The Beginning of the End (solo)

[Alyeah]

23rd of Fall, 511 A.V. Alyeah wiped the sweat from her brow and rewrapped her dingy scarf around the pile of copper hair on top of her head. It was still humid in the Inner Warrens; even though Fall had come, it hadn’t done much to cool things down inside. The cloth bindings tightly woven around her chest under her lontev were starting to wear her skin raw under her armpits. She tugged at the straps, trying to loosen them without being too obvious. Her sister Rai sat across the room, perched on a slab of dark stone, next to Pebt, whose crafty eyes never stopped scanning the crowd for Deks who could make her more pinions. With a grimace, Alyeah leaned back against the rough stone slab she was sitting on the floor in front of. When her weight left her feet, pain blossomed from the new sores that had blistered on the bottom of her foot from endless hours on the wet kitchen floors, but it was nothing compared to the ache in her chest when the first Avora of the night entered from the bustling Pathway. It was the third time that older male had visited in as many days. The girls he chose always seemed to be a bell away from being Yasi. He strutted towards Pebt as his hard eyes flicked from face to face. A few of the greedier women scrambled to their feet and shoved at each other for a chance to be closer to him. He gave a hard smile to the one with the most breast pouring out of her bryda, but when he waved his hand, every pair of Dek eyes, including hers, cast to the floor. When he stopped in front of Rai and took his time examining her, the tightness in Alyeah's chest threated to stop her heart from beating and she struggled to keep her eyes down. The Avora’s tainted smile reached the hardness in his eyes as he tapped Rai on the shoulder; her faraway eyes never swam into focus. “This one.” Pebt’s rotten grin ate the lines at the edge of her smile. She held out her leathery hand. The man dropped twenty pinions into her open palm, one-at-a-time. She recounted each one and stuffed them into her bryda then turned to Rai and tugged at her elbow. Rai’s only response was to hum. Her long eyelashes never lifted up to acknowledge them. When she didn’t move, the Avora smoothed his fingers across her cheek and dipped them down to tug at one of her copper curls. It sprung back from his fingers and his smile intensified the churning in Alyeah’s stomach. Pebt stood in front of Rai and helped her to her feet. When Rai was uncooperative, Pebt looked up at the Avora. “You sure this is really the one you want? I have plenty of girls to choose from.” His glare could have slayed her. “Know your place. Do not ever question me if you want this business to succeed.” Silence fell at the corner of the cavern; the sparks coming off of him were deadly. OOCI'm new to this and totally winging it. Any feedback on things that don't make sense would make me love you. Tons.

[Alyeah]

Anyone who looked at Rai could see that her body had devolped where her mind hadn’t. She was still Yasi on the inside. How could anyone choose a child for the thing he wanted? In the silence, Alyeah surged up from the floor where she was sitting, only to be held back by Orin, the dark-haired girl hovering next to her. Orin’s fingers were deceptively slender and beyond strong. They circled her wrist, holding her prisoner as the Avora crushed Rai against his chest and carried her off like a new feather. Alyeah’s blood throbbed in her ears. The Avora was off-limits to her; she’d never challenge him. But Pebt? She wanted a fistful of that wench’s hair and Pebt was no better than she was. Orin kept Alyeah’s wrist shackled until the pair disappeared back out into the flickering mage lights of the Pathway. When Orin finally let her go, she dove toward Pebt. The rolls of fat around Pebt’s waist jiggled as she backed up, the smirk leaving her face. Two Dek males moved in front of her, shielding her from Alyeah’s flurry of curses. The taller male to her right, with the longest ropes of muscle, gripped her arms and twisted them behind her back. She tried to squirm out of his hold as he drove her to the floor but her slight frame was no match for his unhealthy strength. He thrust her arms up from behind, shoving her face into the ground. Her lip split raw against the packed dirt floor. She moaned. The second male’s sandaled foot came crashing down at the back of her head, piercing her tongue with her teeth. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth, making her gag. Pebt’s bitter laughter sounded above her. “Now you’re growing hair on that bound chest you got? Maybe you tied it too tight. Either way, I’m past givin’ care.” The crushing weight on the back of Alyeah’s head eased off, but the pain that ricocheted against her skull was deafening. She couldn’t form a response that wasn’t guttural. The drudge holding her wrists yanked her back up and held her there so Pebt’s bloodshot eyes could rove over her. “Your mother traded your sister for you and I held up my end o’ that trade—‘til now. You’re outta control ruinin’ a good thing for yourself. No one takes care of either o’ you, but me. The last few seasons, that crazy look in your eyes has been comin’ on more often than not, so I’m puttin' an end to our agreement.”

[Alyeah]

The men drug her away from Pebt, out into the cavernous halls and away from the growing crowd. She thought they were going to kill her but the drudge who’d held her hands growled at her instead of crushing what was left of her body. “Stay away from Pebt, you know she doesn’t fool around. You’re lucky to still be alive.” Strange how she didn’t feel very lucky. He gave her arm a rough squeeze that reminded her he wouldn't be letting her go if there was a next time. She nodded stiffly as they turned and walked away, grunting their way back inside. Standing there, her body one giant ache from head to toe, something dark slipped inside her soul. It felt like the bottom of her heart had given out and everything that was good in her had been drained away. She was left standing there in the cavern, alone and feeling empty. She had no idea where the Avora had taken Rai and even if she did, she’d never be able to get up to the upper pathways to find them. She licked her swollen lip. Pebt was right, even though she hated to admit it. What was she thinking attacking her like that? It was stupid. She knew she’d never be able to get to her, but the anger had made her something else. Now that it was gone, she felt deflated. She stared down at her long shadow on the ground and watched it dance under the light. That darkness was the only part of her that was alive and moving. She drug her battered body deeper into the cavern, as deep as she dared to go and curled up against the cool stone wall, willing it to take away some of the fever in her body, but it didn’t do much to relax her. She couldn’t stop replaying what had happened with Pebt, over and over in her head. It wouldn't let her go. In the emptiness, the cold sweat beading on her forehead started to trickle down the sides of her face. Her breaths didn’t seem to be anything but shallow. She repositioned herself, leaned forward and tried to give her lungs room to fill. In that position, she should have been able to catch her breath, but it alluded her. Heat crept up her chest and burned a trail up her neck to her face. She tried to focus on what was in front of her, but her thoughts kept turning inward to something that wasn't there. She clamped her eyes shut as her stomach started to cramp, doubling her over and tried frantically to block it out. Not now. Please. Was she bleeding inside? She had to be. She was dying. When she hit the ground, something more than her soul had shattered. Cramps gave way to spasms in her stomach and she dry heaved at the ground, sending a ripple of pain through her already aching muscles. There was nothing for her to throw up since she’d had too much work to do to take the time to eat. Death is coming this time. She wiped the spit off her mouth with the back of her hand, and cried out from the shockwave of pain that radiated from the gouges in her tongue. Alyeah reached inside her lontev, loosened the pouch around her waist and pulled out a small folded paper. With shaky hands, she unfolded the wrapper, revealed the dark Apple Sauce paste and scooped up a fingertip full. Guiding her unsteady hand to her mouth was a struggle, but she managed to get it past her lips to deposit it between her gum and her cheek. As it dissolved, the first ripples of calm inched through her body. By the time the herb had completely liquefied her nerves and she was back in any kind of control, it was time for breakfast cleanup.

[Phoenix]

Character: Alyeah Experience: Brawling- 2 Lores: The feeling of having ones hands tied Unable to save ones sister Starting a fight, and paying for it Being tempted to disregard any consequences to follow ones heart Being Addicted Feeling the soothing effects of Apple Sauce The Order of the Phoenix: I really loved this thread! I hope you do a lot more, as this character is really intriguing! I am glad that you liked the addition of Apple Sauce The name is pretty silly but I liked it anyway! There really wasn't much for XP but I gave you some for brawling even though she pretty much just got beat up. If there was anything else you were specifically looking for, just let me know! Any questions or concerns, please send me a PM and I'll be happy to help!