A reward, for doing so simple a thing? One doesn't get a reward for killing someone else, the act of killing is reward in itself! Chaos begets chaos and all that. Unfortunately, she was running out of options here, and she didn't exactly want to make this massive thing upset...
Celephai heaved a sigh. "And... what do you want for a reward?"
She knew enough that princesses would usually kiss frogs and turn them into supposed beautiful princes, but it would take quite a sum of magic to turn Sonny here into something even mildly appealing.
Sonny giggled and hunched down, closer to her. His breath had all the charm of pickled slugs and his beady eyes were quite insistent on ogling her skin where it showed. He tickled her with a finger, which wasn't a tickle but rather like being dry humped by a drunken bear; and pouted his lips.
"I gets a kiss now. I gets a kiss and I is a prince and we gets married. That's wot always happens! Always!"
There was a distinct twitch in Celephai's face. It was only there for a moment, a mere fraction of a second, but it was there nonetheless. This scum of the world wanted to KISS her? To actually touch her AGAIN and this time on the LIPS?!
"NO."
She pronounced the capital letters, stating not her thoughts or emotions but an absolute Law of the Universe. This was not going to happen, ever, even if it were to cause the very apocalypse of this Gods-forsaken rock.
Sonny looked at her a moment, shock showing in his beady eyes. He looked at her and frowned. Then he pulled away a little and sighed... as his eyes started to well. His lip quivered in the most terrible manner and he blinked his eyes, sniffed. A tear rolled down his cheek, slowly rolling til it dripped on his hand.
He rubbed his eyes, started to huff... and then to whimper.
Now he was... crying? This massive creature, whom could render her completely ineffective in combat, was starting to beg? Oh, so THAT was his weakness: his HEART.
"No, I will not kiss you. Not even when the stars burn out and all goes cold, even when the last spark of life diminishes from the world will I EVER deign to kiss you!"
That felt... very, very good. Almost like murder, but more satisfying. To complete her stark refusal she took the crown from atop her head and cast it gently aside. She was no princess, and she wanted nothing to do with that silly romantic notion of it.
"Sonny, you have been told time and time again to not play with your food."
Celephai looked to the direction of the voice and saw that the old crone was back. Her voice sounded a hair cross. Sonny sniffled, wiped his cheeks and scuffled away from Celephai. He turned to face the wall in the corner, looking thoroughly dejected.
"Princess isn't food Momma."
The crone entered the room but was careful not to approach. She raised her voice and for whatever reason she sounded a hair depressed. She was not pleased with what she had to say.
"No, you're right. She isn't Sonny. She has been sold. The lady wants her."
A figure stepped from the dark as smoothly as a shadow glides with a passing light. She was wearing a large emerald rob, her face covered with the hood. It was apparent it was a very fine robe.
Sonny looked over his shoulder, pleading.
"But moooooooooooomma....."
"No Sonny. I am sorry, but she's no longer yours. Be a big boy now."
The crone moved toward Celephai, carrying a pair of shackles. The other figure remained stationary. Sonny on the other hand - he saw those shackles and looked at Celephai for a moment. He was hurt, his eyes were confused, questioning her rejection... but they suddenly grew narrow. He turned and scooped her up, quickly hugging her to his chest.
"MOMMA NO! Pretty is mine!"
The lady in the robe, still un-moving spoke then. Her voice was like honeysuckle, a delight to any who heard it... but hinted at all too much sweetness.
"I have paid in full. I simply will not tolerate such delays crone."
It didn't take long for Celephai to make the connection. It seemed like she was to be enslaved, bound to another being for a time. This was not appealing to her, but it was better than being the plaything of this giant, even as he defended her... or maybe...
"Sonny," Her voice softened, almost to a plaintive tone, as she whispered to him. "These people want to imprison this princess. Keep her bound up and chained... will you still defend this princess, even though she does not love you?" Celephai had already reconciled herself to being sold, but since this creature wanted to defend her, she might as well try to make the best of it. Who knows? Maybe he'll even do something stupid and learn from it.
Sonny looked at her and a twinkle lit up his eyes. He smiled, a crooked smile and then nodded. He planted a rough kiss on her tiny hand and then put her down, beside him. The massive, almost giant sized sonny got to his feet, the floor trembling as he did so and suddenly looked very, very serious.
"NO! MY PRINCESS! I SMASH ANYONE WHO TAKE HER!!!"
The crone stepped toward him, her face was a mixture of both fear and frustration.
"Oh sonny..."
The other lady pulled back the cowl on her fine robe. Luscious green locks spilled from it and bounced around her shoulders and she smiled.
Her hands lifted from beneath her robe, slowly and gracefully, long, thin, elegant fingers extended toward the massive beast.
With naught but a sickening smile, a solid stream of howling shadows tore from her robe, following her gesture and slammed into Sonny. The giant beast was pushed into the wall of the cavern, shadows writhing like animate oil across his chest and face. The lug didn't at first realize his predicament and snarled, looked to bring his arms up but found himself powerless to act.
The crone spun about immediately, immediately chanting, hands working some arcane art. A fire came to life between her hands and spun, gaining power....
But the lady in green simply flicked her other hand toward the crone, ensnared her immediately in her dark magic. The crone was lifted, screaming for her life; and was then turned to face her trapped son.
Her beauty aside, the green ladies smile shifted to a sneer and in an instant, Sonny's flesh was torn from his face and chest. He fell to his knees, remaining flesh simply melting and plopping to the floor. He gasped, his voice torn and broken. One eye had turned to a sickening puddle, the other looked to his mother.
"M..m.. my prin.... cessssss....."
His death rattle was a sickening gurgle, resulting in blood and a putrid ichor that spilled from his chest and throat as his body slammed to the floor.
The crone was crying, screaming for her son but the shadow witch had not forgotten her. She was spun again, over and over at furious speed until stopped with a sickening snap. Dozens of tendrils twisted up and surrounded her like so many cobras - before each ran her through and then pulled her apart. Her bloody remains were dropped and the shadows receded.
The lady still said nothing, but now turned her gaze on Celephai.
Last Edit: Sept 5, 2011 15:24:03 GMT -5 by Grayell
There are no such things as princesses. We are all slaves. To whom or to what we may or may not know, but we are slaves. All of us... except you. You, now, are free.
Celephai held her hands out, waiting to be shackled. The beast had tried, and gave his all to protect something he loved, and was shown proof of his efforts. It had been such for those who resisted the Elder Gods: complete annihilation.
The only absolute thing is power, and even then, we are not but slaves to it.
"...I am ready." The words weren't sorrowful or somber, or even vaguely emotional at all. This was the reality of it, much like how she had been ripped from her place at the side of a great entity from beyond to this infested world.
The lady in green stepped up to Celephai and rested single, cold finger on Cel's lips.
"Ready? I wholly doubt that my sweet."
Hey eyes were amber, a golden glint played in them that promised beauty and passion. She was ravenously beautiful but something that lurked in here eyes, the cold touch of her skin - it sent a chill even through Celephai's body.
Her new mistress winked and with a sea of whispers that rode the shadows at their feet, Celephai knew complete and utter darkness.
(This thread is finished for now. I'll let you know when the new one starts.)