue pulling the door open, walking backwards as he did so. It was then that he caught the wiff of the Lycan in the air and knew exactly whom was under that cloak.
"Evening, Sire. Shall I announce to her you are here?"
He shook his head to William, glad that he seemed to be feeling even a little bit better than he had been only the night before. No, he wanted to keep his arrival a surprise, though he doubted that it would be so, since her hearing was just as good as hisPandora was so deeply into her own thoughts that Tathar's arrival had almost gone unnoticed. It wasn't until the scent drifted into the Meeting Room, that Pandora snapped out of her stance, uncertain how long she had been standing there. She ran two gloved hands through her hair, suddenly wishing that she could slip to her own private quaters and fix her appearance, then suddenly realizing what she was thinking, quickly banished the thought and lowered her hands. Taking her seat once more, Pandora quickly picked up a parchment, the same one she had been trying to read three seperate times already, and turned her eye's to it.
He moved soundlessly within the meeting room, footfalls making nary a sound, not even the cloak swished, as it was a few inches too high up from the floor to do so, and he moved toward her, pulling the hood down from his head, keeping the box firmly within his free hand. He did not stop until he was standing dreadfully close to her, leaning down and pushing what papers she may have in front of her on the table to the side, settling the box down gently, lingering for a moment before righting himself, looking at her...watching....wanting to see her expression, see every twitch however slight of the muscles of her face when she opened it. The thing was hers, now...He wanted nothing more of it than to see whether or not he had succeeded in her expectations.Pandora couldn't help the arch of her eyebrows as the Smithy took it into his own hands to push aside the parchments she had been trying for the life of her to sort through for three nights now. However irritating it was, the sight of the box that he set down in place of the papers lifted her spirits once more, and she all but gushed. "You didn't finish it already, Smithy!"
Greedy gloved hands reached out, and Pandora very carefully lifted the lid of the box to reveal the custom made order sitting there inside.
"You did!"
With a fast movement, Pandora quickly sprak to her feet, the wooden chair toppling to the floor, her own shoulder brushing up against the Lycan in her excitement. Reaching carefully in, Pandora enclosed her gloved fingers around the new dagger's handle and withdrew the magnificant beast from it's case. With a genuine grin, Pandora stepped back, not even taking notice that Tathar was close enough to bump up against, and slashed out her arm to the right side, getting a feel for the weight and angility of her new toy.
With a skilled movement, Pandora tossed the dagger into the air, and caught it with her left hand, aiming to slash in that direction, the tip of the dagger just missing the hovering Lycan. It was then that she got a grip of herself, and instantly wiped the childish grin off her face, replacing it with a taunt expression, her lips pressing firmly together.
Very casually, she said "It shall do." [/b]And began to lower the dagger back into the box whence it came.[/color]
Her expression and reaction was.....priceless....to say the very least, especially coming from a vampire, and a Master at that. How very unbecoming of her, but he wouldn't say anything if she wouldn't. His eyes followed the thing as the toyed with it, not bothering to move as she brushed against him when she stood in such a hurried fashion, though as the cruelly shaped blade came so very close to his form he almost moved...almost...He wasn't about to show fear for the very weapon that he had only hours before lovingly completed as one of the best he had produced in over three decades...even if that feeling of fear was genuine. His eyes fell onto the only feature that the sketch had not had, and that was the highly polished ruby embedded in the base of the hilt, seeming as if it already had a thirst for blood. He didn't know what it was...but every so often he would create a weapon that exceeded his expectations, and almost seemed to take on a life it's very own...but maybe it was just the years beginning to get to him. As she composed herself in a fashion much more like her normal businesslike self he took a seat, the nearest one, in fact, and clasped his hands together, supporting himself on his elbows against the table, a slight grin on his lips"I am glad that you approve."
As he took a seat, Pandora opted to remain standing, her eye's still feasting on the lastest addition to her belongings. A quick glance to the Lycan as he spoke, and back to the new treasure. "Well, don't act so smug, Lycan."
Finally, and quite regretfully, Pandora closed the lid to the box and placed her gloved hand atop it. Her eye's then travelled back to the Lycan.
"What do I owe you?"
Even as she asked it, Pandora began patting down her clothes in search of some coin.
He smirked...He wasn't being smug, he was simply relishing in the victory over her self control....but he wouldn't tell her that. No, he wanted very much to stay in her favor, and as she started to look for coins he held up his hand to stop her"You demanded it of me, remember...? Just mark it as a you owe me and I will be more than satisfied."
To be truthful, he had very low expectations as to her actually doing so...After all, who had heard of a vampire owing a lycan anything? Mainly, it was done as a sarcastic move...It felt good to be the one doing the baiting, for once.
Pandora came up emptyhanded in her attempt to locate some coin on her person. Who carried money around at home, anyways? She was, however, quite set on paying him, even as he stated otherwise. "I owe noone and much perfer to keep it that way, Lycan. Either name your price, or take it elsewhere."
Pandora bit her tongue. She had sworn to herself that she would be nice should he actually come, and here she was being the same old crabby old lady she always was. He made it immensly difficult, though. Surely he didn't think she would not pay him for his work.
To ease the harshness of her words, Pandora spoke again. This time her voice was gentler then usual, though I wouldn't go so far as to call it kind.
"I'm sure you understand why I do not offer owings. They tend to come back and bite one in the ass. Thus, I repeat. The price?"
He had expected that reply..At least she was her normal self, though he did long for her to be near starved again, for some odd reason. Maybe it was the fact that she had been more...Spontaneous...? Was that the word he was searching for? In any case he pushed the thought from his mind, looking at his hands for a moment, thinking it over. A commissioned item like this particular piece was never cheap, and the fact that it's purpose was what it was, that would factor in as well, though it would be drastically reduced from what he would normally ask for since she did provide the silver...But as she spoke, her tone softer than normal, his thoughts started to drift once more before he almost literally shook them from his head, attention moving to her once more"Understandable. Well, then...I suggest a compromise. Pay what you want, that way you get the satisfaction of knowing that you owe me nothing, and I don't feel that I bled you dry...No pun intended, of course."
Pandora tossed her head back and laughed. Really laughed. The first he's ever heard. Hell, the first anyone within the Tower had ever heard. Bled her dry was a nice pun, even if he did not intend it. Recovering, Pandora chuckled quietly, speaking with a grin upon her face.
"Fair enough. I'm afraid I must take a trip to my private quaters to gather said coin. Do you care to wait here or in the library?"
Already, she was lifting the box that the dagger lay in, and hefting it onto her hip so that she could cradle it under her arm as she walked. Stepping away from the table, and slowly beginning to walk towards the Meeting Room Door, Pandora passed behind him, and chuckled again as she replayed his words in her mind.
Her laugh startled him....He'd never heard her do so...Hell, he didn't even think she was capable of laughter, but then again he had never really tried that particular brand of humor around her, either. Well, he would have to note that for later use, say, just in case he arrived and she was in a particularly bad mood. He considered her words for a moment or two before replying...Wondering exactly what tomes she had at her disposal, as the only books he'd had the chance to peruse lately...lately being within the past several years...were written by humans. All about their beliefs and repentance for sins and whatnot....Surely she would have something more worth a read, so he stood, not really sure as to where the library was"The library will suffice, as long as I may examine the material."
Pandora gave a gentle nod of her head, and continued to lead the way out of the Meeting Room, the new prideful dagger under her arm. She spoke over her shoulder, though not raising her voice as there truely was no need. He would hear her had she whispered it. "By all means. The parchments within the Library are at the ready for any NightWorld wishing to examine them. However, I'm afraid we do not have stairs here within the Tower. Then again, you made it to my private quaters on two seperate occassions. I'm sure you'll have little trouble climbing the knicks again."
When she stepped out of the Meeting Room, Pandora turned left and headed towards the rear of the Tower where the only enterance and exit door was located. Then, rapping gently on William's door, she pushed it open and stepped inside. William barely glanced up as she appeared, and instantly returned his attention to the book in his hand.
"This way, Lycan."
Without waiting for Tathar to catch up, seeing as he had to climb, Pandora made the easy jump from the ground floor, through the tunnel, which was technically just a hole in the ceiling, and onto the second floor of the Tower where the NightWorld Library was housed.
Setting the box with her dagger down on the floor, she stepped further into the darkened room, her ability to see in the darkness a blessing at this point. She made it to the center of the tower where a single table was located, and scooped up the small lantern located there. Quickly flicking it on, she then headed back to where the dagger box was, to wait for Tathar to arrive.
He was nearly ecstatic at being allowed to read something that was actually worth the parchment it was written on, and he followed quickly, matching her pace and keeping a respectable enough distance behind her and to her right. Her mention of the lack of stairs made him wonder...Had she truly remembered the second time, then? When he had carried her up there he had thought her to be in an extremely weakened state, but apparently she'd had enough strength to at least observe her surroundings. He wouldn't bring it up though, lest he hurt her pride by doing so. He gave a polite nod to William as they passed and continued to follow dutifully, watching as she made the leap that he couldn't in this shape and making his way quickly from handhold to handhold until he stood on the ledge as well, looking around in the utter darkness and taking a few steps foreward, stopping when he saw the lantern light up.Pandora held the now lit lantern out towards the Lycan, already eager to get to her private quaters where she could set the dagger before someone decided they wanted it for their own. "Feel free to take a gander at anything here within the shelves."
The parchments provided here on the second floor were accessable to any member of NightWorld. She had her own private collection in her quarters. Stooping down to retrieve the box with the silver dagger snuggly wrapped in it, Pandora turned her back to the Lycan. Not a brave move, but no one kills in the library. Also not a brave assumption, but still one she pretended her move was based on. Rising to her feet again, she gave the Lycan a small smile, and stepped nearer the edge. The jump from the second floor to her private quaters was a little higher then the one from the groundfloor to the library, but for Master Vampire, it was a mere stepping stone.
She left the Lycan among the NightWorld stories, and quickly disappeared into her own quarters to deposit the new dagger, retrieve the required coin, and throw a quick change in there. Pandora could never wear the same outfit for more then a few hours without feeling stuffy. She probably dirtied more clothes then the Queen herself.
Finding herself unable to hold it back any longer, she pulled to her feet and scooped up her boots. Holding her cloak tight about her she took the backboundaries to the tower. She eyed where the lights were, noting that the Guards wouldn't notice her anyway. Smirking slightly as her skill was just enough to handle this, she put her boots on and made her way around to the door, she would atleast do this part right. upon ariving at the tower door William looked to her and she didn't have to say a word.He nodded, turning to watch her leave for her chambers, noticing that she was doing increasingly bold moves such as showing her back to him with greater frequency these days. He was almost beginning to wonder if she was starting to trust him in some form or fashion. But, that was impossible, at least as far as their kinds were concerned, so he settled for turning around and scanning the shelves, eventually picking up a book on history. The events of the past always fascinated him to a degree...How, eventually, the same things happened centuries later to a completely different area, evolving only slightly as they did so. History repeated itself, and he thought for a moment, wondering on a particular event, or whether or not it had ever happened before, replacing the book on the shelf where it had been before and perusing them once more.Once in she nodded to william, and he went off to get something muttering to himself. Blinking she picked up a lantern sitting on his desk and headed on, she just wanted to explore..She usd the rough edges and anything she could grab to pull herself up through the hole. Shifting her weight holding the lantern in her teeth. This was rough, would have been easier if she could just... AHA!..Finding the edge of the hole she pulled herself up into the room. Dark where she was, pulling the lantern from her teeth she looked around as she would note that she was none the less in Pandora's Sanctuary..the Library. Pandora still wasn't back yet, but he didn't mind. For the moment he was enjoying himself simply with the books, every now and again pulling one from the shelves to scan a few pages before replacing it and searching out another, only to do the same thing over and over...He didn't mind...She could take all the time in the world...at least, as long a time as it took for him to grow bored with these tomes.She usd the rough edges and anything she could grab to pull herself up through the hole. Shifting her weight holding the lantern in her teeth. This was rough, would have been easier if she could just... AHA!..Finding the edge of the hole she pulled herself up into the room. Dark where she was, pulling the lantern from her teeth she looked around as she would note that she was none the less in Pandora's Sanctuary..the Library. His mind was currently occupied, as well as his back being turned, so he took the sounds coming from outside the room to be one of the servants going about their duties, so he ignored them, instead moving farther back into the fountain of knowledge that dwelled here, pouring over more and more pages. He was never really formally educated, but rather, had been tutored once or twice, and after that point he had taken it upon himself to learn as much as he could, having inherited his Father's unquenchable thirst for knowing. He would never admit to this, of course, but then again it was severely unlikely that any here had ever been anywhere near the lands he was exiled from....Vampires especially were killed on sight. Theirs was a secretive tribe, tending to keep to themselves whenever possible and interactions with outsiders were kept to a strict minimum.She raised herself to her booted feet. Dusting herself off, she held up the lantern. Lookin around she froze as she saw Tathar. Lovely, he would probably be upset she was here, as he was supposed to be with Pandora. She had probably retreated to her chambers to find herself more suitable. Shaking her head slightly she took a slow breath and made her way to him, standing behind him a few paces she cleared her throat. And continued to look about..."So many books, how could one choose?"...
She thought on her feet well, she chewed over what she would say her reason for being here was, roaming about and exploring wasn't exactly expected from someone who was respectable. They were invited.
The fall from the upper floor to the Library was an easy one, and Pandora had no need to actually bend her limbs to accomodate the distance. Instead, she landed just slightly arched, to prevent her kneecaps from shattering, and instantly straightened up again. She had traded the mens trousers and light shirt for a simple gown of one layer. A deep blue with offwhite lace around the helm at the bottom, and across her bossoms. The gown itself was so simple, infact, that it didn't bellow out at the fall, but rather shifted ever so slightly. When she straightened, it too striaghtened and fell into place. Without her gloves on, the paleness of her skin seemed the only thing visible in the awful light within the Library. Using her left hand, Pandora tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, then began slowly crossing into the Library itself, her eye's directly ahead. She depended on her sense of smell to lead her into the direction that Tathar was currently located.
She very quietly came up behind one of the many bookshelves, and peeked around. A playful smile tucked up the corners of her lips as she spotted the Lycan shifting through one of the parchments. With feet bare, she quite litterly tiptoed around the bookshelf, attempting to sneak up behind him.
It wasn't until Portier stepped into her line of sight, that Pandora realized they weren't entirely alone after all. Of course Portier would be here. She should have known. That woman always seemed to show up at the worst of moments. Choosing to toy with this opportunity, Pandora came closer to Tathar, and slipped her bare arms around him, locking the figers of her left hand around the wrist of her right. She shifted her entire poster so that she was peering around Tathar, her head about level with his shoulder and that was all.
Eye's opon Portier, Pandora spoke softly. A little too softy, which was a large change from her usual tone.
"I see you've met my second in command, Portier."
His ears caught the sound of someone clearing their throat and he snapped around, book still in hand, a snarl on his face and his free hand out at his side with it's palm facing her as if he had claws at the ready...However, seeing as it was just Hajia he softened, though he was still slightly sore at her. Even though she had apologized to him, he didn't take very kindly to being ordered around by one without position to do so...But his tone was a bit nicer as he spoke to her this time"Simple. You don't choose. Start at the beginning and go until you are finished, the same strategy is also used for fighting light infantry."
He had started to ask why she was here, as he was under the impression that Pandora was off duty for the remainder of the night, but he felt slender arms wrap around his torso, and it caught him off guard for a moment until her scent reached him. It was....strange...She'd never acted this way toward him before, and he was wondering if it was only because the shifter was here. Her voice, as well as her words surprised him even more...As far as he'd known, he was simply the blacksmith, but if she said it was so, then he wasn't going to argue with her...at least not right now
"I see that you are back, Pandora."
Her insides cringed a little at her word. It slice her right down the middle. But her eyes took over an icy glow. Shifting the weight of her form to the left she nodded. Slowly, dropping herself onto a bow to the both of them. They'd better enjoy it becase it would NEVER happen again. She noted Pandoras demeanor, and instantly felt horrible for coming here, even if finding them had been a mistake, she contemplated leaving but she knew Pandora was testing her. Testing her to the point of madness. She did deserve it so she swallowed slowly and gestured to them
"..I am sorry for intruding, I was hoping to find a book here."
She wished she hadn't left her cloak with William. She wished she could use it to hide how she felt. She was stubborn and strong and at this moment she had never felt anymore the complete opposite.
"...I didn't expect to find you here.."
Pandora simply smiled as sweet as a smile she could muster while being in such close proxmity to a mortal enemy. Her voice, luckily, did not betray her uncomforts. "But of course, m'darling. I said I would be."
Releasing her left hand from it's hold on her right wrist, Pandora slowly walked around the Lycan, her arm sliding around his waist as she did so. She remained standing so close beside him, that their sides met.
"I leave you to the books for ten minutes and you managed to pick up a stray. How quant."
Icy blue eye's watched Portier as the shapeshifter struggled with the setting. Turning her back to Portier, Pandora placed a single hand to the Lycans chest, her palm against his shirt, and then withdrawing it slowly so that only the tips of her fingers touched, and then nothing at all.
"Of course you didn't, Portier. You're not around enough to know where I frequent."
She wiggled her brows, for only the Lycan to see having Portier at her back, and stepped away from the two of them, heading instead towards the table.
"I shall leave you two to your previous discussion."
Without looking behind her, Pandora made certain to walk slowly, and add an extra little swagger in her stride, until she disappeared around the next shelf of parchments, heading for the abandoned table, and ultimately, leaving the Lycan and the Shapeshifter with both lanterns.
His attention was mainly on Pandora for the moment, but he did manage to see, as well as scent, the sudden unease and frustration that seemed to flow off of the shifter in waves, raising a lone eyebrow as she bowed to them. Well now, that was definitely odd...He'd never been bowed to before. He was not sure it was something he could grow accustomed to. He started to say something once more, this time it being something along the lines of the fact that this was a library, so a book would be easy to find, but that damned vampire moved again, sliding around him and leaning against him...He clenched his free hand into a fist, digging his nails into the skin of his palm enough to pierce it slightly as he kept himself from doing what he wanted to...Of course, this was inside the sleeve of his cloak, which he had never removed thankfully. And she did it again, this time moving to stand in front of him...facing him...her hand on his chest like that slowly drawing it away. He would have to have a serious discussion about her actions when he got the chance...Not really sure as to what to say to Hajia at the moment, watching as Pandora walked away with such a step, gaze turning back to the shifter. He felt no need to apologize, as he'd done nothing wrong...Her discovery of them being mere coincidence...or had the vampire planned it?"Was there anything in particular you wished to discuss, Hajia...?"
She gritted her teeth, she had had just about enough of this. Even though Tathar was being as nice and tolerable as he could be. She moved around the Library row. Arching her brows high. Her boots clicking rather loudly with her annoyance." now just a damned minute..Pandora LeAmour!"
She clamped off the rest until she had made her way to standing right behind Pandora. She pulled a scroll from her skirt folds and tapped it against her palm.
" You can be the person you are, and snub me.. Perhaps even try to goid me with what you have that I don't...But I won't stand here and watch you rub my nose into the ground because I left for a call I couldn't ignore. If I hadn't of gone you nor I nor anyone would exist in freedom!"
As she spoke her tone got a little firmer and a little lighter but she refused to yell.
" I had no intention of finding you here, I wouldn't think a romantic evenin with a hunk like him would envelope you in the library. So forgive my intrusion. "
She leaned against the table the scroll being smushed in her hand. The Dark Counsils seal broken, but clearly visiable. Looking to her with a very set jaw she continued.
" I came in search of a book that would allow me to know the places to find a runamuck assassin who is said to be rutheless, and more powerful than even I can imagine. If I could find him first things could be adverted.."
She held back for a moment not wanting to induldge the finer details. Turning slightly she took in Tathars form. She didn't want to tell Pandora this, she wanted to let it happen at this moment. She had returned for a damn good reason and she was about to snap. Her insides just under boil her orbs shifted to a soft red.
"...Someone is prophisized to attack you once again. To cause an upstir. To promote inconsitency. You wanted to know my real reason for being here, it's to keep you once AGAIN, from the confines of where noone wishes to reside."
Her chest was heaving by then, lifting her hand she brushed it through her hair. Turning on her heel she walked to a shelf and then along it..searching.. The scroll never leaving her hand.
Pandora let a mortals weary sigh escape her, simply to show how much this information affected her. Really, she had no need to breath, so the sigh was for complete show. Without turning to face Portier, Pandora spoke loud enough for the both of them to hear her. "If events are to take place, they shall take place. It is not your nor my place to interfere."
Pandora then turned, to face Portier, and in place Tathar, her expression alive with the age of whom she truely was.
"If it is meant to be, so shall it be, Portier. I have survived thus far, and if I am meant to continue, I shall continue to survive. The divine fate shall play it's part, no matter whom or what attempts to meddle in afairs they ought not to get into."
She then used the nail of her right hand to slide against the inner of her left wrist, it's sharpness slicing through the skin with ease. As the crimson of blood gleamed from her otherwise pale skin, Pandora looked up past Portier and into Tathars eyes, even though he would not meet her gaze. Popping the tip of her finger into her mouth to erase any signs of the blood from her nail, Pandora waited in the silence. Then, withdrawing her finger, she spoke once more.
"You are correct about one thing, Portier. A library is no place for romance. It is my evening off, and thus you will not burden me with your theories. Browse the books, if you'd like. But I will hear no more of this foolishness about protecting me, have I made myself perfectly clear?"
Her eye's went from trying to capture Tathar's gaze, to Portier, and then to her wrist, where a small pool of blood trinkled down her hand, and dropped soundless from the tip of her fingers.
Apparently he wasn't to be a part of this little argument between the two of them, preferring to stay out of such things, especially since it was none of his business, so he meandered off to peruse more of the books. He would leave the two of them to settle their dispute amongst themselves, even though his attention diverted to his being called a "Hunk" he believed was the word used. Women these days apparently thought he was very attractive, even moreso than he had been a century earlier. Interesting, but he did eavesdrop onto their conversation, finding himself rather unable to do otherwise since the shifter was being so very loud about it. The talk of a prophecy and whatnot making him shake his head, listening as Pandora spoke, turning to look at her, his own eyes meeting hers for a fleeting second before finding that familiar spot on her forehead, if he was able to draw his gaze away at all. He agreed with her statement. If one was meant to live or die, it would happen. Events would unfold as fate laid them out on the table...And it was then that the scent of blood met his nostrils, the hairs along his arms and the back of his neck standing on end, an almost electric shiver running down his spine. His eyes narrowed, and if anyone were to turn and see, his eyes flashed their feral bright green in the light of the lantern, only this time it was for several long moments rather than the fleeting second that it normally endured, and he could not help but allow a low and rumbling, almost sensuous, growl escape his jaws, stepping foreward and brushing past Hajia as he made his way toward Pandora. How did she know how to push his buttons like this he would likely never know, but she knew them nonetheless, and he stepped around her, standing dangerously close as his eyes darted to look at the shifter.She turned then and flung the scroll, it landing on her table. Her eyes dared another look Pandoras way. Stepping to the drop where she had found her way in. She paused only long enough to glance back at her. Tathar was sending off hormones like crazy how cute. Her orbs would have rolled if she cared, but she did not. Tipping her head slightly she eyed them both"...Read it...It is my job to mess with destiny when time is distorted and people get to where they shouldn't be..my dear..sweet Vamp. you know this, you've known for a long time."
She grabbed up the lantern she had placed nearby, looking to tathar she sneered slowly. If Pandora wanted to play games, she would play right back.
" ..And if you ever want a real woman...to show you a night from hell...I'll be around..."
She clicked her tounge agasisnt the roof of her mouth and with that she was gone, down into the dark hole.
Pandora's expression changed to that of knowing satisfaction as she glanced the green eye's of the Lycan from across the room. Even as he approached her, she squeezed her left fist, causing the flow to increase ever so slightly. As of yet, he hadn't tasted her blood. He had scarred her, he had battled her but he hadn't known at all. She followed his every step with her gaze, distintly aware that Portier had thrown the parchemnt at the table. She didn't care to cast a glance at it. That's what work was for and tonight, god dammit, there would be no more work.
As Portier headed the way she came, Pandora slowly raised her wounded left hand, the scar facing her own posture, while the wound faced the approaching Lycan. As his eyes darted to Portier, Pandora glanced in that direction as well, just in time to catch the shifters comment to her Lycan and she hissed involuntarily.
The shifter was quick to leave, not giving Pandora the chance to fire comment back at her. Instead, she turned her eye's to Tathar once more.
"So what will it be... A night of damanation, or a night from hell?"
She had lowered the wounded wrist to her side as she asked, as if it would cease being a distaction.
She showed herself out. Her brows downcast. She would have to beat it into her head, this wasn't something in the stars persay but something that had been drafted. The scroll would discribe it all she only hope Pandora wasn't so stubborn about this. Leaving with her back to the Tower she hid behind her cloak. She would only return to the Tower, or Pandora. Should Pandora Send for her.. Until then, she would read the book she had taken from the library. "-Delicacy, Demons, And Incriptions-"..It would tell her all she would EVER need to know.His only reply to the shifter as she left was a threatening snarl, animalistic as could be given his form, even though his vocal chords did a marvelous job with imitating the sound it would normally be before his eyes returned to pandora's form, sniffing the air around her. Something was...different...about her. The last time had been a fluke. Their little trist a simple spur of the moment instance, and he knew that, but this time...No, this time she was egging it on, and he wasn't about to complain. He did not speak, finding that the fact that he was still standing right here with her to be enough of an answer. Seeing he did not make for the drop was as good an answer as any, And Pandora rose her left wrist up until it was level with her own eyesight. "I do love it when you speak like that."
A playful smirk crossed her expression, and she sought out his gaze again, her wounded wrist in plain sight for him.
The top row of her teeth raked against her lower lip, her position clearly stating that she didn't plan to go anywhere any time soon. Shifting backwards ever so slightly until her bottom bumped up against the table behind her, Pandora sat, her behind landing on the scrolls that Portier had tossed there but moments ago.
With eyebrows raised, she simply sat there, her arm held up at eye level, icy blues watching Tathar as if she expected him to perform a trick.
The scent of her blood was driving his mind crazy, his thoughts buzzing here and there, never really able to focus on one single thing except for that crimson flow....Never before had he felt the call of blood in such a fashion, though he'd never seen nor scented so much spilled blood of a Master, either, and as she sat on the table he was right there in front of her...He felt...hungry...for some reason...And not just for sustenanceThe smile on her face, or rather sneer, was a telltale of exactly what she was thinking. She knew. Slowly, Pandora reached out with her right hand, seeking his. She didn't want to hold it. Such a mortals attempt to claim and show off possession of someone. No, she didn't need to claim him she already had him, hook line and sinker, for the moment. Instead, she placed his hand around her left wrist, and slowly rose it upward, clearly giving him the invitation to do exactly what he was fighting not to.
Any rational Vampire would never let a Lycan taste their power. Hell, they'd never lock themselves away in a library with one either. Pandora, clearly, wasn't rational, but then again no one ever claimed she was.
He did not note her expression, only that she existed, and that he wanted her...completely...and for himself, loathe to share with anyone else...He would never admit it, and rightly so, for he would have trouble remembering exactly what was going on here in this place amongst the tomes of NightWorld....The beast was the one calling the shots for him at the moment, and as she took her wrist in his own and offered it up to him he was only too happy to oblige, jaws opening wide, carefully latching onto it, relishing the taste of her, as well asnthat of her lifes blood...And to ensure that he would get a decent amount he bit down around the wound, urging more blood to well up out of it and into his mouth, moving closer to her as he did so, though he may have overdone the strength of it a little...He was like a dog with it's favorite bone, right now.The gasp that escaped her slightly parted lips was not that of pleasure, but of pain as the salava of a Lycan entered her wrist. It burned, but was quickly diminished by the new sensation of her blood being taken rather then receiving. Honestly, Pandora had never experienced it before. No wonder why her Prey squirmed and begged for release. No wonder why Vampires had the ability to glamor. She harshly bit down on her lower lip, her eye teeth piercing the skin of her lower lip as she bit back the painful gasp that threatened to escape once more.
With his jaw locked onto her wrist, and his own hand still holding it in place, Pandora had no choice but to follow through. Her hand instantly came up to rest against the back of his neck, not in carress, but rather in defense should she need to grip the skin there in order to pry his mouth away.
Her eye's remained open, but unseeing, as she watched, lost in this new sensation. The pain was there, but not unbearable. If it weren't for the fact that he was Lycan, there probably wouldn't have been any at all. Pandora herself had to struggle not to toss glamors up as she suspected the moment she did, he would retreat.
Her body became weaker as he drew her lifeforce from her, each suck lulling her deeper into the cloudy banks of a drunken mind.
Staggering against him ever so slightly, she slackened her arm, in hopes he'd take notice of the change and stop before he drained her.
He drank and drank, feeling thirst to the point as if he had been wandering a desert for weeks on end with nothing to quench it. His mouth felt dry, the crisp taste of the blood a shock to his senses, and he pulled her closer to him as her hand found the back of his neck, as if he were guarding her from prying eyes and like-minded beasts...But as she weakened, so did the flow, and his own mind fought to the surface for control, releasing her wrist and breathing deeply, erratically, as if he had been underwater for too long and his lungs were screaming for air, that feral look still in his eyes, though now they would shine with a glimmer of understanding and rationale...He hoped that he had not gone too far. When he released her, Pandoras instint kicked in and she leaned back away from him, her right hand planting on the surface of the table behind her to keep her as steady as could be expected given the state she was now in. So this is what it felt like to be drained of life. This is what it felt like knowing you could die. How... rejuvinating. Though foggy from lack of energy, lack of lifeforce, a lopsided and childish grin broke the surface of her disoriented exdpression. Her voice, just barely above a whisper, seemed to slip out of her lips, even when she was unaware they were moving.
"Tell me that is not what you've wanted since you arrived."
Most likely, he hadn't even thought of it. But Pandora wanted confirmation that she had not just done something he would hold against her. She cradled her left wrist to her chest, before rising it to her mouth. Quickly she flickered the tip of her tongue over the wound in hopes her own salava would encourage the skin to knot and heal. She'd never attempted to heal her own wounds after being drained of blood, and had absolutely no idea if it would work, but Pandora knew her body. She knew that if it didn't heal, the wound would continue to bleed until there was nothing left.
Her eye's sought his again, knowing even now he would be unlikly to be looking at her own blues, and she repeated her question, even quieter then before.
"Tell me even as you hated me, did you not wonder? Did you not want to see what it would be like?"
He breathed a few more times before even trying to contemplate her words...He had been curious, yes....He had wondered...And it felt...strange...Taboo...He felt slightly dirty, like he'd done something terrible, but he did not regret it, even as he leaned in to her, lowering his form so at the very least she could have her fill of his own blood, almost nuzzling against her neck before whispering his reply, words low and quiet, even as he felt stronger, much more so than she was right now, almost drunk off of it"Aye.....I have..."
Pandora gave a slow shallow nod of her head, halfheartedly pushing him away. She all but leaned back onto the table, curling her arm up underneath of her as if a mortal child seeking comfort in a limbed pillow. Her legs too curled up so that her entire body was in that of a fetal position. Pandora, in all her undead years, had never layed any way but riggid and flat on her back. "Leave me now, Tathar Seregon... I need to rest..."
She, too, did not regret the experience. If anything, it proved to be an educational lesson, though somewhere inside, Pandora didn't weigh too much on that arguement. She wouldn't have offered it up for anyone else. Why on earth had she done so for a Lycan, someone whom was destined to hate her with every fiber of his being? Perhaps, it was simply because she did not think she could win him. Was it the challange? Or was it something that Pandora no longer believed she could ever do. Right now, it mattered not.
She knew she should feed, She knew that should the Tower servants find her here, curled up on the Library table, fitfully dancing somewhere between sleep and death, there would be all sorts of stories floating around if and when she awoke. She did not care. Being at a loss for blood while battle was quite different. Even then, the adrenaline from the battle still kept you focused kept you strong. Here, there was only a foggy mind, and the desire to sleep forever.
Her voice cut out as she tried to form the next set of words that she wanted to loop together to make a decent sentence. Where he was buzzing, high on her lifeforce, she was already gone.
"Thank.. Tath... for... Me...Time."
And then she relished all control of the world around her, her actions and her basic will to survive, and sank blissfully into unawareness.
