The night had finally set, and the dark heart of the Hearts Festival was on full display. Crisp mountain air ferried the scent of flowers through the press of adults as they laughed and danced and snuck off to quiet corners. The children had long been put to bed, the more innocent part of the holiday having been indulged while Syna was up. Now that Leth was here it was a different, more sensual scene. Madeira pushed through the crowd of lovers and lovers-to-be alone. She had said goodbye to Dev'ania and the living Autumn for the night, the three women having split up to indulge in more romantic pursuits.
And Madeira's pursuit had a name. A name that rolled off her tongue in a way that made her drug-addled mind want to sing it. Chiona Chiona Chiona. What a perfect creature. Her creature, if tonight went well. And it would. She had prepared for seasons for just this opportunity.
The chilly night air nipped at her exposed shoulders, and she could barely breath in the red dress and corset that were twisting her underdeveloped body into a pleasing shape. The expertly applied cosmetics and brushed out hair had the effect of casually rearranging the bones of her face, erasing the bold colours and harsh lines and making her appearance soft and young. The various lapis ink skulls on her chest and shoulders emitted a gentle glow. Tied around her wrist was a wide red ribbon with a little box tied at the other end. The Craven had never worn battle armor before, but she imagined this is what it felt like. She felt safe behind this forceful impression she had walled around herself.
The drugs helped too, admittedly. A festival was not a festival without hallucinogenics to replace the illusions she no longer saw. And after dosing up with the wildly expensive azure with Autumn she felt quick and bright as she stepped around people and the brilliant hallucinations that surrounded her, heading for the tall tower she could see rising over the architecture of Lhavit. She was unstoppable.
"My my, don't you look pretty, princess."
Suddenly that armour didn't feel as iron clad as she thought as that dark, poisonous voice peeled itself out of the dark behind her, slipping into the cracks. Madeira turned on the spot, a whirl of red gossamer, a protective smile already on her lips. The cordas mark hidden on her tongue felt as rough as sandpaper as she dragged it across her teeth.
"Rotsam. Here to ask me to dance?"
"I don't dance."
The unchallenged Spiritist of Lhavit, Rotsam the Curse Eater, peeled himself out of the shadow of an awning at the edge of the festivities. If she didn't know better, she would guess he didn't know there was a celebration was going on. He was wearing the same faded and worn clothing as always, his shorn hair unadorned. The only concession to the public event seemed to be wearing a shirt over his usually bared chest. She didn't like the way his black eyes looked at her, taking her all in from head to toe. Not in a sexual way, or even a predatory one, but in a way that made her feel like he was looking past all the finery and gazing directly at the soul shivering beneath. His smile beneath them was even less welcome. It wasn't as pretty and fine tunes as her own. His was all sharp edges and shining teeth, a warning that this creature was poisonous.
This was the first time they had stood face to face since Sagallius roared into their lives and tied them together. She wondered where his matching Cordas was. She wondered whether her presence haunted him as much as he haunted her.
"I thought we already were", she rotated with her arms extended, giving him a flourishy little bow.
His smile was dark and sardonic. "I suppose so."
There was a long beat of silence as they watched each other. Her acting was unruffled by the pressure of their shared gaze, but inside she was screaming for him to leave. She had worked so hard for this, don't let this night unravel now.
"What do you want, Rotsam? There in a festival going on and I'm late to the party."
"Of course", the man shoved his calloused hands into his pockets, his eyes never lifting from her. "Who am I to keep the queen from her court."
A dismissal, thank gods. She laughed as she playfully curtsied for him, then with a spin turned to leave. Anybody who had witnessed the exchange would have thought nothing of it. Just acquaintances meeting at a festival. But there was an invisible, undeniable pressure between them. Like storm clouds moving in, threatening rain.
"Hey princess", the Myrian didn't seem to have any shame as he barked at her while she was almost out of earshot, seemingly oblivious to the eyes turned their way. Madeira stopped but didn't look back, only tilting her ear back over her shoulder. Even so she could almost see the sickle smile on his lips, see his dark eyes flash dangerously. "Say hi to that pretty miss Dusk for me."
Gathering her skirts in her fists, Madeira continued on her way, eyes on the Tower, doing everything in her power not to break into a run.
And Madeira's pursuit had a name. A name that rolled off her tongue in a way that made her drug-addled mind want to sing it. Chiona Chiona Chiona. What a perfect creature. Her creature, if tonight went well. And it would. She had prepared for seasons for just this opportunity.
The chilly night air nipped at her exposed shoulders, and she could barely breath in the red dress and corset that were twisting her underdeveloped body into a pleasing shape. The expertly applied cosmetics and brushed out hair had the effect of casually rearranging the bones of her face, erasing the bold colours and harsh lines and making her appearance soft and young. The various lapis ink skulls on her chest and shoulders emitted a gentle glow. Tied around her wrist was a wide red ribbon with a little box tied at the other end. The Craven had never worn battle armor before, but she imagined this is what it felt like. She felt safe behind this forceful impression she had walled around herself.
The drugs helped too, admittedly. A festival was not a festival without hallucinogenics to replace the illusions she no longer saw. And after dosing up with the wildly expensive azure with Autumn she felt quick and bright as she stepped around people and the brilliant hallucinations that surrounded her, heading for the tall tower she could see rising over the architecture of Lhavit. She was unstoppable.
"My my, don't you look pretty, princess."
Suddenly that armour didn't feel as iron clad as she thought as that dark, poisonous voice peeled itself out of the dark behind her, slipping into the cracks. Madeira turned on the spot, a whirl of red gossamer, a protective smile already on her lips. The cordas mark hidden on her tongue felt as rough as sandpaper as she dragged it across her teeth.
"Rotsam. Here to ask me to dance?"
"I don't dance."
The unchallenged Spiritist of Lhavit, Rotsam the Curse Eater, peeled himself out of the shadow of an awning at the edge of the festivities. If she didn't know better, she would guess he didn't know there was a celebration was going on. He was wearing the same faded and worn clothing as always, his shorn hair unadorned. The only concession to the public event seemed to be wearing a shirt over his usually bared chest. She didn't like the way his black eyes looked at her, taking her all in from head to toe. Not in a sexual way, or even a predatory one, but in a way that made her feel like he was looking past all the finery and gazing directly at the soul shivering beneath. His smile beneath them was even less welcome. It wasn't as pretty and fine tunes as her own. His was all sharp edges and shining teeth, a warning that this creature was poisonous.
This was the first time they had stood face to face since Sagallius roared into their lives and tied them together. She wondered where his matching Cordas was. She wondered whether her presence haunted him as much as he haunted her.
"I thought we already were", she rotated with her arms extended, giving him a flourishy little bow.
His smile was dark and sardonic. "I suppose so."
There was a long beat of silence as they watched each other. Her acting was unruffled by the pressure of their shared gaze, but inside she was screaming for him to leave. She had worked so hard for this, don't let this night unravel now.
"What do you want, Rotsam? There in a festival going on and I'm late to the party."
"Of course", the man shoved his calloused hands into his pockets, his eyes never lifting from her. "Who am I to keep the queen from her court."
A dismissal, thank gods. She laughed as she playfully curtsied for him, then with a spin turned to leave. Anybody who had witnessed the exchange would have thought nothing of it. Just acquaintances meeting at a festival. But there was an invisible, undeniable pressure between them. Like storm clouds moving in, threatening rain.
"Hey princess", the Myrian didn't seem to have any shame as he barked at her while she was almost out of earshot, seemingly oblivious to the eyes turned their way. Madeira stopped but didn't look back, only tilting her ear back over her shoulder. Even so she could almost see the sickle smile on his lips, see his dark eyes flash dangerously. "Say hi to that pretty miss Dusk for me."
Gathering her skirts in her fists, Madeira continued on her way, eyes on the Tower, doing everything in her power not to break into a run.