| Summer 50, 512 AV Cotton folds swished around her ankles. Leather throngs slithering up the length of leg; knotted at the top. Two snake's heads whose forked tongues licked bare flesh as the subtle sweep of fabric cloaked them. Hidden beneath the soft blue veil they danced; winding together in endless tango. Running to the beat of soft leather soles. Slight heel clicking against the back of slender foot; drumming out rhythmic beat. Crisp leaves shimmied. Severed strands forcing blades apart. Formerly clear central stalk bent awkwardly to the left. Central divides, four in total branching off at peculiar ankles. The farthest to the right cut through; hanging on by mere thread as leafy meet ground to a pulp sank into the earth. Furled shards, until recently having been monumental crowns of pierced point, fluttered away in subtle wind. Ethereal currents causing them to twirl through the air; jagged edges dragging against uneven terrain. A soft crinkling; akin to the sound of crumpling paper, wavering as it was lifted to prickling ear. Icy blue eyes; grown molten with summer's warmth, watched as forest green leaves circled. Weaving in and out of the line of trees as though it were the shuttle of a loom. Golden colored light, cast by the sun, filtered through the tops of trees. Casting undulating hills in shadow; fissures in the earth, whilst diamond backed bark bathed in its glistening rays. Boiled leather, black as night, bubbled beneath the heat. Causing the voider's flesh to crawl as she eased herself through the lines, looking for a proper place to settle. A thin sheen of sweat rested against her brow; lending her skin a soft glow, sometimes a sort of sparkle when streamers of illumination penetrated the transparent beads just right. Although it served to cool her forehead, Aislin raised her right arm, and casually wiped some of the perspiration away, before returning her limb to her side. It can't be much farther, she thought as she continued on through the trees, knowing that the clearing she had often frequented in her earlier years so as to practice her magic in secrecy wasn't more than a full bell out of the city. After having reached the lake's outer shore, that is. She sighed; releasing a tendril of air which hung as thickly before her lips as the humidity in what had already existed on the outside. She could feel the crackling petals of ginger rose growing moist as lost breath taunted. Licking the plump, lower crescent as though it were ripened rind of orange. Aromatic scent of citrus causing nostrils to flare as tangy feel slipped against tongue. Buds rising as senses spiked. Eyes widening with pleasure as each pulled away. Fingers fleeting; brushing up against one another so as to draw sweet sensations out. Soft tingling ending as nails clicked and were then pulled away. The girl kept on walking. Fighting the lingering thought that she should peer over her shoulder; look back. Thinking that Zulrav's eyes were upon her, boring into swan's neck, her gaze cast down. Falling onto toes wiggling against the soles of open faced shoes; gladiator sandals. No, it cannot be long now before whore is sent to fill the emptiness. To sate the hunger of vast space of sparse furnishing, she thought. For last that our eyes and bodies did meet, there was not but a blade of grass strewn across earthen bed. And with trees laying so far to the sides, away from central most point, there is little left to be desired. Limbs hacked by man or maker; thunderous hand of the gods, debris can only fall towards outer rim. Away from precious space, not to be squandered by glutinous souls in human skins, and wretched creatures of base desire. Cast in heathen cloak of fraying grey furs; caked with mud nipped by glistening crescents for teeth. Darkened face of the moon for claws; never rightly ripped. Torn from the tapestry like unwanted clippings of wrongly patterned fabric. The girl's thoughts paused for a moment, as though they were considering how to speak to their own mistress. No, it won't be tainted by lesser souls. Ravaged by unworthy eyes. Used; and then cast aside as casually as the body of a whore, she thought. For I shall give it purpose. I will give it value, her mind added, as she forced her form to continue on through the line of trees for several more chimes. When Aislin had finally reached the clearing, the sun had begun to dip towards the western horizon. Semi circular celestial orb hung limply just above the brim. Golden hues coupling with earthen browns; crisp greens, as elongated branches; stretched limbs in coarse, natural attire, shaded the rounded body. Trembling leaves forming barricade, attempting to shelter, and keep helios from view faltering as deep blue raised. Scanning the skies; taking note of occasional wisp of spun white. Threads grown thin, bare with use. Sewn through the seams of blanketed cyan. It is good to be back, the voider thought as she returned her gaze to the terrain directly ahead as she stepped towards the middle. Older maples and oaks fanning out around her. A wall which ringed the oblong vacancy of twenty feet in height, and another eighteen in width. Hardened dirt of beige hue, packed down by recent rains, blanketing the earth. A supple rolling hill, which peeked towards the northern end before cascading back down towards gnarled limbs. Contorted roots of overgrown trees, standing silent vigil over worldly grave. Single dried stalk of grass resting towards central spiral. A small mound of earth from which an army of miniscule black abdomens poured; seeking their latest meal. Or perhaps, stronger building materials. Aislin watched them silently before moving a bit closer. From newly birthed vantage point, she could view the terrain on grander scale. Twisting limbs; broken fingers furled in beckoning motion, while others lay sprawled across the muck; dead as nails. With prickling flesh she heeded their call, moving into the thicket. Snapping several knobbed pincers as she drew near. Splayed edges, shards of ivory scattering in her wake; sinking into her step. Thinking it best to have the most room to work with, the voider continued on. Pulling deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth, her eyes browsing for other signs of discarded life. Finding none from near center, the woman paused. Taking another deep breath as her eyes circled; she could think of nothing more perfect to attain her needs. "And so it begins," she whispered, as she reeled in her gaze. Forcing icy spikes to settle on the ground just before her feet. |