Having returned to dust.

[Seven]

Asila


A dull rumble seemed to shudder through the foundation of the house itself as Malevolos listened to Raven speak. Of course, it was only his fury that thundered through his veins, echoed in his ears, and created this illusion. The house was not actually shaking. At least, it wasn’t at this point in time.

Once again, Raven had challenged him. The man was blatantly posing a threat to his authority, and the dragon was not one to suffer such indignities gracefully. Yet, instead of snarling a few choice words at his vampiric ally, he simply stared at him flatly while he spoke, pointedly unmoved by his challenge. Unruffled by his arrogance. Or so went the façade he had just erected. What he really wanted to do was bare his teeth in a sadistic grin and smash the rival male into the floorboards. Damn the vampire, she was his! To do with what he will, and he had not planned this. Serena was a valuable asset to him, not just a caged meal or the starting piece in what Raven seemed to think was a harem. Malevolos never had been a patron of such things. They were below him.

The tension that coursed through him when Raven touched her was almost unbearable. Oh, how he wanted to make the man suffer for defying him! But he couldn’t let himself fly out of control. A good leader didn’t. And, even though he was not the acknowledged leader of this group, he tended to believe himself one and behaved accordingly. If he wanted to deal with the man properly, he’d have to show him first that what he did or didn’t do did not threaten or enrage the dragon in the least. Such reactions would imply that Raven held a certain degree of power over him that he, however small that degree, simply would not acknowledge.

But he was very angry, and the temperature in the room dropped noticeably as frost crystallized the carpet at his feet. The candles as well indicated his rage, flickering fitfully as the deepening shadows threatened to extinguish them.

He would have advanced on Raven just then had Serena not chosen that moment to free herself from the man’s grasp and speak again. He listened to her more out of the need to focus his riotous thoughts on something than he did to admire her wit, as had been the case originally. Only when she looked at him, suddenly trailing off, did his interest pick up once more, this time under the guise of amusement. He would have smiled at her expression. It seemed she was only just realizing that he had heard her earlier comment about his raping her being the preferable scenario, but doing so would be inappropriate and she would probably misinterpret the action.

When she referenced his intention to hold her hostage, his amused gaze hardened once more. So she had been listening in. Treacherous child! As deceitful as any human that the earth had spawned before her! He narrowed his eyes slightly when she paced forward and lay her hand on his arm. So she had chosen to tell him the means by which her treachery had taken place! He nearly turned away from her, agitated by what he believed to be evidence of the flaws that plagued the human race. Lies and a tendency toward self-rightousness, as though their way was always the correct one! As though the destruction they had reaped upon the world was done for the better good of humanity instead of in the name of a plague that their booming population had become centuries ago! Yet, she did not taunt him with this evidence of his error and the gap in knowledge that it posed. In fact, she basically told him that he had done all right this evening, all things considered…

His thoughts discontinued their secret rant on the topic of human degeneracy when confronted by such an odd sentiment. He listens once again to what she had to say, watching her walk away from him and wondering vaguely if he could get a word in edgewise. The girl just didn’t seem to run out of thoughts to voice. Which was unfortunate, since he, of course, would love to interrupt with his take on what was good and what was evil.

When she asked to be escorted to the bathroom, he immediately steps forward, moving to stand between her and Raven by no coincidence. “My clever Serena,” He began, seeming to have missed the line where she proclaimed that she was not an object to be traded or stolen. Of course, any proper male of the romanticist era may say something similar. “I assure you that no one in this house harbors such a distasteful fetish,” He gives Raven a dark look as he says this. There did seem to be other fetishes floating around his mansion like a plague.

“Come now,” He says, looking back to Serena. He offers her his arm, more to taunt Raven than for the sake of old-fashioned chivalry, though Serena could not know this. Or so he assumed. “I’ll lead you to the lavatory.”

However, they didn’t have a chance to go anywhere, for Reaper and a muscular brute of a man that Malevolos could remember from the day’s first confrontation choose that moment to crash though the wall. The dragon immediately stepped in front of the girl, automatically defensive. “Stay behind me,” He said casually, glancing back over his shoulder to look at her, “and no harm will come to you.” He turned back toward Reaper and Yugo, following them with his predatory gaze as his mind rapidly scrolled through battle tactics. He was not one to leap haplessly into a brawl. Still, tension continued to course through his form and it was clear that should any attack, however indirect, pass his way, he would step into this brawl despite the inhibitions his logical mind had put in place.

He watched Reaper crash to the ground once again as the pair fought, noticed the symbol scrolled in the dust, and decided to use it as Reaper had dictated. He summoned a thin layer of ice to hang in the air in exactly the shape that was still traced in the dust. He sent it beaming forward to strike Yugo.

“A small thing, Serena,” He said with an eerie stillness to his voice as he waited for Reapers symbol to do whatever it was supposed to do. “good and evil really aren‘t as clearly defined as most people seem to think.” This was hardly the time for an idle chat, but he had not been able to resist voicing his opinion.

((I’m not sure if Malevolos would actually know the incantation. I’ll leave it for someone else to speak, since I really don’t want to assume that he knows when he may not…))

[Seven]

Sparky

(Believe me, Nihu did the ritual several times in front of the Thirteen. Even if they didn't know how to do it, they'll recognize the incantation when they hear it.... it's something they consider forbidden, actually.....)

Yugo being hit by the mark, he paused for a moment while Reaper shouted out the incantaion, "Dos Miertu Nihu!". Yugo suddenly went blank, becoming just as Frost had, and stoodup and in a corner, looking at Mavelous, as if expecting orders.

Reaper, looking half-dead, stood up wearily and said, "I'm off to se a healer; since you cast the symbol, he's your slave.... I think I should be off now." With that he left the area.

[Seven]

Lien


Raven watched everything carefully, especially the way Malevolos behaved around Serena. Raven laughed, mocking as Reaper left. "Malevolos.... it seems a simple human female has you by the balls. Who would have guessed you would become so attached to a mortal. Bed her already and get it over with. Just don't get pussy whipped... I know Reaper would be pissed and if he found out you let some mortal make you turn over a new feather..." he grinned arrogantly and headed for the door. "What ever... I'm off to find a meal and get some head from something more experienced... later." he flipped them off like a wave over his shoulder and headed for the market, hoping to find a seasoned hooker to give him head, then a young girl to drain dry.

[Seven]

Our dear rambler has finally shut up at the sound of the battle below. She visibly jumped, the hair sticking on the back of her neck sticking straight up when the two men, wrestling each other to the floor, broke into her room. Honestly--did everyone like to burst in here?

She shook her head, before she started on another train of friviolous thoughts. She moved instinctively behind Malevolos, not wanting to enter the line of fire. This was all very frightening for her, she couldn't handle violence. Or rather, real violence, hate-filled need for survival violence. She had no problem with coordinated matches or action movies, but a real life fight was far different.

It was a fortunate thing that Malevolos spoke when he did, for it, if only for a moment, was able to release her mind from the imminent danger at hand. He had said it so dramatically as well, it seemed like the final words of a book, or the last thing a charater might say before rushing into the heat of battle, where they would risk life and limb. These thoughts were all nonsense though, but nonetheless, it caught her attention and she looked up at him curiously.

She understood that, she thought everyone knew that. Nothing was white and black, she had previously felt, but what she had seen in this very tramau-inducing day was making her wonder otherwise. Why, it had been Malevolos (with his betrayl) and his supposed 'friends' that made her doubt this 'shades of grey' theory. They seemed pretty black to her, and it almost seemed funny that her captor (for she now realized that's what he REALLY was) should tell her this. But maybe he was implying something? Why had he bothered to say such a thing? After all, if he meant to keep her hostage, wouldn' it have been better for him if she thought he was pure evil, and keep her in fear. But with a man as delibrate as Malevolos, she was sure he said it for a reason, but she could think of was that he wanted her to know he wasn't all bad, just a dark shade of gray. But that still didn't make any sense!! Exactly why she was staring up at him with a confused expression.

But then, she witnessed something horrible. The man who had been fighting with Reaper had been enslaved--a mind slave. She paled at the sight, realizing that both Reaper and Malevolos had done this to him. Horrified, completely horrified--what could be a more terrible fate than to be trapped within your own body, not even with the ability to think. A walking vegetable, mindless, prisoner, slave....

How was this NOT supposed to be considered an act of pure evil? It may be one thing to trap a person in a cell, enslave their body, but to enslave their mind!!? It was too cruel for Serena. She only vaguely heard Raven in the background, continuing the on-going rivalry he had with Malevolos, but she didn't care about that right now. She was too hurt, as she stared at the blank expression of the man. She remembered Frost, who had for but a moment escaped his mental imprisonment, remembered his desperation, his pleas. Why hadn't she listened to him and tried to escape? Even if she died trying to do so, anything would have been better than staying here!!

She didn't notice Reaper leave, then Raven leave. Her expression was becoming just as blank as Yugo's, though she didn't know his name. She stared at him emotionless, as if trying to mentally hide herself from the world, wishing she could disappear. But she couldn't hold up such a frame any longer, everything had been too much, too soon. A silent tear rolled down her right cheek. Her stomach lurched foward, making her twitch in pain. She felt she might be physically sick. Her arms went around her abdomen, hugging herself, as she fell to the floor, crying. Her whole body seemed to scream out "No more!"

[Seven]

Asila


A slave. Malevolos narrowed his eyes, secretly cursing. A mindless servant had been the last thing he had desired. Such objects were not very practical. They made excellent workhorses, but were not very discrete. It was hard enough to lie low with his ambitions, but he could generally manage it. The scene with the werewolf today had been an exception. He did not know how he’d been outnumbered so quickly, but such an damaging loss was not the norm for him. As a general rule, he gained all he aspired to gain. However, servants or even allies had a tendency to prove themselves liabilities in the end, as his association with the Thirteen had proved more than once. Should he take advantage of the services Yugo could grant him, there was the distinct possibility that the drone could just dig him a deeper grave than he had already begun to sink into the ground when the attack on the wolf-girl had gone awry.

Servants, allies,…friends, all had a tendency to fail him. Everyone was a liability. The darkness began to build in him in that familiar, thunderous crescendo that was audible only to him, and yet, even through this rising cloud of hatred and fury, he felt the insane urge to laugh. It was all incredibly infuriating, and yet he had brought this upon himself. If he were a truly powerful being, he would not need any of those previously mentioned three. Allies would be redundant sources of power, servants of any sort mere pawns who would be assigned only the most trivial of tasks, and the need for something more would be but the faintest memory. But he was weak.

Useless, strangled by a dragon’s ethics, as a woman had told him once before. The one who had spawned him, to be exact. That one line and many others that were of no importance. It was that one line that haunted him. It framed the reasons for his failings. It was why he couldn’t crush all opposition and cast the human race back into it’s proper rank. It was all because of a dragon’s honor, that single virtue that his father had passed down to him. It was the flaw that kept him from simply destroying all that tried his patience. He would not harm or kill another being unless he felt doing so was necessary, justified. Or unless he thought it the only way to take care of a threat. All of this nonsense that other’s with goals similar to his participated in, those lowly acts of rape, murder, and torture, performed only for the sake of inflating an ego or intimidating others; these things he did not participate in. These were just the things he had tried in his youth, and they had brought him not success, but instead any number of self-thought heros who desired to destroy him in the name of glory, altruism, or, and this had always struck him bitterly as ironic, for honor. Only villains who had failed to evolve more efficient methods operated in such a stereotypical fashion anymore. He had learned. He preferred subtle victories to raucous displays of power.

Something that he believed such a slave to be. But if he could not rid himself of it (and as he did not know how to reverse Nihu’s mark, he couldn’t) he was stuck with the thing. It went against his principles, but he’d just have to make some use of it. Damn Reaper for bringing that mark back into use. It should have been lost with Nihu.

He glanced at Reaper when he announced that he was leaving to find a healer, then turned to look toward Serena when the man left. The faintest mist of confusion dulled the garnet orbs, but he did not have a moment to analyze the reason for his unease since it was at that moment that Raven began to speak. It only took that first sentence to provoke him into yet another round of fury. He turned slowly to face down his rival, even this small movement wrought with tension and the desire to destroy. He wanted nothing more than to damage the bastard for the distasteful words he had spoken, but held back. Like them or not, he needed allies. He needed their power to complement his own if he were ever to achieve his goal. So he could not move to harm Raven to prove a point, for he knew how far he could take these things. Such an act would likely spark a full-blown war between them, particularly when the tension between them was so thick.

He watched Raven follow the example of Reaper and depart, standing silent for a moment before unclenching his jaw and speaking. “What a crude, distasteful individual this colleague of mine has proven himself to be,” These words he spoke in a low, ominous tone. He turned to face Serena once more, his expression dark with fury. It seemed unacceptable to him that she be assaulted by such indecent behavior, and he meant to apologize. This was a peculiar desire, for this was a human girl that stood before him and he had never thought humans worthy of such niceties. It was only those who he had deemed worthy of respect that he ever behaved graciously towards, but such beings were very rare. And his association with them never did last.

However, he failed to deliver this rare apology, for as he turned he saw Serena collapse. He froze, puzzled by her behavior. He knew that she hadn’t been hurt. There was nothing to signify an injury, for anything that could have struck her during the battle would have had to get past him. There was no reason for this sudden outburst…not when she had seemed to collected throughout the rest of this…eventful night.

He paces forward and crouches beside her. He knew of one sure way to read people, but taking advantage of it required contact and a few moments of concentration. However, when she was sobbing like this and in such apparent agony, he doubted that something as conventional as a question would suffice. He brushes his right hand over her heart, the movement tentative because he knew that should this agony of hers be a direct result of emotional turmoil, the connection he would soon form between his spirit and hers would channel that pain into him. But it was the most efficient way to straighten this out.

He closes his eyes and tenses as he opens his spirit to hers and finds himself drawn into her agonized soul. She would feel a wash of darkness invade her being, a shadowy presence that would begin to dull the sharp assault of her emotion. This was only a temporary side effect of his presence, for while his spirit was entangled with hers he would share some of her pain. Soon enough he would retreat, but for now the darkness leeched much of what was ailing her, just as it continued to consume all but his hatred. The figurative darkness that inflicted his spirit, that is, not the element that he controlled for elements had nothing to do with this phenomena.

He finds upon opening himself to her that she had collapsed for a very good reason. These tumultuous emotions, what felt like horror, disgust, and strong waves of empathetic sorrow. He remains for a few long seconds, pinned by the intensity of the mix. He felt as though he were drowning, somehow both smothered and eclipsed by the power of these sensations. He fights to unite his scattered spirit and pulls away, shuddering. He looks toward Yugo, who he now knows to be the source of this problem. “Get out,” He snarls, his voice made harsh by the ordeal he had just endured. With the phantom echoes of her trauma still pulsing uncomfortably through his being, he would have even released Yugo right then to end it.

Unfortunately, he lacked that knowledge, and even if he was able to release the slave, he would have hesitated. She was just a hostage. His role of gracious host had already ended and he had no reason to answer to her desires. It was only his dragon blood that implanted the very idea in his dark mind. Dragons were guardians in most legends, the Asian dragon often being a symbol of protection while even the violent western version would guard hoards of treasure. It was just one of those impulses that had yet to die. If something was worth protecting, you guarded it. It was an instinct as ancient as his race.

Yet, with Malevolos, it was always something more. Instinct was not reason enough for this man to react outwardly. In fact, even his draconic instincts were quite faint now, having been shattered into blunted shards by the hatred he continued to nurse.

He looks back at Serena, and his gaze too seems to have become vacant. Yet this was only because this under-lying personality that his perpetual hatred had faded into was much weaker than the dark minded persona that usually eclipsed it. There was very little beneath his fury, only the faintest glimmer of things that even he could no longer recognize. Such as the desire to protect, shreds of empathy, and, stronger than these small fragments, the icy sorrow that lay beneath it all. This was the foundation of his being, and was with him so consistently that he no longer realized it was there. He had simply grown used to it.

His expression is blank as he gathers her to him, lifting her from the dust-coated ground. He doesn’t seem to acknowledge the slight cloud of dust that lifts to join the other drifts of transparent grey in the air, but the shadows seem to leap forward in response. The darkness closes in on every surface of the room before retreating to it’s former pockets, leaving the room clear of the dust that had seized it. He gave a very slight grimace as he felt the pull on his energy stores, a sure sign that they had begun to run low. He lets the thought pass for the time being, however. His thoughts have gone so vacant that it has become difficult to care about such things.

He reaches the four poster bed, which had miraculously escaped damage, and pulls the deep royal purple comforter back with one freed hand before laying the girl upon it. Meticulously had pulls the blankets back into their former position before addressing Serena once more. “Sleep now, for only that temporary oblivion will free you from your grievances.” He gazes at her for a short while longer, as though intending to say something else, but instead turns away, about to follow Yugo from the room.

[Seven]

Sparky

Yugo, upon hearing the command of "Get out", instantly left the room and went outside the building. THen, as if on instinct, auras of earth started to patch up all the rooms except Seven's, making them as if new.

[Seven]

Serena isn't a mind reader, she couldn't know the disdain Malevolos had for keeping a mindless droll, his sense of honor, his hurt feelings, or anything else that went on in his head. Had she, the girl would have most assuredly felt sympathy for the man, but right now her thoughts were consumed by Yugo, the evil that had occurred to him, and the dangers she would surely now be in as well. She figured that now that she had revealed her knowledge (which she now regretted as well), her 'host' would no longer feel the need for nicities, that he would laugh at her heavy tears, grin sadistically in delight at her fears, and taunt her for feeling so sadly for his newest slave.

She wondered if she too might become like him. Had she not been so hurt, and been able to think rationally, she would have realized that there is no purpose to this, as she is only a frail human, her physical body was not of much use. But, as anyone can tell, she was in no such mindset to think rationally. She could be strong, but she was only a young girl, and this had really been too much already.

So, you can only imagine her immense confusion when Malevolos crouched down beside her. Between her blurry eyes, she couldn't tell if he looked concerned, curious, or just apathetic. She winces a little as he reaches for her, not sure what he's trying to do, or why it has to be that area, and if she wasn't already so distraught, she might have attempted to give the dragon a hard time about it.

But before she could further wonder, she feels the strange sensation of darkness slippping into her. It's not a bad darkness, in fact, it's jus the opposite. Her eyes were closed, and in her mind's eye, she thought she could feel something lurking in the background. It was cool and soothing, it made her relax and forget her troubles, or rather, let them slip away. Her sobbing slowed and then stopped as she fell silent, obviously much calmer now.

She opened her eyes, her tear-streaked face gazing at Malevolos curiously, now that his eyes were still closed. What had he done? She was positive he had done something, even know his hand remained firmly over her heart. Serena could only figure that he somehow took her pain upon himself, though she didn't understand why. Why was always the question. Why did he contradict himself so much? It had only been a matter of few short hours, maybe only two, and already she could point out many things that didn't seem to add up to her.

She looked away when he pulled away from her, not wanting to meet his garnet eyes. His odd angry, even hurt response confirmed her suspicions about taking her pain, but only confused her more. Was it intetional, or was he just trying to find something else? She couldn't know, and she feared what he might have been searching her for, had it been the latter. Serena suddenly felt a tidbit awkward. She hadn't realized it before, but the dark prescence that joined her in mind and spirit [/i]must[/i] have been his. Awkward was to say the least, she'd didn't often connect with people, and had a tendency to push them away, so this action...well, there were a number of responses, an undescribable mix of things.

And then, before she can even finish her thoughts, he does another unexpected thing: he swoops her up and tucks her into bed. What was she supposed to think about this? Relieved maybe? That he didn't seem intent upon harming her, like the other men might have? Confused by his actions? Happy even? He was being kind, in his own odd way. He could have treated her much crueler. Well, and furthermore....it was one of those things....scooping her up, the physcial contact, and the warmth (as she had grown very cold in her anxiety on the floor).

She didn't respond, but she continued to look up at him with confused eyes as she lay in bed, as if silently asking why he was doing this. They both knew that he didn't have to, in fact, it was completely unorthodox. Even a 'gracious host' would not have gone so far in what some might consider an even intimate action. But apart from that, he was the captor, she the captive--so why was he doing this? to lull her into a false sense of security? Make her think nothing was wrong?

She couldn't help but notice everything about the man was so dramatic, like he really had fallen out of a picturesque gothic fairy tale. Couldn't he have just said, 'go to sleep to recover your energy?' Apparently not. She notices the flicker in his eyes, as if there was more he intended to say...words of regret maybe? For inadvertantly causing her this pain? That was a silly thought though, for surely he didn't. In a strange way, Malevolos was starting to remind her of the frowning Greek drama mask, the kind you'd see nowadays decorating the theaters. The Greek Tragic Hero. Silly trivial thoughts, but she had them nonetheless. She watched him depart in silence.

Of course, there was still one problem, Serena never did get to use the bathroom....

[Asila]

((I know it's been a while, Seven, but I just had to comment on Serena's line of "couldn't he have just said, 'go to sleep to recover your energy?'" *takes a deep breath, a broad grin spreading across features before exclaiming with peculiar exuberance* Of course not! He's Malevolos! Even his thoughts don't make sense! Really, do you have any idea how difficult it was to learn how to rp as this 'force of darkness'? I had to cheat and channel an actual demon! *laughs hysterically before shouting 'NO, I am not crazy!' to no one in particular*

On a factual note, many collectivist cultures commonly use metaphor in conversation, so Malevolos, whose father is an Asian dragon, can speak in however many dramatic metaphors his heart desires and still be realistic. Isn't that wonderful? *grins*))

Malevolos quietly shut the bedroom door behind him, leaning against it for a moment as he vainly attempted to stabilize his reeling thoughts. The feel of the human girl's despair had nearly re-opened wounds he had all but forgotten decades ago. The taste of his own sorrow, his despair, and every negative perception that those two emotions had given rise to during his youngest years continued to drag at his spirit even as he straightened and paced away from the girl's door. He ignored Yugo, content to allow the slave to fix whatever he will now that he was stuck with him.

Serena's bedroom was one of four that made up the back of the first floor, and the dragon paced toward the front of the house as he continued to ponder the significance of what had just passed. He had reached the grand staircase now, and gazed up the curving marble steps as he considered passing this state of unease in the solemn company of the aging leather-bound books that lined his library. His thoughts, however, where swooping through his mind like bats on a summer's night and he dismissed the idea nearly as soon as he had considered it. What he needed now was to both reflect on his edgy thoughts and rest his wary body.

So he turned toward the dining room that lay to the right of the stairway and into the kitchen, where he paused before the cellar door. If you were a human who knew not what to look for, the door would look ordinary enough, constructed of worn boards and set in a simple square doorway. Yet this entryway was more than it seemed, as were many other items in this glamor-masked mansion. Malevolos, who was immune to his own enchantments, saw an ornate door that soared to fifteen feet and was carved with images of the guardians from Dante's Inferno. He gazed flatly of the collection of hellish creatures that included Cerberus, Medusa, a number of Furies and generic demons, and many more, including the three-faced Lucifer. He shakes his head at his own dark sense of humor and passes through the gateway. There was no need to turn a handle for the thing was not of this world and warped reality in a most peculiar way.

Passing through it he found himself in what had once been the cellar. Now this lowest floor reached even beyond the walls that stood above ground. There was a great number of rooms on this level, some with doors, some without, and still other chambers whose stone walls had been replaced by iron bars. The morbid collection of hallways and rooms were usually lit by faintly glowing crimson orbs that were housed by the glass globes lining the passages. However, Malevolos extinguished these as he walked into one of the first, and largest, chambers. The utter darkness, combined with the chill of the subterranean level, would return his strength within only a few short hours, long before Serena would wake. ((*smirks*))

Letting his form once again assume that of the large western dragon that was his true shape, he curled into a large, languid crescent and waited for his strength to return as he thought of the peculiar, seemingly average human girl that had somehow managed to call to the dragon that he had once been a very long time ago.

On the houses more reachable levels, only a variety of sculptures with peculiar black stones that glimmered red when struck by light (all themed as traditional guardians, such as griffins, gargoyles in various styles, and even western dragons who, oddly enough, looked more noble and proud than mindlessly viscous as was the norm) continued to watch over the vacant rooms.

((*is sheepish* Um, I didn't mean for my post to be so long. I know we agreed on shorter ones, but I wanted to describe more of the house since it sounds as though Serena will end up wandering through it. ))

[Seven]

Serena tossed and turned in her bed for several minutes, unsure what action to take now. Why did she have to use the bathroom? It was such an inconvenient time---heroines in novels NEVER have to use the bathroom at times like these! She really wished right now that Malevolos's home did not have such an old architectural design; she wished it was modern, since most modern homes have a bathroom either attached to the room, or just one door over from a bedroom. But I guess that couldn't be expected of a huge mansion, that probably had well over a hundred rooms of varying shapes and sizes.

She did not want to go searching for a bathroom in some odd hundred or so rooms, especially now. Why hadn't she played dumb? The memories of just a few minutes ago continued to replay itself in her head. She wasn't proud of the fact she had blabbed so much. In fact, she really hated that. She usually found herself doing this, usually hating herself for not being more involved in a conversation, or hating herself for talking too much and making an idiot of herself. It felt like everything she had said was stupid. And while it got Molly's lecherous 'friend' away from her, she realized that Malevolos would have probably saved her from him anyways. Making a big monologue about it was pointless! Furthermore, while she had been on a "roll," she went ahead and told Malevolos she realized his game. Why the hell did she do that? Well...she did figure that he MUST have known, since Raven knew, but now, in hindsight, he probably hadn't. After all, he had looked a bit upset once she uttered those words. Had she just played dumb, Malevolos would have just underestimated her and doubted his friend.

On the other hand though, had she played dumb and he HADN'T doubted his friend, then she would have probably been in more trouble for acting suspiciously and lying. Serena put her hands to her head. Still, she could have just remained silent and the topic would have never come up!

She sighed. God knows what might happen to her if the angry dragon caught her roaming uninvited around his house. But surely she could appeal to his rational and say she just had to use the bathroom. Well, then he'd ask why didn't she look for him instead? Obviously because he had put her on the bed and so suddenly taken off while she was still speechless and had forgotten to ask until after he left. Well, that's still, how do I know that's the truth, my little eavesdropper? How do I know you weren't attempting to find something incriminating on me, or try to leave?

Serena frowned. When did she start having a mental conversation with herself, and more importantly, why was she pretending to be Malevolos? She shook her head. She was so weird sometimes, it baffled even her. Serena took a seat back on the bed. Maybe she could just try to hold it? No good, after all, if he didn't come back soon, then she'd jus thave to pee REALLY BADLY as she searched the house. Well, the only option was to pray the bathroom wasn't too far away and come back quickly.

She slowly turned her doorknob. It just occurred to her that he hadn't locked her in, like most captors would have. but at this point, she already knew Molly was full of contradictions, so she just shrugged it off.

After about 15 minutes of wandering, Serena still has failed to find anything with even a minor semblance to a bathroom. She grumbles beneath her breath that 'he had better not have an outdoor privy...' Not that she'd really be angry at him for having one, just that she'd feel angry about wasting all that time searching. Furthermore, now she had another problem. Somehow, despite her "amazing" navigational skills ((*cough cough Yeah right*)), she seems to be lost ((a little cliche, but hey, it works ;D)). She lets her head drop in disappointment with herself. The only thing she can be glad with herself about is that she's a girl, as it is scientifically proven that females can hold it longer than males. So heaven help her had she been male.

After another five minutes, Serena is starting to feel taxed from the long day and all the aimless wandering. She plops into a random leather chair, closing her eyes for a moment. She subconsciously spins the antique globe on the waist high stand next to her. She blinks. Antique globe? She looks around again, actually taking the room in for the first time. And that's when she realizes she's surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a large, high-ceiling room. She notices that the room is in an open-to-below format. Wooden railing leads to the second floor of the huge library, where presumably more books are being shelved. She stands up from her chair curiously making her way to one of the shelves. Upon closer inspection, she sees that all the books are quite impressive looking, probably 100+ years old, leather bound, and yet in perfect condition. A good number of them are in foreign languages, some she can't place.

She grins, forgetting all about her bathroom necessity due t her fascination with books (and antiques), and she mindlessly starts leafing through one of them (that she can read.)


((sorry the update took so long.))

[Asila]

((For my own devices, I'm going to assume that Serena was reading a book of poetry. *grins*))

Serena would have a few moments of quiet reflection to herself before a familiar masculine voice rose from the shadows with dark resonance. The words spoken belonged to an old ballad that was printed within the very pages she leafed through.

Thy native lot thou didst to Light resign,
But still half of the globe is thine.
Here with a quiet, but yet awful hand,
Like the best emperors thou dost command.
To thee the stars above their brightness owe,
And mortals their repose below:
To thy protection fear and sorrow flee,
And those that weary are of light, find rest in thee.

By the time the last words faded into silence, Malevolos had stepped into the light and stepped in close to Serena. He wore a cloak now, having grabbed the item on the way to the library for decency's sake, since he had yet to change out of his damaged shirt and thought it unwise to appear before anyone in such a disheveled state. His expression was serene, even kind and thoughtful, but his eyes held a hard glint that was difficult to read. Though he would not say so much out loud, he was annoyed to find a mere human leafing through the priceless volumes in his library. No matter how delicately she did so, or how much respect she seemed to have for the priceless collection.

[Seven]

The soothing effect of the stillness, the silence of the world formed in Serena's mind as she read shattered like glass. The sound, lulling as it was still sound, an intrusion that ended the dream of safety and replaced it with cold shivers scampering up her spine. The sound came so perfectly, speaking the words she was reading as she read them, one could have mistaken it for her own imaginings; it was the paragon of romanticism, which was the singular fault--no thing she had known had ever been so impeccable, no timing had been so correct, nor no voice so rich. It seemed that the book itself had gained lungs to narrate itself, for voice matched the words in such exactness and no such perfection could truly be attainable in reality. But dreams are always fleeting and only the icy shiver remained--a fright that had startled her to the point of almost fumbling the book. She didn't though, since part of her considered the beautiful book as having more value than her own measly life, which paled in comparison to is hand binding and delicate words.

She kept her eyes low, only seeing glimpses of his cloak from her peripheral vision. She still wasn't sure what to make of him, and she couldn't help having cowardly fear in her heart. Especially now of all times, now that she was no longer ignorant of him and now that she had once again trespassed--been caught red handed doing something less than favorable. She recognized that he probably did not want her anywhere outside of the room he allowed her to stay in, much less her hands on his precious collection in his library. She couldn't help but to bemoan her earlier loud-mouthed and callous and misplaced courage. If only she hadn't been so brave and foolish to sputter out so much nonsense, maybe she wouldn't be in this frightful predicament! Why was she such a fool?

Still, part of her wanted to hold some ground, to not appear as shaken as she truly was. She was strangely proud and stubborn in that way. Still refusing to meet his steadfast gaze, she uttered quietly, "Darkness. Darkness holds half the globe at all time....and the author alludes to the darkness having all the majesty of the greatest rulers. He was quite clever, wasn't he? And everything he writes is true, isn't it?.We mortals run toward the night in hope of protection...he didn't mention the irony of it though, that even though we covet its mysterious nature, and hide in its embrace when we are afraid, and cast our dreams and fondest wishes into its vastness, we are still intrinsically afraid of Darkness and all those qualities that we so admire of it..."

She paused, not wanting to bring up her disobedience in having left the room nor the events that transpired earlier that day. So instead she continued her thought.

"It is easier to be of light-- easier to ignorant and blissful of the grandeur and mystery of darkness, not having to fear being swallowed up by its unending vastness." Silently, she was beginning to notice she was talking just as much about the ballad as the man who stood before her.

[Asila]

As he listened to the girl's peculiar take on this favored ballad, Malevolos arced an eyebrow in one of those well-bred, eloquent gestures that, by portraying his thoughts so well, allowed him to continue without vocalizing these thoughts. Oh, is that so? My dear girl, I am afraid I disagree...

And even as his expression implied those words, he was speaking others. Serena's words had given his thoughts cause to stir, and there were certain implications that he felt needed correcting. "While darkness is the greatest driving force in this world, it is not commonly adopted by the living." He began mysteriously, and continued without offering an explanation for his peculiar phrasing. "Most mortals avoid darkness in all it's many forms for the span of their short life, the only exceptions to the rule being the rare few who have become 'weary of light'. And such individuals are indeed rare. Humans never seem to tire of their endless pirouette beneath the harsh white spot-lights of their circus life, with it's endless trifling amusements and freakish, exotic attractions. How they cheer for that one 'brave' soul who prods the dethroned lion with his mundane chair!" Malevolos chuckled bitterly and turned away, flowing toward the only window in the room on silent feet, his cloak rippling around him like restless wings. He stood before the high-arching panes of glass for a moment, as though lost in thought, before turning to gaze at Serena once more.

"It is better to be of the darkness. Braving the shadows gives one cause to grow strong, while permanent residence beneath the rays of eternal light never fails to bleach one's character. As a result, a creature of light is easily smothered. And a creature of darkness will endure long after all else fails."

These words were resonant with passion, sharp and sure in their conviction, but his eyes were still and his expression neutral. The numb cast of his countenance was showing all the signs of anguish long suppressed just as his voice betrayed it's presence. Yet it was the rare individual who noted such subtle messages in his voice when his fierce red eyes were made terrifying by the severity of their chill. Surely someone who was so cold could not feel? Such was the inevitable conclusion that all who met him made, and he expected no different from this mortal.

[Seven]

((MY take on it is not THAT peculiar! ;D))

As he began to speak, Serena raised her eyes and head, just slightly, to look at him. She was even a little bit more "daring" (so to speak) when he turned away from her, glancing up at him, if only to enjoy the momentary splendor of his graceful silhouette by the window. As he turned, she bowed her head again, though this time not out of fear. A curious emotion was rising up in her...her hand, covering the majority of her mouth, as if she were resting her chin on her hand. You could say this was a cover though, since she could feel the corners of her mouth tugging back into a grin. The curious feeling previously described was a strange mix of curiosity itself, delight...and even relief. She felt she ought to have scorned these misplaced feelings, but she had the wildest urge to giggle. The hand was only a slight attempt to mask whatever silly feelings she was having.

"So at last I meet the true Malevolos..." she thought silently, feeling oddly pleased. The thought wasn't a negative one; she felt honestly relieved to be no longer dealing with his doting facade, which towards the beginning of the night, she had suspected to be false. On a similar note, she didn't feel the "true Malevolos," as she thought it, to be a bad/evil/negative/etc, persona. In fact, she wasn't about to claim she knew anything about his real nature. She just felt happier to know that she was going to find out, rather than guessing what she might be in for.

In any case, she sat up a bit straighter, and tried her best to seem at the very least serious. "I think you've misunderstood me, Malevolos. I said it is easier to be of light, not better. Of course mankind avoids darkness as a rule---it's been fairly clear through writings from all the ages that darkness terrifies people, and therefore it is usually perceived as a negative driving force. Even the author seems to believe so himself when he writes:

Here with a quiet, but yet awful hand,
Like the best emperors thou dost command.

It's alluding to Darkness like a tyrant." She seems to be getting fairly excited herself, nearly rising to pace at on moment, but before she does, she catches herself and calms down, remaining seated.

"However, what I meant was this: Even if people choose to live in light, whether it's out of the fear of darkness or frivolousness or ingrained social structures, or some other reason, there is something fascinating about the darkness that no person can deny. Poets and dreamers have written of it time and time again, as if there lies some hidden desire in the subconscious to explore what a life in darkness entails. However, as you said, light always almost wins over. When you mentioned the lion-tamer being watched by wide-eyed spectators...well...that's really what it does boil down to. Masses of people fascinated by this almost thrill-like feeling that darkness provokes in them, followed by rational and logic telling them not to give in to this fascination, and finally, attempting to amuse themselves with things like "meaning" and "purpose" to fill the vacancy in their lives, the gap in what they know.

"I doubt that the fascination of the unknown, the Darkness, ever goes away though, since, as you stated, people always will watch and applaud the lion-tamer, who has seemingly conquered. But in the end, neither has he. His "lion-taming" in the end is just show, something to attract attention and amuse the masses for a while. It is tainted, a poorly contrived illusion in which the lion-tamer is never at any peril, though he masquerades as though he is. Anyone who had truly lived and mastered such things would not be parading his technique under a spotlight for the amusement of bumbling, laughing---" she cuts herself off, as if she realized she was getting too caught up in the moment.

She gently closes the book and then stands, approaching Malevolos cautiously, as if going to return the book, bu she stops a few footsteps away from him. "But is it really better to be of darkness? Is there really even a difference in the end? If a person could speak to the stars, the moon, and all other heavenly bodies, and held up a butterfly and a spider, and asked these celestial bodies 'What is the difference?' do you suppose they could see what tiny, insignificant creatures were being held up, and if they could, would they be able to distinguish them as anything more than a tiny speck of dust? And if they did, would they really even care, since such things are so small comparatively speaking? I..." she pauses for a second, 'mm'-ing to herself before continuing.

"I disagree with you. If anything, it is best to be of both worlds, thriving in both light and dark, all grounds are your terrain, all peoples your people, only the very jealous seeking higher esteem trying to undermine or disrespect you, and only the very foolish openly condemning you."

((Edit: DAMNIT! I'M POSTING LONG MONOLOGUES AGAIN! I really DO need to bite off all my fingers....You have permission to maul me Asila!))

[Asila]

((Gah!!!*storms around the room, breaking things* Curse you, Seven!))

The corners of Malevolos' mouth turned down slightly in a small frown, his brows furrowing, when he noticed Serena's far to cheerful response. Everything seemed very serious to him. Even this unlikely conversation with an oddly well-spoken human girl. As far as he could tell, her mirth was the result of disrespect. She did not take him seriously, and that agitated him a great deal.

So when he began his response, his tone was clearly annoyed. "I am afraid that, in the midst of my passion, I phrased my response strongly, but I did not misunderstand. I heard you clearly when you said that it was 'easier' to be of light, but that is hardly the case. Light is so easily extinguished and short-lived. How can you believe that being of the light requires less effort than is needed to be of the dark? This is only so while life generously bestows those obscure items that inspire light upon your theoretical individual. Once the fates take all that is good away from that person of light, their light is extinguished. Light needs a constant source of energy to survive. Darkness doesn't need anything at all."

He paused, that smoldering look returning to his eyes. "As for the lion-tamer of my metaphor, he is only my example of the fickle nature of your race. People are only fascinated with objects representative of Darkness if that object lacks power. Every human loves to watch the poor beast while it's in their circus, but would they ever get so close to the lion if he held the power he is entitled to on his savanna? Would they be so enchanted if there were no bars to protect them, no weapon-wielding man to stand between them and danger? Would they openly approach the free-ranging beast with the same harmless feelings of wonder and awe. Never. Not unless their intent was the destruction of that very same beast that they find so fascinating one it's spirit has been broken. Humans do not appreciate. They conquer. They destroy."

As his speech progressed, Malevolos got angrier, more indignant. There were so many people who thought they were enchanted by darkness and the creatures that were born of it, who thought that they would give anything to be a part the whole infamous, romantic, gothic scheme that creatures such as he were a part of. But once confronted, they turned away. Every single one had turned away. They were deluding themselves, and for some reason that even he was not sure of, for he refused to acknowledge it, this made him absolutely furious. So he stared at Serena with his angry, smoldering red eyes, every muscle rigid and jaw locked, and just waited for her to do what he knew she would do. Through some action, she would prove him right.

[Seven]

Serena watched him, realizing she had only further upset him. Serena suddenly felt how wide she'd been grinning, and was tempted to cover her mouth again. 'No wonder he looks so upset! He must think I'm mocking him!' she thought to herself, and doubled her efforts to stop. But the more she listened to him, the less it became necessary to try and stop smiling. It came naturally, as the anger that radiated from weighed down all about the room.

Though the entire time, part of her feared for her safety, she couldn't help but guilty for making him upset. She stared up at him, stupidly in a way, and then diverted her eyes, as if out of shame. The excitement that had overwhelmed her a moment ago, the energy that forced her lips into a smile, was dying down little by little with the shame. Yes, she did feel ashamed, she constantly was ashamed of herself, ashamed of her twitch that made her idiotic grin, ashamed everything she did only made things worse for not only her, but others, ashamed that she was useless--ashamed to even exist! Maybe that's why she grinned--to hide her shame. But somehow, Malevolos's fiery eyes bore right through it, leaving her with sorrowful feelings.

In any case, her smile weakened, giving her a more somber look. A sad smile. "Ah yes...You're probably right." A small part of her wanted to debate this fact, to say that not all humans were so bad. But what would she say? No such thing would convince he, who had lived eons longer than she. And besides, perhaps saying such a thing would only be foolish naivety on her part---humans DO cause so much destruction, what significance would a few non-destructive human make anyways? Her point was moot, and further more, she knew it would only anger him more. With an almost ironic smile, she said, "I see you don't like humans....not that I blame you...."

She seemed to suddenly remember the book that she had been holding so protectively in her arms. She bowed her head a little, humbly, and unfurled her arms from around the book. "Erm..." she wasn't sure how to begin. "I'm sorry...forgive me for being such a giant idiot. You've been very kind to me, and I'm so grateful for that." She paused for a second, reordering her thoughts. "I shouldn't have left the room...but..." here she felt childishly stupid. She wanted to explain that she had to use the bathroom, but the whole concept seemed to her like type of scenario creating by an annoying 5-year old pestering that they can't hold it. She flushed a little. "I had to use the bathroom, and I didn't know where you went." She smiled nervously. "And then I passed your library, and...well...I guess we all have uncorrectable vices? It was a temptation I couldn't resist, I suppose..." she tried to explain. Her head drops again a little, holding out the book for him to take. "In any case, I'm very sorry."

The small, mean voice in her head said harshly, "Yes, you ARE sorry." It made the poor girl wince a little.