Her brow furrowed up in puzzlement. Did she miss something? Had she fallen asleep for a second or two? Hell. She hadn't even had the ale and already her wits were wandering off.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
He looked at his ale and shrugged and then leaned a little closer still. His eyes were left than right, narrow and his voice, his expression suggested he were telling her some great secret.
Maybe it was the day. Maybe it was the costumed children earlier. Maybe it was the ale. Maybe it was all the elements combined. Whatever the culprit when Grayell grinned she had a sudden image of him as a child and her smile followed quickly after.
I'm game.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Grayell knitted his fingers together and then stretched them outward, cracking them. He got up with a nod, finished his ale and promptly put his chair back in place. He then circled the table to her side and looked down at her with the slightest smile.
Ma'am.
He slipped his right arm under her knees, the left about her waist - and with one fluid motion lifter her out of her chair. He then draped her over his shoulder, chuckling. A hand rested on her rear and as he passed by the others gathered here, he gave them a salute with one finger and a smile.
Okay, that was going just a little too far. From his behavior she assumed he had no intention of making their bond, contract, friendship, Kaminari she had no idea how to describe it. She should hit him. No. She should kick him in the...
Kiko remained calm, if somewhat undignified across his shoulder. Her teeth gritted when he asked where they were going. Oh, yes, the price for her services just went up.
...its the same place?
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Grayell only headed out the door with a laugh and once a ways off, let her slip from his shoulder. Then... he noticed how entirely impressed she was. Whoops.
Grayell thought for a moment scratching his chin. He then slipped his arm about her waist and gently stepped to her side. He smiled down the street, took a deep breath.
Some do. But... I won't unless you ask next time. Well more explicitly at any rate.
She made another little sound in the back of her throat. But, there was no way she was going to take *that* bait, not after what just happened. But, she was smiling.
Eternity
“Put some clothes on, you weird, yellow-eyed, table-dancing, werewolf-training, cryptic, stare-me-right-in-the-eyes-and-don't-even-blink wench.”
Grayell's arm slipped to her shoulders and pulled her closer, him placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. He then withdrew from her, grasping her hand and pulling her arm up. He looked entirely happy.
So your call. Back to the party, headed home, or maybe some shopping. Explore even. You tell me Kiko.
He only nodded immediately and smiled in that manner that he reserved for her alone. He excused their passing through the crowd, nodded and smiled to those who were polite. It was not urgent, he did not rush; but instead walked with her... back to their home.
After Grayell and Kiko left the Harvest Festival celebration, in the middle of everyone's conversations and mingling, an ominous fog rolled through the surrounding forest and farm land, encapsulating the entirety of Wistvale. The lights inside the tavern flickered, dimming to an ever so faint glow. A piercing howl broke through the night, from a good distance away, and the tavern door creaked open once more, admitting a stranger with flowing white hair. As she entered, the tavern darkened more and it was difficult to see specific details of the woman's countenance. Save for her eyes. Glowing opaque orbs in the darkness. From what light there was, they could see she wore a tattered green silk dress, the cloth of which covered one of her arms, though from the elbows down she wore a pair of gloves that pulsated with a black aura, and despite how much one tried to see the details, it was if they absorbed any light around them, appearing as silhouettes. The stranger turned to Celephai and winked, clapping.
"How very amusing dear. Considering your…nature, I'm surprised you haven't razed the town yet."
She cackled.
"I'm afraid you've waited too long now…"
She held up a finger.
"To think you dabble in shadow magic. Ha!"
The woman held a hand up to her mouth, trying to stifle her inhuman laughter.
"Now for a story of my own."
The woman spread her arms and the tavern became almost pitch black, save for a dimly glowing blue lantern she set on a table. Shadows danced around the children and their older counterparts, the heroes of Wistvale.
"The Witching Hour approaches."
Will-o-wisps manifested out of thin air, little balls of light providing further illumination, and casting wild shadows all about them. The stranger moved her hands in frantic, almost random gestures, and the shadows obeyed, creating fantastical shapes both wonderful and monstrous.
"One century ago my sisters and I found this town on the edge of the known world and made our coven."
Her voice was sweet and melodic, carrying a supernatural tune both attractive and horrific at once. The shadows made silhouettes of her and two other women, standing around a cauldron. They appeared to be throwing something inside. The images became clearer. A foot. An eye.
"Rayne and Lea'na. My poor poor sisters…"
Her lip curved downward into a snarl.
"A town forgotten by the world, free of foolish heroes, children ripe to pluck…"
The witch gazed at the costumed children and smiled. Some of the shadows formed themselves into goblin-esque shapes and grinned maniacally at them.
"Yet your ancestors stopped us."
Speaking to the children, she moved her hand, and conjured another shape on the wall, a burning pyre with three women writhing, burning, hands reaching up for help, their mouths fixed in silent unheard screams.
"I owe my escape to my Master…"
The shadows did not dare assume the master's shape, instead forming into bats and other strange and spooky forms.
"The Witching Hour approaches, and my master will ride again."
The blue glow of the lantern played off her delicate and beautiful features, the will-o-wisps dancing about the tavern, flying aimlessly, their only purpose to provide more shadows for their lady to manipulate.
"I've watched all of you, waited and bided my time for this night. You have never faced such a foe as he."
The shadows crafted a horrific scene on the wall, a battlefield covered with stakes, and heads mounted on each and every one.
"This is his abode, in the nightmare realms where he resides, waiting to ride across countless worlds, collecting the heads of pitiful mortals. Some say he is a cursed knight, unable to rest after a great travesty he pulled against the gods of fate and time. Others say he is a ghost, wandering, searching for what he has lost, and will never find again. He has been labeled a demon, an immortal, even a malicious faerie from the fae."
The witch shook her head, stifling her laughter.
"Even I, the powerful Nuala do not know the truth. But tonight…he rides for you."
The gloves she wore thrummed with powerful magic, intertwining with her own ability as she briefly glowed, the will-o-wisps surrounding her. She snapped her fingers and the tavern went completely dark, sounds of children screaming echoed off the wall. The lights came back to life. Nuala and all the children were gone.
Venom was about to get up and say "hi" to Rue and introduce her to his little friend when the witch came in. A cold chill ran down his spine with what had just happened. He blinked his eyes a few times, wondering if it were just a dream. His eyes then quickly scanned the room for any of the children or even the witch herself, but they were all gone. There was an unsettling feeling within him that made him grab and throw the nearest table in front of him to the side.
WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!! Where did the children go?!!