One eye opened and was greeted with the sight of dark, cold stone. She grunted and wheezed, her mind fighting against the sedative that had been administered. Eventually the other eye opened and a thousand malm stare settled in. What happened? Nahare grunted again and winced from the hoarseness in her throat. Slowly but surely the puzzle pieces drifted together. She was back home at Dauntless headquarters. Her fingers gave a weak twitch and as she attempted to look around did she finally realize her precise location. The gaol. More specifically, lodged beneath the bed and against the wall of her cell. She had taken a prone position, cheek flat on the floor and attention diverted to the wall. Her right arm held itself tucked close to her chest while the left lay flat with forearm bent inward, palm facing up. Heeled boots were shoved into the corner, legs straight and with knees locked. Her entire body ached, though she felt far too despondent to even consider moving. Why bother? Nahare pushed further through her drug induced stupor in an effort to recollect just how she ended up here in the first place.
An image of Mor Dhona floated forth. For the past few suns, she and Askier kept themselves sequestered to the inn. Out of sight and out of mind being the intent. Only she knew of Askier’s return and secrecy was paramount due to a certain Epinoch roaming unfettered. That is, up until now. The moment Mikh’a called to arms those privy about the plan of trapping Jin’li is what lured Nahare from hiding. Those in attendance included Osric, Kanaria, and Aigiarn. It pained her to deny her husband the opportunity of finally ceasing his little brother’s existence, but she’d be damned if she lost him to Nald’thal a second time. Too much risk presented itself already. Tension permeated the briefing. Osric even made it a point to tell her they needed her calm and composed. “Trust me." Mikh'a added afterward. Calm, composure, and trust were three things in short supply. Taking into consideration what they were needed for ran it shorter. The idea behind their plan incorporated the use of a small scale bomb to shatter Jin'li’s form. Mikh'a, in an ironic twist, took Askier's schematics and improved upon them. The second part involved capturing the disintegrated pieces into a crystal where the disturbed man would spend the rest of his days, so to speak. Once the brief ended and everyone indicated they were prepared, they whisked away to a remote location in Mor Dhona. Nahare and Aigiarn set themselves up behind piles of rubble, guns aimed and at the ready. A few fulm ahead Osric claimed his own rubble pile, crouched low and with the crystal clutched in a tight fist. Further on and out in the open stood Mikh'a, the bomb hidden on his person. Kanaria, however, opted to stay behind and on standby for any wounded. A lone white raven sat perched upon one of the many pillars, its ruby red eyes scanning the newcomers.
Jin'li’s fondness for his nephew knew no bounds, so for him to answer a summons came as an easy feat to accomplish. The two exchanged words, though part of Mikh'a's banter struck hard with the way he disparaged Askier. “Trust me.", echoed in her ears again. For a fraction of a nonce Nahare shifted the barrel of her gun toward her stepson's back until it clicked that his demeanor was but a ruse. Her limbs shook and teeth gnashed from anxiety and adrenaline. What occurred next flew by in a matter of moments. Mikh'a spread his arms wide akin to beckoning for a hug. Jin'li, in a morbid gesture of wanting to test his nephew's resolve, stepped forward to plunge the edge of his gunblade into the young boy's chest. It was then the bomb detonated, the blast having been crafted to affect Epinoch and Epinoch alone. A dome barrier erected itself around the group and everything around him slowed. Too sluggish was he to dodge the onslaught of bullets from Nahare and Aigiarn. Osric took to the air in a magnificent leap, twisting and coiling to land a crystal laden fist straight to Jin'li’s face. At one point Nahare temporarily ceased fire, scaling the rubble and darting over to take Mikh'a into her arms and away from the abomination. The gunblade found itself wrenched free and thrown to the stone behind them. She covered her stepson's body with her own and twisted around to take fire once more.
A sardonic laugh erupted from the mad man. His mouth hung wide in an open yawn, wider still until it detached completely and flew with fangs bared right for Osric’s throat. They missed their target for Mikh'a summoned a rock barrier in its stead. Not to be outdone, Jin'li then sent forth numerous tendrils, directed at the assailants. Osric made use of his Chakra, the tendril bouncing clear. Aigiarn laid hers to waste with a hail of bullets. As for Mikh'a and Nahare? Their positions turned and he bore the brunt of their blows to his back. The vicious mouth took its place upon Epinoch’s visage, black ichor oozing from where the crystal punctured an eye. His body had begun to disintegrate from the explosion. “Destroy me and I destroy the souls of everyone you love. Everyone.†He extended a hand and produced the image of Askier. Nahare's gun clattered to the stone, and she and Mikh'a shifted to gaze upon the man they held dear. Askier lay a crumpled mess at his brother's feet, coughing and reaching out for help. “If letting him go frees him from all the pain you’ve caused him, then so be it.†Mikh'a retorted. “M’so s-sorreh, sweet’eart.†Nahare uttered. It was too late at that point. The trap had been sprung. Askier's expression twisted into one of hatred and wrath. Vitriol spewed from his lips, damning his wife and son both. Judging those an oh so lovely set of parting words, Jin'li rose his foot and crushed the skull of his eldest brother.
Askier's image faded with Jin'li not far behind. He rose into the air and a deranged cackle surrounded them. The last of him dissolved into minute pieces, only to be absorbed within the crystalline prison. With a rustle of its feathers the raven took flight, circling the area once before disappearing into the horizon. Aigiarn lowered her gun and simply stared, awestruck. Osric cautiously moved forward and stooped to collect the crystal. He, too, barely muttered a word. Though Nahare escaped physical wounds, her mind scarred further. Did she lose Askier? Was what he said true? She pushed Mikh'a away in a fit of grief. Scream after scream ripped from her throat and her fists pounded the stone. Drool seeped from the edges of her teeth and everything around her became distant. Her vision blurred and any noise took on a muffled tone. Mikh'a, too weak from his injury, lay still a fulm away. It was at that point Nahare blacked out. Osric and Ai were forced to carry the two home. One was taken to the medical ward, the other… Well...
At last she made sense of her plight. While they succeeded in disposing of Jin'li, she also hit an all time low. For the first time in her life Nahare was in gaol, and not because of crime, but because of a psychotic snap. She wanted nothing more than to rush back to Mor Dhona and see if Askier still lived, to see if what Jin'li had done was a ruse of his own. Exhaustion and drugs prevented her from doing so, and as she concluded to just resigning herself and succumbing to sleep, the sound of metal tapping against metal caught her attention. Finally, after many bells, she turned her head and shifted just enough to bring herself partially from beneath the bed. A bird sat on the other side of the bars with its head tilted. In its beak it held a familiar wedding band. Askier's wedding band. The piece of jewelry was dropped between the bars for Nahare to collect. She gave a nervous lick of her lips and used her forearms to crawl out completely, palming the ring afterward. Her brows furrowed as she studied the bird, a white raven, having recognized it as the same one from before.
An image of Mor Dhona floated forth. For the past few suns, she and Askier kept themselves sequestered to the inn. Out of sight and out of mind being the intent. Only she knew of Askier’s return and secrecy was paramount due to a certain Epinoch roaming unfettered. That is, up until now. The moment Mikh’a called to arms those privy about the plan of trapping Jin’li is what lured Nahare from hiding. Those in attendance included Osric, Kanaria, and Aigiarn. It pained her to deny her husband the opportunity of finally ceasing his little brother’s existence, but she’d be damned if she lost him to Nald’thal a second time. Too much risk presented itself already. Tension permeated the briefing. Osric even made it a point to tell her they needed her calm and composed. “Trust me." Mikh'a added afterward. Calm, composure, and trust were three things in short supply. Taking into consideration what they were needed for ran it shorter. The idea behind their plan incorporated the use of a small scale bomb to shatter Jin'li’s form. Mikh'a, in an ironic twist, took Askier's schematics and improved upon them. The second part involved capturing the disintegrated pieces into a crystal where the disturbed man would spend the rest of his days, so to speak. Once the brief ended and everyone indicated they were prepared, they whisked away to a remote location in Mor Dhona. Nahare and Aigiarn set themselves up behind piles of rubble, guns aimed and at the ready. A few fulm ahead Osric claimed his own rubble pile, crouched low and with the crystal clutched in a tight fist. Further on and out in the open stood Mikh'a, the bomb hidden on his person. Kanaria, however, opted to stay behind and on standby for any wounded. A lone white raven sat perched upon one of the many pillars, its ruby red eyes scanning the newcomers.
Jin'li’s fondness for his nephew knew no bounds, so for him to answer a summons came as an easy feat to accomplish. The two exchanged words, though part of Mikh'a's banter struck hard with the way he disparaged Askier. “Trust me.", echoed in her ears again. For a fraction of a nonce Nahare shifted the barrel of her gun toward her stepson's back until it clicked that his demeanor was but a ruse. Her limbs shook and teeth gnashed from anxiety and adrenaline. What occurred next flew by in a matter of moments. Mikh'a spread his arms wide akin to beckoning for a hug. Jin'li, in a morbid gesture of wanting to test his nephew's resolve, stepped forward to plunge the edge of his gunblade into the young boy's chest. It was then the bomb detonated, the blast having been crafted to affect Epinoch and Epinoch alone. A dome barrier erected itself around the group and everything around him slowed. Too sluggish was he to dodge the onslaught of bullets from Nahare and Aigiarn. Osric took to the air in a magnificent leap, twisting and coiling to land a crystal laden fist straight to Jin'li’s face. At one point Nahare temporarily ceased fire, scaling the rubble and darting over to take Mikh'a into her arms and away from the abomination. The gunblade found itself wrenched free and thrown to the stone behind them. She covered her stepson's body with her own and twisted around to take fire once more.
A sardonic laugh erupted from the mad man. His mouth hung wide in an open yawn, wider still until it detached completely and flew with fangs bared right for Osric’s throat. They missed their target for Mikh'a summoned a rock barrier in its stead. Not to be outdone, Jin'li then sent forth numerous tendrils, directed at the assailants. Osric made use of his Chakra, the tendril bouncing clear. Aigiarn laid hers to waste with a hail of bullets. As for Mikh'a and Nahare? Their positions turned and he bore the brunt of their blows to his back. The vicious mouth took its place upon Epinoch’s visage, black ichor oozing from where the crystal punctured an eye. His body had begun to disintegrate from the explosion. “Destroy me and I destroy the souls of everyone you love. Everyone.†He extended a hand and produced the image of Askier. Nahare's gun clattered to the stone, and she and Mikh'a shifted to gaze upon the man they held dear. Askier lay a crumpled mess at his brother's feet, coughing and reaching out for help. “If letting him go frees him from all the pain you’ve caused him, then so be it.†Mikh'a retorted. “M’so s-sorreh, sweet’eart.†Nahare uttered. It was too late at that point. The trap had been sprung. Askier's expression twisted into one of hatred and wrath. Vitriol spewed from his lips, damning his wife and son both. Judging those an oh so lovely set of parting words, Jin'li rose his foot and crushed the skull of his eldest brother.
Askier's image faded with Jin'li not far behind. He rose into the air and a deranged cackle surrounded them. The last of him dissolved into minute pieces, only to be absorbed within the crystalline prison. With a rustle of its feathers the raven took flight, circling the area once before disappearing into the horizon. Aigiarn lowered her gun and simply stared, awestruck. Osric cautiously moved forward and stooped to collect the crystal. He, too, barely muttered a word. Though Nahare escaped physical wounds, her mind scarred further. Did she lose Askier? Was what he said true? She pushed Mikh'a away in a fit of grief. Scream after scream ripped from her throat and her fists pounded the stone. Drool seeped from the edges of her teeth and everything around her became distant. Her vision blurred and any noise took on a muffled tone. Mikh'a, too weak from his injury, lay still a fulm away. It was at that point Nahare blacked out. Osric and Ai were forced to carry the two home. One was taken to the medical ward, the other… Well...
At last she made sense of her plight. While they succeeded in disposing of Jin'li, she also hit an all time low. For the first time in her life Nahare was in gaol, and not because of crime, but because of a psychotic snap. She wanted nothing more than to rush back to Mor Dhona and see if Askier still lived, to see if what Jin'li had done was a ruse of his own. Exhaustion and drugs prevented her from doing so, and as she concluded to just resigning herself and succumbing to sleep, the sound of metal tapping against metal caught her attention. Finally, after many bells, she turned her head and shifted just enough to bring herself partially from beneath the bed. A bird sat on the other side of the bars with its head tilted. In its beak it held a familiar wedding band. Askier's wedding band. The piece of jewelry was dropped between the bars for Nahare to collect. She gave a nervous lick of her lips and used her forearms to crawl out completely, palming the ring afterward. Her brows furrowed as she studied the bird, a white raven, having recognized it as the same one from before.
