[IC] Bonds of Guilded Steel

[TheWendil]

---

The winds of the kingdom were sweet and fresh, much like any other day in deep spring. The dark heralds of winter had all passed by and the proud nation of Crescentia had persevered through it once more.

In the conglomeration of towns and villages surrounding the main castle, life flourished as villager and citizen alike began to sift through the still melting snow and prepare for a sunny future. Talk of war and battle were all but things in the past, the most common grievance being that of childhood pranks on the elders. Politics were doing well with the other three nations of the world, and all of Crescentia lived in relative peace under their rule of their faithful Princess Titania.

Unfortunately, it was all too ideal. The castle of Crescentia stood proud and stern, unmoving in the harshest of weathers. And so it proved to be little challenge at all to slip in undetected into the massive building.

She had killed the initial guards on watch, knowing full well that it would be much too late when the next shift noticed their corpses. Melting into the shadows, she moved with expert grace and diligence as she moved about in the castle hallways.

The sound of blade cutting through flesh was brief, having been the last thing her victims would become aware of before their untimely murder. That, and the twin points of crimson that stared emotionlessly back from the darkness.

The girl was dressed appropriately for the lighting, and stealth was of no concern for her. A cloak as dark as her own hair covered her lightly armored frame with a skirt and some gloved gauntlets to follow. As she leaped from one patch of shadow to the next, the faint blur of crimson could be seen whirring past. Her eyes focused on the task at hand.

Her target was known, and she would kill without mercy or regard. The Princess of the nation Crescentia. The Lady, Titania. The mere name brought a rise of bile to her throat as she remembered her own bitter regards towards this retched kingdom. That spark of hatred lasted only a moment before she smothered down the urge. Feelings would only cloud her judgment, and so she purged them all in the name of her kill.

For the glory of the Imperium.

Leaping onto a higher level, the girl known only to her victims as Sable headed in the direction of the main court. Her employers had been very methodical in their debriefing of the castle’s interior layout and structure. She had been musing these thoughts so potently, that she hadn’t even noticed two more slain guards by her blade until she dashed past their slumped, lifeless bodies.

Finally, she found her intended destination. The area below was the castle’s grand court room that also served as a ballroom on festival occasions. It was here where royalty gathered to address their visitors for the day. It would also be the spot where the princess would die.

Crouching on the ledge directly above the royal throne, Sable unsheathed her sword and waited patiently, her blank pupils unblinking.

The Red-Eyed Ghost searched for her prey.

[Mousia]

“I hate people.”

The nurses rolled their downcast eyes as they dutifully washed and scrubbed her feet and legs to silky pale smoothness, though they weren’t very dirty to begin with. It was actually considered a luxurious job in the castle because it required comparatively little work and wasn’t necessarily unpleasant but for Titania’s actual presence.

“Fine! It’s fine! Begone!” The nurses stifled their groans as she kicked them away carelessly, paying no mind to the hard work they’d devoted to her. Why should she? She’d grown up with her every beck and call answered, so why would she ever consider that one day she might not be so fortunate?

“Shoes!” she called out to her nurses who she’d just sent away quite rudely. “Bun!” she continued her yapping. Indeed, at least among the castle workers, she was very completely hated. The only reason people weren’t defecting and the kingdom wasn’t crumbling was out of fear for her. They’d thought that a husband would calm her and reign her in a bit, but that was not the case. She became even more fearsome, making it a tradition to break new knights to the point of tears before acknowledging them.

However, despite all of her yelling and her rudeness and her complete disregard for the hard work of others, Titania was intelligent, brilliant even. She’d been educated in all things deemed appropriate since the age of four by the best tutors. Philosophy, art study, music, mathematics, basic science, public speaking, debate and argument, Greek, Latin, and religion were all tools in her box, and this was all besides her natural affinity for analyzing people in order to find their weakness and exploit them. This made her a fearsome leader of a country which was pathologically obsessed with justice and order because her only concerns were money, power, glory, and success. Well, other than comfort. Living in the lap of luxury since birth had a way of making people particularly averse to leaving that lifestyle.

“CEDRIC! COME HERE!”

Enter a stout man with greasy brown hair and a raspy beard akin in appearance and texture to a bird’s nest. “Yes, Milady?” he asked breathlessly.

“Go and inform the guards of my readiness.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” He left her chamber to follow her order, though Titania could hear hear him say “the witch is almost here”. Nevermind that, she had bigger fish to fry. Namely, the leader of a smaller neighboring nation (if it could even be called that, because it was more like a city-state and not one of the four great nations), who she intended to convince to convince was under attack by a third nation. After the war which the city-state would surely lose, she would occupy the land and expand her own empire, all the while saying that she intended to rebuild and restore what was lost in the “tragic” war. In reality, she had no such sentiments for restoration. What was some provincial structure to the princess of a successful nation and a budding warlord. Forget that, she was God!

Although religion had been adequately shoved down her throat, she had no respect for the Dytenziexitity or the people who preached his “teachings”. Mindless sheep were how they appeared to her.

Once her shoes were on, the princess stood. Her dazzling purple silk dress shone while the gold leaf trim sparkled. All of it was lost on her as she took one last deep gulp of air before she would be forced to...smile...and laugh.

She plastered a smile on her face as she left her chamber, and set a brisk pace to the ballroom. Titania, unfortunately, had to address the inquiries of commonfolk and other visitors before her meeting with the pigeon-brained Duke Clifton of Aelston and his sanguine advisors.

There seemed to be a suspicious lack of guards around. She didn’t comment on the blood staining the floors in the halls they passed, instead noting it for her reference. When they got down the room, she looked around. No one out of the ordinary around. The princess wasn’t buying it, though. The likelihood of all of her floor guards ditching work to have party and spilling copious amounts of wine in various places was pretty low. There was something awry, and Titania was no fool and much too proud to be shown up by some shadowy invader.

She stayed standing, refusing to sit in her throne. She was taught well enough that the most common place for assassins to strike was there, where every royal was sure to go, and in precisely one spot. It was easiest for archers, and the easiest place to hide because regular people didn’t dare go very close to the thrones.

Suddenly, an idea struck her and the princess struggled to hide her smirk.

She put her hands together in prayer, and uttered a common one among believers, the fools. When she was done, she looked up, muttering some nonsense about always looking up in her heart toward the Dytenziextity. A bit of movement. Ha! An assassin wearing a cloak. That nearly made her burst out in mad laughter. It was best to be unassuming, wasn’t it? No matter. She’d located the vermin, it was just time to exterminate it.

“Dear, would you mind fetching Sir Ulric for me?” Her voice was sweet enough to give anyone a cavity, and Cedric nodded agreeably, fearing her despite the face that she put forth.

A few minutes passed before a man dressed in a modest brown tunic was brought forth. He still had some breadcrumbs in his stubble, suggesting that he’d been beckoned from a meal.

“Please excuse my interrupting your eating, but there seems to be a...spider...up there above the thrones. As you know, I’m extremely phobic of them, and I couldn’t possibly address the people with one threatening to drop down on me at any second.”

“As you wish, Highness.”

Of course both of them knew it was not a spider. That was the fun of having a personal guard who was only loyal to her, teaching him the art of being diplomatically discreet.

[TheWendil]

Sable stared down at her target with a stoic gaze. The Dytenziextity? This girl was mocking the supreme deity? Sable knew that Crescentia was the kingdom most devout to their religions and ways but she hadn’t expected their leader to be so dismissive of the subject. What was perhaps an annoyance to her was the whole world to people down below. The thought of this royal mocking their world….it made Sable clench her teeth. She caught herself at the last moment, stopping from leaping down and taking her head now.

Soon.

“Please excuse my interrupting your eating, but there seems to be a...spider...up there above the thrones. As you know, I’m extremely phobic of them, and I couldn’t possibly address the people with one threatening to drop down on me at any second.”

The assassin narrowed her eyes, clenching the hilt of her blade tightly. She would need to strike now. More troops arrived immediately, aiming arrows towards the ceiling above the royal throne. Sable had already abandoned her position, airborne now and landing in the middle of the fray. Startled, the knights gave her one glance before freezing in well wrought fear and paranoia. Good. That brief gap of time was all that she needed.

“T-That’s-”

“The Red-Eyed Ghost!”

Sable charged forward with seemingly inhuman speed, cutting down the first two in her sight. The sight of blood being spilled freely into the air awake the guards from their trance and they dashed towards her with unsheathed swords. Sir Ulric, despite the bravery of his soldiers, was still rooted in place at the lithe form before him.

“R-Red eyes…Princess Titania, I…”

Then he noticed something. The assassin, the one who spread fear throughout the four nations, and the one who would most certainly kill them all…was a girl.

“A…a girl? Aha….ahahha! Stand firm men! The demon assassin we’ve feared for this long is no more! Behold the frame of femininity!”

Soon, anyone who was still alive noticed this obvious truth and began to lash out, their confidence restored. Sable said nothing, although she had to admit their strikes were becoming faster, more precise. As of now, the Red-Eyed Ghost had never bothered to reveal themselves. All anyone knew was that they usually murdered members of various royal families and political leaders.

Until now. Now she was as weak as their own princess, as retched as the woman was.

“Fight strong men,” Ulric repeated, his left hand flaring up into a burst of flames. “Let this damned devil be purified in the name of the Dytenziextity!” Launching a volley of fire, he realized that all of his men at this point were naught but bleeding corpses lying on the ground. Oh well. At least he’d have to honor of exterminating this vermin-

Sable cut through the flames as if they were paper. The action was enough to shock anyone into silent submission in the room. Ulric stared back, disbelief written over his eyes.

“How-”

He never spoke again, as the black blade plunged into his abdomen and was violently ripped out. Dead. Sable left his still collapsing body to fall, eyes dead set on Princess Titania. Looking at her, the princess would see no emotion reflect off of those crimson pupils.

Nothing at all. Nothing but a killing intent so intense and potent, it threatened to engulf everyone in the room into a fit of hysterical despair. Pointing her sword towards her target, the Red-Eyed Ghost took one step…and instantly fell forward, her body soon rushing to the ground.

Standing over the quickly unconscious girl stood a very trembling and very stuttering Cedric. He held the end of a knife in his hand, using the handle to make a quick blow. As soon as he realized what he did, he immediately cursed himself silently. All of his problems could have been solved had he just let the Ghost continue her rampage! Titania would be dead by now! There was no need to interfere!

He sighed heavily before sheathing his knife. Looking at his “beloved” royal with a heavy gaze, he motioned at the assassin’s limp form.

“Shall we kill her then?”

[Mousia]

Titania regarded the events that occurred before her with a pensive expression. She didn’t seem too terribly surprised by it, but she didn’t look glad that her personal guard had been slain either, along with many hall guards. Hmph. It’d take a great rally to replace them all. How inconsiderate of that girl to give her so much work to do! Nevermind, at least Cedric had stopped her before she could move any further. Maybe he was good for something.

“No, no. Stay your sword. Let us keep her in the dungeon and question her. I want to learn more about that magic-neutralizing sword of hers. And if Ulric and his men were so easily slain by a single woman, well… Better off without them. Will you take her on your back and walk with me down to the dungeon, Cedric?”

He didn’t seem to want to, but he did anyways once shot with one of her death glares.

“Oh, and will you please let everyone planning on seeing me here today know that we are very sorry, but we must postpone the meetings, Henry? Thank you.”

So the fat man and the unapologetic woman went down to the dungeon together. Once there, the heaving Cedric plopped Sable down unceremoniously and Titania was forced to shackle the prisoner herself due to sheer shorthandedness. When she was done, the Red-Eyed Ghost was fastened to a vertical board by her wrists, ankles, torso, neck, and forehead. There was no way to escape, and that’s just how the princess liked it.

“You may go, lord of fools and cowards,” she muttered quietly though venomously.

“It’s time that you died a tragic death, isn’t it, Lady?” Titania could hear his dagger being unsheathed, though not a sliver of worry perforated her calmness. Even though her back was turned to him, she knew he hadn’t the courage to so much as touch her. Time passed and the princess laughed.

“Do I lie, Sir? Do I perjure in saying that you are a coward? Now go socialize with the filth here. And don’t let any other unholiness to do with my assassination taint your mind, lest I have you put to death for treason.”

He scampered away silently while Titania’s eyes saw him out. When he was gone and the door was shut, the princess approached the unconscious Sable, scrutinizing her.

“It’s a real shame, you know. You could have been wife material,” she mumbled to herself, taking hold of the other girl’s chin with her thumb and first finger on either side of it, squeezing firmly. “With skin this pale, it’s a wonder you don’t burn and die in the light.” With her auburn hair falling in her face already due to a hastily-done bun, the woman shook her head, smirking slightly. “It’s a shame. Just a shame.”

After a while, she tired of looking at the girl and instead walked around the perimeter of the stone prison, chuckling as she remembered who each of the blood stains had come from. Perhaps she was a bit of a sadist…

Nevertheless, it was fairly necessary in her day and age to be a bit of one at least. What with all the messiness involved in nobility, no wonder she’d developed the philia in order to cope with the near-constant bloodshed, even in the era of relative peace.

“It’ll be nice to get back into the swing of things down here. It’s been a while since someone’s done something this deplorable, and I even had the pleasure of seeing it all with my own eyes. Ha! What a glorious day, huh?”

[TheWendil]

“It’s a real shame…. wife material….skin this pale.…burn and die in the light….it’s a…shame.”

As Sable slowly regained consciousness, she made sure to keep her eyes closed. Knowing that she was captured, she really couldn’t complain for her tactless actions in doing so. It was always some fool like a court jester or a farmer’s boy. This time it was a bumbling husband. Figures. Instead, all she could do now was rely on her verbal wit to prolong her execution…and slay her target.

So she waited. As she did so, she made the faintest of movements to test out her bonds. Nothing gave out. Shackles to her wrists, ankles, even her neck and head. She expected as much from a nation hell-bent on preserving false peace and extinguishing true freedom. When it soon became apparent that her captor, the princess no less, was not going to reveal anything through self-monologue, Sable groaned out softly to keep up the ruse of her unconscious state.

“It’ll be nice to get back into the swing of things down here. It’s been a while since someone’s done something this deplorable, and I even had the pleasure of seeing it all with my own eyes. Ha! What a glorious day, huh?”

“Do you often talk to yourself like a mad woman?”

Sable looked at her captor; her eyes were as blank as her voice, stoic and apathetic to her core. Seeing as even her head was bound to a vertical board, all she could really do was move those red eyes all around. To have finally captured the elusive Red-Eyed Ghost…the princess must have been sweating with pride.

Sweating like a damn pig.

“In any case, I don’t know why you brought me here. As an assassin, I bear loyalty to no nation, so using me as a bargaining chip will bring you no gain. Furthermore, as nothing but an assassin, only knights are taken in as prisoners. Thus, it’s rather odd you have me chained up like a piece of meat when you could have easily killed me.”

Sable blinked once.

“But you know this already.”

[Mousia]

“No one else has the intelligence to match mine, so why bother with them? Besides, if I am mad, what of it? Everyone is somehow.”

Titania remembered her training in philosophy, and chuckled a bit to herself.

“Though I wouldn’t expect a simpleton to understand.”

Sable went on. The princess nearly yawned at the information spurting from her mouth, all things she already knew. What a bore this girl was! Perhaps she should have been exterminated immediately. If she kept up this boring talk, Titania would have no choice. Well, of course she would have a choice, but she really was a servant of her whims.

“Of course I know all that. It is you who is in need of some enlightenment. What an arrogant girl you are to think I want you. That anyone wants you. You’re a useless, depraved individual. All I want is your knowledge. You have some options. You can tell me all I want to know and be afforded a painless death, or you can be difficult and live out the rest of your days in a miserable and maimed condition here until you die a slow and agonizing death while we take your magic-neutralizing sword and replicate it. See, gumdrop, I was not have entirely ethical methods, but I really do have your best interest in mind.” She almost made herself hysterical with that last sentence.

Titania was telling the truth about not being ethical. When she was five, her older brother suffered a tragic accident. Well, that’s what people thought anyway. He fell off of the top of the staircase at the country house and died on impact. The nursemaids in the other room washing said they’d heard small voices and laughter before the accident. However, the princess herself was thought to have died as well because she was not seen at all for a week after the accident. She returned from the forest after the disappearance and seemed entirely unaffected by her brother’s death. Of course, the story was covered up from the public eye, and the young prince was said to have died of a horrible, sudden illness. No one contested it because the only person who knew the whole story was Titania, and she obviously wouldn’t do anything simply for justice.

“So, pick your poison, girl. Or have you already forgotten what they are? I wouldn’t be surprised, considering your primitive line of work.”

[TheWendil]

Sable pondered the words given to her and closed her eyes. This girl…was really starting to annoy her. It figures that the “benevolent” princess of Crescentia was nothing more than a spoiled brat. Power had corrupted her, and Sable sought to end that power with her blade. Opening her eyes, she stared down Titania in preparation for her answer.

“You are right in assuming my lack of purpose in this world,” Sable said slowly. “However, I have to disagree on some points with you, your Highness. You say no one wants me? That’s rather presumptuous of you, don’t you think?”

The assassin directed her gaze towards the ground before saying, “If anything, I have more of a right to live than a deluded rat like you. The fact that I still have people who rely on me is something you could never understand, seeing as everyone in this very castle wants you dead.”

She looked up now with those same cold eyes.

“Especially me.”

“So, pick your poison, girl. Or have you already forgotten what they are? I wouldn’t be surprised, considering your primitive line of work.”

“I will not give you any information of the sort,” Sable answered threateningly. “I would rather be tortured than to give up on the one person that still relies on me. So go ahead and break my body, my mind if you must. It’s nothing I haven’t experienced before.”

A pause.

“Of course, I wouldn’t be surprised of your lack of empathy or understanding for the current situation, considering your treacherous line of work,” Sable echoed. “I don’t expect a royal like you to understand pain and loss that normal people experience every day.”

Her answer given, Sable closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wander. It would take some time, but she would kill Titania and she would liberate this nation of her tyranny. It would take some time and patience, but she would fulfill her mission. She had to. Lest….

Lexi. Please wait a little longer…

[Mousia]

“Presumptuous girl, thinking that I don’t already know about my reputation here. But sleep to me comes easily because I’m right. Despite all you may have heard of me, I always do what’s best for my country. You’d be a fool to expect more of me. What? You want some sociable, pretty, kind, educated, just ruler for all nations? News flash, buttercup: that doesn’t exist. Best to discover that now, when you still have some life left in you, rather than when you’re old and shrivelled and yet still as naive as a young child.”

A pause.

“Anything you still think is good and just is a lie. Hear me? A lie.”

A sick, twisted smile found it’s way onto her features as laughter shook her shoulders. The sheer stupidity of this girl was amazing. In fact, Titania near fell right over at the hilarity.

“Well, alright. It is your choice, after all. It’s not me who’ll be getting manhandled…”

A pause.

“But I will have the pleasure of being here to hear you scream and to watch those pretty little eyes of yours cry. Yeah, that’ll be fun.”

She went through scenarios in her head, weighing the pros and cons of various torture methods. She didn’t think pearing would be advantageous, and she didn’t want to get into psychological torture just yet. No. She would start out slowly, very slowly. Titania decided to let Sable believe that she was strong, that she could survive. And then the shock from a sudden large increase intensity would make her break.

More maniacal laughter. Yes, yes. What a good plan it was. The best part was that she didn’t just have the stomach for it, but she had a hunger. And what better way to keep the nation peaceful than by feeding all of the sinners to the metaphorical dragon?

“I hope you’re not squeamish. I mean, that would make assassinations difficult, wouldn’t it now? So...let’s start with that, huh? We’ll see how much you can stand blood.”

[TheWendil]

“N-No, please stop!”

The young knight was pinned to the stone wall by what appeared to be clear blades made of crystal. Of course, no one could verify this since no one was around to bear witness of the incident. Several of the hovering blades were lodged into the man’s limbs, his legs and arms. The back alley wall behind him ran red with his still seeping blood.

The darkened ally way was only a few miles away from the main castle of Crescentia, located deep within the inner confines of the town below. No one dared to venture into secluded spots around these throughout the town; because of this, the pinned knight was taken by surprise. Said knight now begged again to his captor once more, though the pleas fell on deaf ears. Blood was everywhere, flowing out of the lacerations seen criss-crossed on the man’s body. The masked man titled his head, as if admiring his work.

“W-What do you want! I already told you the location of the c-castle dungeon hours ago! Please, t-tell me what you want?”

“What I want?”

The masked man turned away, seemingly bored with his torture victim.

“Yes, I do remember you giving me all that you knew several hours before. This is just a past time for me, judging trash like you I mean. But yes, I suppose that’s enough for today. It’s been a pleasure…chatting with you.”

And just like that, the masked man began to fade away, his body distorting through the use of his teleportation magic. The poor knight who had been stabbed again and again for no reason finally slouched down in painful relief.

He barely registered the still hovering blades plunging into his body like a pin cushion, his renewed screams being choked and drowned out in a torrent of bodily fluids.

Back at the castle in question, Sable was about to be subjected to her own sort of tortures.

“Well, alright. It is your choice, after all. It’s not me who’ll be getting manhandled…But I will have the pleasure of being here to hear you scream and to watch those pretty little eyes of yours cry. Yeah, that’ll be fun.”

This girl….the way she talked of torture so casually made Sable’s blood run cold despite herself. She only knew of a handful of people who actually relished in another’s despair, and those were usually the ones who led the Imperium.

The Imperium.

No. She had to remember that these trials were for a purpose, unlike this blood lusted fool before her. She had to remind herself that despite Titania’s actions, they were still considerably better than the Imperium’s treatment of her in the past.

“I hope you’re not squeamish. I mean, that would make assassinations difficult, wouldn’t it now? So...let’s start with that, huh? We’ll see how much you can stand blood.”

And yet, that thought didn’t particularly make Sable feel any better. For although she was used to torture of all kinds, that still didn’t mean she wasn’t afraid of it. Hearing Titania’s preview of her first punishment, Sable said nothing more.

Instead, she clenched her teeth and tried not to shiver in her bonds at what was to come.

[Mousia]

Some people were greedy for bronze, silver, and gold. Some valued rubies and sapphires and emeralds. Some even measured their happiness in friendship. Others still were not so virtuous, blinded by crimson bloodlust and cruelty. Titania was one of these.

Her knife was sharp and clean of residue from past experiences, though some blood was crusted onto the junction of the blade and the hilt. She was no rookie with a knife. The more honorable sword was foreign to her, but pain was her forte. Inflicting it, anyway.

“I don’t want to hurt you too much, see. And make sure to tell me if you feel light-headed or dizzy. Wouldn’t want you dying on me now.” Her smile was sick, spreading all across her interested face. She’d always been interested in the human body, and the opportunity to learn more about how it worked was getting her excited.

The princess knelt down before Sable and pulled her dress up a bit, resting the cold metal against her shin without breaking the skin. It gave a little, and Titania cocked her head, completely interested.

“Tell me, buttercup, how that sword of yours works. And where did you get it?”

She brought it up the skin, making it red and burning. The princess noted this and made a small cut on the redness. It bled a good amount, though the cut itself was almost impossibly small.

“You have beautiful blood, dewdrop. Really beautiful. I’m glad you do. People with ugly blood are just no fun. I’m sorry for marking your skin, though. It really is a shame that you chose this life. Oh well. At least I can study you. Living people are more entertaining.”

Running her thumb over the cut, she watched it get tinged with scarlet. She brought her thumb to her lips and licked the blood off.

“Mm. That’s good. Nice and sweet.”

Titania stood and walked away from Sable, the knife still hanging loosely in her hand. She rolled her head around, smiling as it made a satisfying cracking sound. Stretching like a cat, a rumbling sound of pleasure erupted from her belly. Sitting pretty made her body just so tense. It was nice to relax and decompress.

“Ah. How are you, dollface? Need any water? Food? Tell me if you get tired. Wouldn’t want you sick down here, would I?”

[TheWendil]

“I don’t want to hurt you too much, see. And make sure to tell me if you feel light-headed or dizzy. Wouldn’t want you dying on me now.”

Sable’s answer was silence and the action of narrowing her red eyes. So the rumor was true then, that all royals were driven not by greed or pride but through the domination of other beings. Blood shed. They craved it, let the red substance fuel their sick desires. Disgusting.

The bound girl did not flinch as the cold steel of the used knife rested gently on her shin. Her body was already tensed from apprehension and the strain her muscles were beginning to feel from being strung up for so long.

“Tell me, buttercup, how that sword of yours works. And where did you get it?”

The assassin frowned, refusing to relinquish a secret to this witch so easily. When the princess made her laceration, Sable gritted her teeth at the sudden sting. A coolness began to pool at her knee, telling her of the blood that was rushing to meet the surface of her skin, brushing with the air.

“You have beautiful blood, dewdrop. Really beautiful. I’m glad you do. People with ugly blood are just no fun. I’m sorry for marking your skin, though. It really is a shame that you chose this life. Oh well. At least I can study you. Living people are more entertaining.”

The more this girl preached about her fascination, the more Sable felt sick in the stomach. It was bad enough to be subjugated to physical fatigue but the added taunts and nicknames were beginning to annoy her as well. She nearly retched when Titania began to lick off the tool of torture lovingly, quickly becoming disturbed by the morbid nature of it all.

“Ah. How are you, dollface? Need any water? Food? Tell me if you get tired. Wouldn’t want you sick down here, would I?”

“You’re sick,” Sable muttered, sweat already starting to form on her body from the tension lying dormant in the air. “You offer me food and drink even as you cut me apart? You really are a monster. And I am not your pet to do with, so stop giving me titles of false affection.”

Her glare only intensified as Titania regarded her figure with the utmost casual behavior.

“That being said, I will gladly inform you of when I tire of these games,” she hissed. “Capturing me has obviously blinded you from the reality of events. I am not so weak as you seem to believe.”

[Mousia]

“What do I wish to tell you? Hm… Good question.” Titania considered for a while. “Nothing. How unsatisfying is that? I’m not telling you anything. You probably already knew all that, huh? And I wasn’t going anywhere with it… Tell me, does that make you angry? Upset? Sad? I want to understand.” A pause. “You see, you’re a mystery to me. Look at it this way, if you can keep me interested, I’ll keep you alive. But if you give me nothing to work with, my dear, I’m afraid we’ll have to,” she paused and held her forearm against Sable’s neck, restricting air flow. After a beat or two, she released her pressure and stepped back, “terminate.” Her face held not the slightest hint that she’d just been talking about killing her conversational partner, her brow loose and her mouth upturned at the corners in a devilish grin. Indeed, Titania had always been an eccentric. That was not news. However, many of her victims were initially shocked at just how odd she was. People in her palace said she had two faces. People in her dungeon knew she had three. “How about this? Why don’t you clue me into just what you hoped to accomplish here by having my head? I know this isn’t about a challenge. So what is it? Is it a person? Please tell me you’re not looking for a man. Honey, they’re not worth the heartache, trust me.”

[TheWendil]

“What do I wish to tell you? Hm… Good question. Nothing. How unsatisfying is that? I’m not telling you anything. You probably already knew all that, huh? And I wasn’t going anywhere with it… Tell me, does that make you angry? Upset? Sad? I want to understand.” Sable stared at the Princess with widened eyes. No, the Queen now. Of course she had expected such an answer from the ruthless leader, but to hear it proclaimed so casually made a new layer of anger and despair hit her. Growling, she opened her mouth to deliver a biting retort before her breath caught in her throat. Gagging, she struggled in her steel bonds vainly for her captor to release her grip on her throat. So much was her plight, that she barely registered the words of the Queen, her mind swimming in a lack of air. Not yet. She couldn’t die just yet! Finally, Titania showed mercy and released her cold fingers around Sable’s neck. Spluttering out, the assassin coughed and shuddered as air finally entered her lungs again. “How about this? Why don’t you clue me into just what you hoped to accomplish here by having my head? I know this isn’t about a challenge. So what is it? Is it a person? Please tell me you’re not looking for a man. Honey, they’re not worth the heartache, trust me.” Sable instantly looked at Titania with the coldest gaze she could muster. “That’s none of your concern,” she insisted stubbornly. “I’m not a toy for you to play with until I break. My goals are hardly anything as noble as a husband,” she said bitterly. “However…I won’t lie that it’s on similar premises.” The fact that she was opening up showed that Sable was getting tired of these mind games. Either she would be released or die. Or maybe the Mad Queen of Crescentia would keep her as a pet? That particular idea made another shiver crawl down her spine…no, wait...that was something else. Her head snapped up suddenly, and she looked around for the source of unease. It was familiar…there! She saw him, if only for a heartbeat. He was there. The Messenger. Was it an illusion? Reality or not, his presence only meant one thing. “L-Lexi,” she whispered, not caring if Titania heard her or not. Suddenly, the once stoic Red-Eyed Ghost was a raving mad woman, her struggles vigorous enough to surprise even Titania no doubt. “Let me go!” she begged, trying to break free. “Kill me, torture me, sell me off into slavery! Do what you want, but just let me go! I have to go…I have to go right now! By the Dytenziextity, let me go!” Desperation and fear echoed off her voice in loud vibrations.

[Mousia]

Titania was just about to open her mouth to speak, but then she saw a wave of fear and dread wash over her captive and narrowed her eyes, enthralled in the sight before her. However, it did not elicit a compassionate reaction. To the queen, Sable was still a test subject, not a real person. Lexi? she thought curiously. So that’s her motivation, huh? Friend, sister, or cousin then. That narrows it down. Even without checking, Titania knew there was no one else in the room. It was just Sable overreacting to a shadow or something. But still, that was not when she’d wanted the other girl to break. It was too early. Much too early. Time to abort the experiment and see if there was a chance of recovering the subject. Let’s think. Think, think, think. Unchaining her would probably be a safe bet. With slightly shaking hands, Titania unlatched her prisoner. It took a little while, especially in her clumsy, uncalculated state. Gotta act fast. What else? I have to preserve her mental state. She finally reached a decision. I’m going to regret this. She opened her arms to the woman who had just recently attempted to assassinate her and held her in a tight embrace. It was unlike her very much, but it would be more unlike her to let a perfectly good person break before their time. “Shh, shh. Calm down. No one’s there. It’s okay. Shh.” The words seemed foreign in her mouth, but something deep and ancient within her snapped, and she blinked a few times before resuming in gently but firmly holding Sable in what served as both a comforting and immobilizing gesture. Yep. Regretting this already.

[TheWendil]

“Shh, shh. Calm down. No one’s there. It’s okay. Shh.” Sable’s screeching was momentarily silenced as she found herself locked into a surprisingly tender embrace. Caught off guard by the sudden action, she moved to glance up at her captor. Titania’s words did seem to soothe, albeit only a little. Still, she knew this was probably just for show; something meant to lower her caution. “I have to see her,” she murmured, leaning her head further onto Titani’s shoulder. Her voice was little more than a bare whisper. “I have to. She’s all I….why are you doing this? Why are you treating me so nicely now?” As she said this, the Red-Eyed Ghost slowly moved a palm with the most subtle of motions. Slowly, delicately, she curled her fingers to form a solid fist. “I guess it doesn’t matter whether I’m screaming, crying, or just silent, huh?” she continued. “And I would be lying to say that your contradictory actions don’t at least…interest me. That said….I-I…I thank you for this moment here and now.” A moment’s pause. “I will hunt you another day.” Without warning, Sable plunged her fist directly into Titani’s abdomen. Twisting it, she put as much force as she could to knock the wind out of her captor. Gritting her teeth, she suddenly lashed back before swiftly getting to her feet. She couldn’t afford to stay here any longer. If Lexi was in danger…. Reaching out, she hoisted the Queen by the collar of her dress and stared back with those familiar cold eyes, each pupil the color of fresh blood. “Tell me where my sword is,” she hissed. She slammed the other girl into the wall and pinned her there. “Now. A life is on the line. It is in your best interest to do as I say if you still want to use that voice of yours, my Lady.”

[Mousia]

I knew it. The sucker punch was a bit of a surprise, but Titania had never ruled it out of the realm of possibility. With the air knocked out of her, there was little for her to do but let Sable beat her around. Yet again the air was forced from her lungs when she was slammed against the wall. A bit jarred, she couldn’t respond to the other girl’s questioning. Guess she’s really in a rush. Poor thing. Emotions are getting in the way of her good sense. The first thing to escape her lips when the air returned was a small chuckle. “How will you find out where your beloved sword is if you cut out my tongue? You see, buttercup, you can’t operate in my house without my help, unless you want to waste precious time searching around for whoever you’re looking for.” A sick, twisted smile contorted her features. “But please, leave marks on my body. That will make it so much easier for me to get the public rallying with me at your execution. No one wants their sweet, innocent queen to be maimed by a violent prisoner.” Titania didn’t struggle, instead gently resting her hands on Sable’s arm, encouraging her to release her grip. “You know what you need to do, sweetheart. You need to trust me, or be sure that the next time someone captures you, he won’t be so forgiving as I am.”

[TheWendil]

“You know what you need to do, sweetheart. You need to trust me, or be sure that the next time someone captures you, he won’t be so forgiving as I am.” “Speaking concern for me is hardly going to change your outcome,” Sable hissed with narrowed eyes. “Did you forget how easy it was to kill your men? Even if I did decide you were of no use to me any longer, I would simply slaughter anyone in my way before eventually reclaiming my blade.” Nevertheless, Sable begrudgingly did as she was told and slowly released Titania from her steel grip. Make no mistake, she could very well carry on with her threats and boasts; however, it would be much easier to let the Mad Queen live for now. “And stop calling me such names,” Sable added, turning her face away. Whether it was rage or embarrassment, it couldn’t be said for sur. “I’m not your sweetheart or your buttercup or anything. So stop it. There’s no use in lowering someone’s guard with flattery when you only aim to execute them later,” she said coldly. Rubbing her wrists to release the strain the chains had left on her body, she regarded the Queen with a look of intense hatred. It was enough to burn holes through walls, but she knew Titania had to live. For now. “Before I ask you to lead the way, answer me this. Why are you helping me? Am I really that interesting of a test subject for your sick desires?”

[Mousia]

Titania was neither relieved nor surprised when Sable released her. It was simply necessity. She knew enough about being in a position of power to anticipate the other girl’s moves to a degree. As long as she remained a vital resource, she was safe. When Sable laid out her terms, Titania just chuckled softly. “And how am I to address you if you refuse to tell me your name, dewdrop?” Her eyes danced playfully with mischief. But the girl went on. So many questions. Titania knew she’d have to talk sometime. Finally she’d at least partially gotten through. Her lips were flapping in comparison to a little while earlier. “You really are an enigma. Most prisoners would look upon me and vomit at my eccentricity. And out of fear they would spill their darkest secrets. And I will admit that you squirmed, but handled it much better than most. I want to know how you tick, how you function, how you think.” She bounced on the balls of her feet, much like an overexcited child would. “So are we going to go or are we going to spill our guts? I’d rather the former, to be frank. It stinks in here.” The Queen paused, however, seeming to consider something quite puzzling. “Are we going to your sword first? Or to Lexi?” A sinister smile spread across her features, and her eyes darkened with mad anticipation. How would her newest subject respond to this?