Marlena's Manor

[Marlena]

The smell of the corridor she seemed to be following held no meaning to Marlena, nor did it bother her. She'd been around worse scents, though it was one of many things on a long list that made her exploration even more unpleasant. She was descending, and that made her less than happy also. She had so hoped that she would come across the staircase, but obviously her luck had run out long ago. Her steps were careful, well placed and light, all her effort in following the path she'd chosen, unwilling to risk turning around and getting lost, and not falling over her own feet.

She had no clue where she was going to end up, and she wasn't impressed when her traitorous mind came up with visions of caves and trolls, monsters that lived in darkness and long drops to the center of the world. Hesitating, Marlena took a few more steps before she stopped walking. She was shaking now, unable to stop herself from doing so, the small shimmers confused her and having no rational explanation, they terrified her. Her right hand lowered to the sai on her hip, pulling it free slowly, her left hand lifted and brushing the wall with the tips of her fingers.

Placing one foot in front of the other, her progress down this shaft slowed further, her eyes drawn to that glint in the darkness but occasionally scanning for more.

[Kiko]

It was a good thing her steps were careful and light. For within the next few feet the wall on Marlena's left started to move. The lights that had been following her down the path unexpectedly gathered together in a bright little ball.

Light. It banishes the dark. Have you ever been on the brink of some awful thought? Have you, like many of us, then turned your eyes toward the sun, a fire, or looked for the light? Haven't we all? It is not just the warmth of a campfire that gives you comfort it is the light offered as well.

The small circle of white light zipped forward along the wall and separated out in a similar pattern. The little balls spun around and continued to spin, faster and faster, until they were a blur of pale light.

And from the wall a round length of stone shot out. There was a grinding click, a shower of dust and small rocks, and then a section of the wall dropped out of sight. Marlena was now standing just inside a oval doorway. There was another sound, too. A faint whoosh of air, perhaps, and several iron sconces on the other side of the empty threshold sprang into life.

[Marlena]

She was mesmerized by the lights. So much so, she almost missed the movement of the wall and the sudden archway that appeared. To be truthful, she'd barely gotten over finally having some light to see by. Marlena had been so terrified of the darkness that her breathing had been uneven at best, short and sharp breaths followed by longer exhales that shook with her body. Now, she took the chance to regain herself. though she staggered back when the torches lit by them selves.

Looking back behind her, she glanced over the corridor she had made her way down. the light only penetrated so far before it returned to the pitch black that now haunted her, and would no doubt bring her nightmares for some time. Her thoughts went back to the lights ahead of her and once again back to what could be down here. She no longer had the fear of the dark, so her curiosity reared it's ugly head once more. Curiosity and the safety of illumination urged her forward, continuing her exploration which she had quickly come to regret.

Marlena stayed close to the wall, though now she could see the muck on her fingertips after guiding herself through the dark, she frantically brushed them off on the skirt of her dress, the hem of which had also seen better days. the air seemed cleaner, and she took a deep and welcome breath, her eyes continuing to scan everywhere she could see. She would have looked almost like a frightened rabbit caught in a corner a few minutes earlier, but now, she had visibly relaxed, her body no longer tense enough to ache.

[Kiko]

The smooth stone of the tunnel gave way to a more mundane brick and mortar construction. And while the torches were a somewhat erratic illumination, they did give enough light for Marlena to see. She was standing in a small antechamber. A quick examination proved it empty of anything but tall, decorative pots and regularly placed columns. A short walkway into a bigger room was easily visible, too.

The light danced around the walls and threw Marlena's shadow between two of the columns on the opposite side. There were bursts of quick reflections, small sparks of brighter light that ran up and down the walls. And there was a sound coming from nowhere and everywhere at the same time; a faded wail of sorrow or despair filled the antechamber. Within seconds the path of safety and illumination was swollen with a cacophony of horrible moans.

Then the wall beside Marlena started to crack, dust exploding from the mortared joints and the archway she had stepped through sealed up behind her.

[Marlena]

Though her confidence had returned some, Marlena turned on the spot, almost stumbling over herself as she tried to keep up with all the sounds and lights around her, confusion filling her mind. Too much was happening, all too quick for her to take count and make sense of it and something in her mind told her it was pointless to try when her path back to the manor closed before her eyes. She had not been looking forward to fumbling through the pitch black again, but at least it was a way out.

Now she was trapped, the only option left to her being to press forward. Her first thought was to find a switch, some brick in the wall unlike the others, a stone on the floor to press her heel to. She even considered pulling at each of the sconces with some hope that any of this could open the wall again. But she could be hours doing such, only to convince herself she missed something and do it all again.

She could feel the goose bumps rise on her skin, the chills that ran down her spine made her visibly shudder, all from the thought of no escape. Weapons taken into her hands, she closed her eyes as she inhaled, she could be braver than this and she silently vowed to herself that she would face whatever was ahead of her, with whatever dignity she had left after her embarrassing display in the darkness.

She didn't open her eyes again until after the first step, a new determination in her for nothing except finding a new way out.

[Kiko]

If Marlena had any experience at all with crypts or mausoleums, she could easily recognize the design of the solid, old building. All without moving so much as another inch forward. There is a lack of creativity that accompanies all the bland ornamentation in houses for the dead. Though, perhaps I am wrong, perhaps it is not the architects or designers of these final homes, but instead that lack belongs to those who are left behind. Relatives who find no reason to provide anything but an area for internment; in a place to hide death from the living.

The sounds had not stopped with the crashing down of the archway either. If anything, they had grown louder and more determined. As of yet, that is all it was though, sounds. The antechamber was empty but for her and the ever constant shadow. That first step the beautiful green eyed lass took showed remarkable courage, too. How many of you can honestly admit you would do the same?

Marlena had other options. She could have remained where she was, she could have yelled for help; or at least attempted speech, and she could have, as she herself thought just seconds ago, searched the antechamber for a secret latch. There had been one upstairs if you remember and another just before the archway.

Instead she took a step forward and the minute she did a voice, hollow and raspy, filled the crypt.

"You do not belong!"

The sounds changed from moans to shrieks and clatters.

[Marlena]

Marlena's resolve almost crumbled the moment the voice echoed through the rooms, the sounds deafening, her ears ringing. Her hands lifted, the grip on her weapons tightening as she pressed her knuckles to the sides of her head, her eyes closed tightly, jaw set almost painfully as she tried to ignore it all.

So many mistakes. So many times at which she had chosen wrong.

She tried to shuffle through her thoughts, putting them in order, The journey through the tunnel had been in one direction, but which one? Then the darkness, how big did that chamber seem? Could she find the stairs again? Could she remove one of the sconces and light her way? If she could answer these questions, she could make it back, only if she could open the wall.

It took all of a few seconds for her mind to come up with all of this, and it that time, it was also processing the sounds, separating them one by one, making sense of them gradually. Shaking her head, she refused to believe what thoughts were screaming at her. The moaning and shrieking. The tapping and unorganized clattering. It was then that she turned and ran back to the wall, placing the sai on her hip to run her palms over the brick and stone desperately, eyes wide and searching frantically.

A sound of despair fell from her lips as she drove the side of a clenched fist to the wall, her forehead resting against it.

At least she had discovered what was down the rabbit hole.

[Kiko]

The shrieks and clatters became louder as if they could sense her attempt to block them out. Then something worse assaulted Marlena's ears. A screech and thud repeated over and over, an unseen terror that was all the worse for being so.

Then the wild dash to the wall. Her weapon shoved away to search frantically for any possible escape. If there had been an opening before, surely she could find the latch. If not the latch, her fingers could dig her out. Marlena's mind was not processing anything but the rush of adrenaline that comes with terror. That fight or flight response that was running through her veins as rapidly as any mighty river.

She had given up standing her ground to run through it instead, except there was no place to run. She was trapped below the ponderous earth and inside a brick and mortared tomb that might well be her own. A new shriek echoed through the antechamber, the thud that came with it matched her frenzied heartbeat.

That heartbeat was cacophonous, too. She could feel the violent thunder of it, wild and harsh, and demanding escape from the prison of her bones and flesh. Then the lightning crash of swift words.

"Invader! Destroyer! Death shall be yours!"

The voice was full of animosity, fury, and raving madness.

[Marlena]

Her body shook with every breath she forced herself to take, wincing with the screeching that pierced her ears with promises of death. Marlena could defend herself from most things, she had weapons and the skills to use them, but it was all useless to her if she couldn't bring herself to pick them up and face whatever endangered her life. Then again, was it even worth it to try to fight? Some supernatural being did not want her here, and she had no idea how to take it on. But how could she if she wouldn't look.

Pressing her nails into her palms, the pain only a momentary distraction from whatever horror was behind her, she imagined all kinds of monsters just as she did as a child; walking copses that had dragged themselves from where they were interred, or maybe pale and gaunt creatures with sharp teeth, bright red eyes and long, knife-like claws. Some murderous spirit that could frighten her to death, though she was sure it wouldn't take much more effort on it's part, or pick her up and slam her into the stone walls, something she could not fight with her own physical weapons perhaps.

It was getting closer and she was running out of time. Marlena didn't know what would be worse. To turn around and find something she could not battle, or to die at the hands of something that she could have defeated. Any hope had left, and she had resigned herself to this fate of dying in this place, whether murdered or starving to death because of no escape, the least she could do was to turn and see how it ended.

So, she turned, her back pressed to the wall.

[Kiko]

Courage can be found in the most unlikely of places. Marlena was standing in a house of death and such was advancing on her in the most hideous manner possible. Still she managed to turn around and face it head on.

Death does not rush, it does not hurry, it has time within it's grasp and will not let go. Do you ever wonder why they call it a deathgrip? This my friends is the reason. Death does not ever let go.

There was a sickly glow of light coming from the other room. Then with a whoosh of chilled air and the clatter of bony limbs. Marlena's unknown and unseen enemy appeared right in front of her. He stared at her without saying another word for what might have been an eternity. But then, a leer; if you could call it that, skittered across his skeletal face along with staccato words.

"Well, well. What have we here? A juicy thing I think. Full of life."

It, he? Definitely a he. Death swung out an arm. Then smacked his hand, with a rough crack, into the stone Marlena had tried so desperately to dig her way free of.

"Oh, yes. So full of life."

And the way he said that word. Life. Marlena could almost see the voracious look she heard in his voice. What was worse? His eyes were naught but abandoned sockets.

[Marlena]

Whether or not it was a trick of her mind, Marlena saw her breath forming in the air before her. She felt colder as her childhood nightmares stood before her, the things that went bump in the night, living under the bed or watching you from the closet. It took some work to suppress a laugh at how she suddenly felt the need to find her older brother and tell him 'I told you so'.

It was only the sound of the thing's fist crashing against the wall that brought her back to the present with a jolt. Every muscle in her body tensed and she tried to shrink back into the wall as it spoke, though the entire time it did so, her eyes were taking in everything. It had form. It was solid. She could drive one of the sai into it and pray? Run into the chamber beyond and pray for a way out?

Marlena had never believed in the gods, but it was never to late to start. Which one would help her most? That was the question she asked herself as her fingers searched for her weapons. Wukong? Half the Tryst if not all of them swore by him, but she doubted he would be of much help. Tria? She had no use for love... What were the others? There were more, Marlena knew that much, she should have paid more attention to her lessons as a child.

In the end, she was alone, as always. She could only rely on herself. Her right hand lifted and drove her sai into the thing's chest with all the strength she could draw on, a yell rising from her as if it would give her more, hoping to force it out of her way just enough to start running.

[Raevarin]

"And yet, you will not be the one to take it."

Came a voice. It was light and almost melodic in tone, yet it carried the weight of power and death. The room's chill had increased to the point the condensation on the walls was starting to crystallize. The shadows seeming to dance around of their own will, molding, shifting and gyrating as if there were dozens of candles with wildly dancing flames atop them. But alas, no candles seemed to be in sight.

A cold embrace found Marlena's wrist jerking her to the side. As she looked at her grabber she would see almost nothing, save for the form draped in darkness, tendrils and wisps of the matter flowing off of him like a heavy smoke or fog. All that stood out were those glowing amber orbs where eyes should be but were not.

The figure straightened, unsheathing a blade. As the tip of the blade left the scabbard a pulse of energy radiated from it. That wave caused no harm, but the beast and Marlena could not help but feel ignominious in it's presence.

"Now, shall we dance?"

The thing asked, looking dead at the undead thing, the amber orbs narrowing menacingly, the glow almost intensifying.

[Kiko]

The unknown creature twisted his head in a grotesque manner. His skull rotated around with a grind of bone that set one's teeth on edge. This was his place, his home, and his domain. None had dared step into his domicile but those he created or allowed.

This... impudent thing came across his threshold and threatened him? Him?! The Marquis of Aguilar de Campoo, Ventura Garcia-Sancho! Well, that presumptuous peasant would learn soon enough. His empty eye sockets flared to life. The sound of a bell began to ring and a short sword came to life in the creature's hand. It was broad all the way to the tip and the hilt ended in the shape of a ball. The Marquis had always preferred the gladius; a weapon the Romans, a rude, inglorious bunch, adopted from his people.

"Dance? Fool. Does this look like a ballroom? Come, trespasser. Die at the hand of your better! "

The bell stopped. The words echoed all over the chamber. The Marquis' question was apt. This was a house of death and such it would remain.

[Marlena]

Marlena barely managed to stay upright as she felt herself being pulled away from the monster in front of her, only to find herself staring at the back of another. Obviously there were more horrors to be found beneath the manor. How many more would she encounter before her end? Something was out to get her, to play with her sanity it seemed, she had no idea whether she was being rescued or if her fate was simply being postponed. Whatever it was, she was no longer the focus of the skeletal creature and she could begin to breathe a little easier.

Rubbing the wrist that had been touched by some frozen thing, the chill had run through her, her steps were small and light, hesitant almost, once she had recovered sense, taking her back and closer to the wall, though she was unsure whether the chattering of her teeth would give her away. Whilst they were distracted with each other, she could make her escape, perhaps they would battle for eternity, never bother her again, or this new terror would be the victor and forget all about insignificant little Marlena.

[Raevarin]

A chuckle.

Seemingly innocent but filled with a cruel arrogance that left this being standing still. He waved a hand, dismissing the shadows around him. The mere gesture send the dancing shadows cast from the light trying to peel away, as if the shadows themselves wanted to run away form him.

He looked ordinary to what Marlena would notice. He was pale, but not so much to question his state of health. He wore simple black leathers that were form fitting, complimented with the knees high cuffed boots. His sword belt hung at his hips, a few etchings of cherry blossoms adorning them.

His hair draped past his shoulders until swept away by a gloved hand revealing more of his face. A crimson tattoo decorated the left side of his face, an oddity for sure. His eyes still glowing with that pale amber light. He looked to Marlena and smiled, had she not possessed the experience she did she would know behind that simple curt smile was something more.

She would know, she used that same seductive smile before. Then she noticed something else about that smile. His teeth. normal as they were save for the one she would see that extended farther than it should.

"My dear I must apologize. My attention was focused on you until he showed up. I had thought he would have been bumbling around elsewhere cursing to him self in his lunacy."

The man laughed after that statement. Not truly knowing of who this undead thing truly was.

"At any rate we shall get acquainted later."

He turned his head to this seemingly sentient undead thing.

"Every battle is a dance, and every battle field is a ballroom, and I am always the star!"

The man lunged almost immediately following the sentence leaving a shudder behind him as he went almost as if the air was trying to fill the gap of where he had been. The lunge was direct, his blade following across. A smile streaked across his face and his eyes lit up more.