Collab Between Lost, Skai, and Anriu Part Dos
Arianna and Hali - Not At Iktomi's... Yet.
Arianna felt her heart flutter and constrict as Hali mentioned Iktomi's name. He had survived, and now she had a chance of finding him. Deep down within her, she felt her hope flicker to life. She momentarily forgot that Hali was a stranger, becoming consumed with the thought of seeing Iktomi again.
"Arianna," Castiel's voice warned in her mind, "How do you know that this girl isn't lying and this is a trap? I know of kage's with the ability to see someone's past." Arianna took a deep breath, eyeing the woman in front of her. I want to take this risk. We have enough spirit to fight off a few men or women. Castiel only replied with a soft sigh, knowing there was no use in arguing. She had a good enough reason to at least see if it was real.
"Iktomi survived the gate opening, then," Arianna murmured, slightly lowering her weapon. She took a deep breath. "Lead the way."
Bending down Hali quickly retrieved her weapon, sliding it back into its sheath. She always felt uncomfortable without her blade. She was not like Leo and Iktomi. While they had become hosts she remained human. Steadying herself, she turned her back to Arianna, lifting a hand to indicate she should follow her. "He did not only survive it, he has become stronger. He is a beacon of light in these unholy times. I know seeing you will only strengthen him further. He was...distraught when we could not find you after the Gate opened."
Arianna slowly followed her, but kept her rapier in her hands. Her brows furrowed as she mentioned how strong Iktomi had become, then slight shock passed over her features as she mentioned Iktomi being distraught. "How did he know I was here?" She asked, a little suspicious of the inquiry. "And what do you mean by 'stronger'?"
Glancing over her shoulder, Hali's eyes connected with Arianna's. "Which time? I guess that doesn't matter. The first time I had been tailing you to your meeting with Mr. Vates. This time I was patrolling the perimeter when I saw you. My memory is excellent so I easily remembered your face. As for your second question, he is like you."
Arianna looked around at their surroundings, mulling over her words. Mr. Vates? Of course. A man as great as him wouldn't use real names when dealing with clients. She looked back at Hali and took a deep breath. "So, he's a host, and he had you tail me while I was in Sovereign," she said, repeating what Hali had mentioned. "What is he, some godfather-like mafia man?" She mused. Castiel had kept her humor alive during the past year. Although he barely understood human humor, she heard a lot of amusing things about kages.
Hali nodded her head as her strides grew longer. Arianna's reaction to seeing Iktomi could not be predicted, and it made Hali uneasy. "Yes, he is a host, and he has become quite close to his Kage during the past few months." At Arianna's second question Hali simply shook her head believing it to be an actual inquiry. "No I wouldn't say that. If I had to describe what he was, I would say he is an Emperor."
Arianna blinked, quickening her pace to keep up with Hali. "An emperor?" She asked incredulously. Iktomi was always one to dominate, but this woman couldn't possibly be serious about this. She hadn't expected the woman to think of her question as a real one. What had Iktomi become in the past few years? Arianna felt Castiel shifting uncomfortably, and the two worried if his kage was an onikage or a kamikage. She didn't ask, though. She would find out soon enough. Honestly, she would still visit him even if he had an onikage. Iktomi had a strong will. She was certain that he still managed to control himself.
"There is no other way I can think to explain his position. He has our loyalty no matter what. Many have died to protect him or to further his cause. When he speaks it is as if a fog has been removed from my eyes. What else would you call him?" Glancing at Arianna out of the corner of her eye, Hali slowed her steps slightly not wanting to push the woman too far. Iktomi wouldn't be pleased if Arianna didn't arrive in perfect condition.
"A megalomaniac," Arianna muttered under her breath. She looked into the woman's eyes and shrugged. "The last time I saw Iktomi, he was a fifteen year old finishing his last day of high school. He hasn't been in any contact with me since. The only name I have for him is 'old friend.'" She turned her gaze on the rubble around them. A fallen and rusted sign caught her attention. It was the sign for the cafe she had visited Mr. Smith - or Mr. Vates - in. They were close.
"Fifteen? That means the last time you saw him, was shortly before the time I first met him. It was a couple of months after he arrived in Sovereign." Hali shut her mouth quickly, head shaking a bit to clear her mind of the memories that threatened to surge back to her. "Never mind, that doesn't matter. I am sure that he is quite eager to see you again. He often spoke of you over the years." She stopped in front of a mostly intact building, hand pointed towards the doorway. "This is as far as I accompany you. He will be waiting inside. It was nice to meet you, Arianna." Turning away Hali quickly raced off, heading back towards her position on the perimeter.
Arianna was about to utter a goodbye, but Hali ran off before she could. Nervously, she turned to look at the building. The spider webs covering the sides made Castiel shift. "I don't like this. Do not let your guard down." Arianna only nodded in response. She slipped her rapier back into her belt loop and took a deep breath. Before she did anything else, she ran her hand through her hair and hoped that she didn't look like something that just crawled out of the gutter. With a small nod to encourage herself, she reached forward and turned the door knob. She gingerly stepped into the building.
With the door opened, Iktomi rose out of his seat with a radiant smile pulling at the corner of his lips. Gliding down the steps, he approached Arianna slowly, not wanting to alarm her. He stopped a few feet in front of her, arms thrown out at his sides. "It is about time you arrived Ari! You are a year late, and you didn't even send a letter apologizing. I must say your manners have taken a turn for the worse." Chuckling a bit he dropped one arm, the other gesturing toward one of two chairs, each on a side of a circular table. "We have a lot of catching up to do, would you care to take a seat?"
As Arianna entered, she couldn't help but notice the looks of the room. The dried blood on the floor accented the spiderwebs that covered the walls. It unnerved her and Castiel. Her gaze instantly focused on Iktomi as he approached her, looking him over. His general appearance hadn't changed much, but there were little things about him that were drastically different. As he spoke, the anger she had felt when he left those many years ago suddenly flared. Her manners had taken a turn for the worst? She hadn't sent a letter apologizing to him? She refrained from reaching out and slapping him. "So it's all my fault?" She asked, jumping right to their "catching up." "I was the one who didn't say goodbye?" Her eyes bored into his and her brows furrowed slightly in anger, demanding answers from him.
Iktomi brushed his hand through the air, dismissing her anger in a casual manner as he took a seat, since she currently refused to do so. "I am not speaking of the distant past Arianna. Would you like me to apologize for an action that I had no control over? If so then I am sorry that my parents decided that I was to move out when I graduated. I am sorry that I decided that rather than have you try to get me to stay in a place I was no longer wanted, I left with the intent of causing the least amount of damage." His tone remained calm, though not the void it usually was. Once more he gestured towards the seat opposite him, his lips still in a soft smile. "Now please sit Ari, I rather our first meeting in years be pleasant."
Arianna felt all anger slip out of her grasp as he apologized. It was replaced by a twinge of hurt feelings. Her eyes and features softened. "I would have let you go," she said. "It hurts much more that you didn't say anything to me before you disappeared." She shook her head slightly and dropped her gaze to the floor, exhaling softly. She sat down in the chair, removing her satchel and setting it down next to her. Sitting had been a mistake, because now she felt her exhaustion plague her. She hadn't sat down since she had left her last makeshift shelter.
Iktomi nodded a bit, a frown creasing his face. "I realized that it probably had that effect a couple of years ago. Despite my vast intelligence, there are somethings that manage to escape even me. I didn't mean to cause you pain." Taking note of her appearance, he tapped on his earpiece sparking it back to life. "Alex I want you to send down a couple of men with food and drink, the finest we have for both. And some water, as soon as possible." With his orders delivered Iktomi flashed Arianna a smile once again. "I am sorry for the mess by the way. I didn't know you were coming until a few minutes before your arrival."
Arianna let out a small chuckle when he talked about his vast intelligence. He managed to stay cocky even after all these years. She watched him as he ordered around someone through his earpiece. His finest drink and some water? How could he have an alcohol. After her year in Sovereign, she hadn't seen a trace of alcohol except for empty glass bottles. She almost smiled as he did so, but as he mentioned the mess, her gaze darted over to the dried blood on the ground. Cautiously, she looked back up at him. "What would you consider yourself, Iktomi? The woman that led me here called you an emperor, and spoke of you as if you were some hero with many servants to fulfill his wishes."
Iktomi sighed softly as he watched her eyes glance over at the blood. He had known she would see it eventually, he just wished she could have given him a little more time to find an artful way to avoid the truth without lying. "I see myself the same way I have since I was a child Arianna. I am just a man. These people needed someone strong enough to protect them, at least that is how it started. After a while they took it upon themselves to protect me. They came to me for guidance, and eventually they began following orders. Without trying I became a leader. I have had to...make some very tough choices during my time here, even more so after the Gate opened." Closing his eyes briefly, he took a deep breath before he continued. "I have done what I have needed to in order to keep my people safe."
Arianna watched him as he explained himself, noticing the way he reacted to his words. She could tell he regretted some of the decisions he had made, but she also could tell that if he was put in another situation like it, he'd make the same decisions over again. She nodded once, letting him know that she understood for the most part. "Whose blood is that?" She asked quietly.
Opening his eyes, Iktomi slowly turned his gaze to the stain upon his otherwise glorious home. That damned Conduit managed to make his life difficult even after his demise. Bringing a hand to his face Iktomi pinched the bridge of his nose. "It belonged to a Conduit who came here with the intent of harming me. I am sorry that you had to see it. I would have preferred if you got to see my home for its true beauty." Upon hearing the footsteps of his men he waved his hand at the table, without a word they placed several dishes upon it along with two bottles of wine, and a large container of water.
Arianna bit her lips, nodding. She was just thankful he had a reason to kill this Conduit. When the food came, she felt a little uneasy. After a year of scrounging around for food, it felt odd to suddenly have several dishes placed in front of her. She also wondered how Iktomi had gotten so much. "Thank you," she murmured, smiling gratefully at Iktomi. She had not eaten yet today, so her stomach was constricting in hunger as she smelled the food.
Iktomi noticed the look of apprehension on her face as the food arrived, and he couldn't help but frown slightly. "I often forget that many are not as fortunate as my group and I. Thanks to the Kage I host, and the aid of my people, I was able to rebuild most of my former home. My storage room and kitchen are located in the same area, and they both survived the earthquakes that ravaged the city that day." Opening one bottle of wine, he poured himself a glass of the red liquid, bringing it to his lips. After taking a sip he shook his head. "There is no need to thank me Ari, you are my guest."
Arianna only nodded, still feeling oddly out of place. She filled her glass with water, needing to be rehydrated badly. She sat up in the chair and took a long, but controlled, drink of the water. "How did you know I was in Sovereign? Your chauffer explained how she had been trailing me the day the Void Gate opened." She picked up a fork and began to eat, savouring every bite.
Iktomi flashed a bright grin at her question, taking another small sip from his glass before answering. "By the time you arrived in Sovereign I had already established myself in the 'Underground' of the city so to speak. I spoke of you often to Hali, back when it was just the two of us, and she came to me when she saw someone fitting the description I had given her, although a bit altered due to the years apart. That is when I had her start tailing you. At the time I couldn't come out myself. Too many people would have tried taking advantage of that."
Arianna turned her gaze to her food as he mentioned speaking of her a lot. She couldn't help but feel a bit bashful because he had spoken of her. She glanced up at him when he was finished. "So you've made enemies? What business are you into, exactly?" She took another long drink of the water.
Setting his glass down, Iktomi slid a simple salad in front of him. Taking a couple of bites, he thought carefully on how to answer her question. "It isn't so much the business, it was the expansion. As more people looked towards me as their leader, I needed more room to house them. Like I said earlier, I have had to make very difficult choices. I relocated some families, in order to house my people. How could I do anything else?"
Arianna frowned lightly, looking up at him. "Well, it's no wonder you made enemies. People aren't exactly understanding when you wish to kick them out of their homes just so your "people" can come in and take over." She sipped the water again, then moved to refill it.
Iktomi lifted his shoulders in a shrug as he continued to eat for a moment. "It was my family or theirs. I made sure that most of them got a new home, but there were a couple that I could not help however."
Arianna nodded slowly and drank more of the water. She then set the glass down and began to eat again. "Iktomi, may I ask you a, erm, personal question?" She asked as she finished chewing her latest bite.
"Ask away Arianna. If it is something I can answer I will." Smiling at her, Iktomi pushed away his now empty dish.
Arianna set her fork down, lifting her glass to her lips to take another drink of water. When she set the glass down, she turned her gaze to his eyes. She wished she didn't need to ask this question. The answer led to two possibilites of how her meeting with him would end. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage, and prepared herself. "Are you a Guardian, or a Conduit?"
"I suppose that is a valid question. I am in fact a Conduit. However not only am I still in control of my body, Archania is more than satisfied with the hosts that attempt to kill me. I have not once killed a host that did not have the intent to kill me." Iktomi remained in a relaxed position, casually taking a sip of his wine as he awaited her response.
Arianna felt her stomach twist, her emotions conflicting within her. She and Castiel were uncomfortable with the situation they were in, but while Castiel wished to leave the building immediately, Arianna felt different. She looked away from Iktomi and looked at the table full of food, and then the water. If Iktomi had wanted her dead, he would have done so already. She was much weaker than he was thanks to his lavish living and well-stocked supplies. "I suppose you understand what I am," she murmured, looking up at him. She trusted Iktomi, but she didn't trust the onikage inside him.
Iktomi nodded at her words, draining the rest of his glass before speaking. "You are a Guardian. You have no reason to fear me Ari, nor Archania. Even if she won't admit it she knows that she will never overpower my will." Iktomi shifted his eyes, his gaze dancing along the webs that clung to every surface. "If I had any ill intentions towards you, I would have killed you the moment you entered my home. In here it is very difficult to get the upper hand on me. I spent the past year turning this place into my palace." Lifting a hand, several threads rose from the ground and walls. His fingers twitched and the webs spun together forming a snowflake like structure. He jerked his hand upward, attaching the new ornament to the ceiling.
Arianna watched his little show, tense at first, but relaxing as she realized what he was doing. She looked up at the new ornament, then turned her gaze on him. She couldn't help but smile softly. "After all these years, you're still a show off," she mused.
Iktomi's lips formed into a smirk, before a slight chuckle escaped him. "I suppose that I am. Anyways you must be exhausted Ari. I would like you to stay here for the time being. After you have rested we can talk more. I'll have some men escort you to the master bedroom."
Arianna watched Iktomi as he spoke, noticing familiar qualities about him. It was still the same Iktomi she grew up with, but he had changed in a different way. He spoke with power and influence, rather then the cocky arrogance he once had. A warm smile appeared on her features. "There isn't anything pulling me away, Ik. I'd be glad to have a bed. I don't think I've had one since the night before the Void Gate opened."
Iktomi tapped on his earpiece once more, his smile expanding as Arianna agreed to stay. "Alex send someone down to escort Arianna to the master bedroom. If she needs anything you are to make sure she gets it." With that bit finished, Iktomi rose out of his chair. "It really is wonderful to see you again Ari."
Arianna's gaze never left him as he stood, and she followed suit. "I imagined our first meeting a little different, but I'm just glad that we even had a first meeting." She smiled and picked up her satchel, clutching it in both hands. "Will you wake me around dinner time? I wouldn't want to miss out on an other meal." She chuckled, remembering how just a day ago she'd been searching every nook and cranny for food.
"If I do not personally wake you, I will make sure that Alex does. I swear nothing would get done without him and the other two." Shaking his head, Iktomi let out a small laugh. Turning his gaze he saw one of his men enter the room. "Ah, and here is your escort Ari. I will see you later. Sleep well."
Arianna smiled at the sound of his laugh; it was something she hadn't heard in years. She looked at the man and bit her lip, still cautious, but nodded in acknowledgement. Her long year of solitude made it hard to trust people so easily. She turned to Iktomi and smiled softly. "Thank you, again, Ik." She moved over to the man, glancing back at Iktomi once more before turning and walking away with the escort.