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[Ariana Lenoir]

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Ariana walked through the Spiritwood which lay outside of Skara Brae. The minute crystals gracing her skin refracting the moonlight aiding her as she passed by unseen. A doe rose its head once as its nostrils flared and snorted as she passed by so close she could reach out and touch it if she had wished. The faint smell of blackrock burned its senses harshly and it stamped its foot, it's large brown eyes scanning the dark woods for the unfamiliar smell. Ariana simply walked past, allowing the gentle breeze from the coast to blow the scent away and leave the doe to whatever other dangers that night would hold. Ogres, brigands, healers and the natural woodland creatures remained unaware of her passing as she headed towards a stone building that lat at the edge of the woods.

Home.

Ariana ignored the brisk night air as she slowly entered the abode for comfort and warmth were sure to be found within its cold walls. She unlocked the door, opening the door to a welcoming wave of warmth from the hearth inside. Two pairs of eyes turned to her as she stepped inside and shut the door behind her.

Phaidra lay on the imported rugs near the hearth with books and papers sprawled around her. In the crook of one arm and nestled against her fourteen year old body was a kryss, almost resembling the way a young child might hold a favorite stuffed animal. She was dark haired, and her features complimented her kindred relationship to her older sister, Ariana. Instead of the ice sapphires that resembled Ariana's eyes, Phaidra's eyes were of cold amber. Phaidra's twin although he shared the hue of Ariana's eyes and those of their father, were as cold as his twin. Their mother had gifted Phaidra the color upon birth, but the coldness came from what life had so ungraciously bestowed upon her and her brother. She wasn't an ugly girl, but her dangerous beauty was like that of a panther. Nice on the eyes from afar until it was in your face threatening to spill your insides from your throat to your nether regions. Most of the young boys who had romantically propositioned Phaidra in the classic boy-girl flirting never looked at her the same way for long. The young girl seemed to thrive on not only disappointing them, but scaring them. When words did not produce the accepted results, there were past incidents of boys running home bloody and bruised from a particularly furious lashing. Ariana knew Phaidra had well-founded reasons for her hatred not just of men, but of anyone. Time would tell if Phaidra cooled off as she grew into a young woman, but Ariana had the sinking feeling that the hatred was too deep for anything to uproot it.

On the couch, sitting with her knees drawn up against her to balance a book she had previously been reading was Sitka. It was hard to miss the young woman no matter where she was. Her hair was a whirlwind of white, pink and purple that almost seemed to fight against each other for dominance over the eyestrain they were sure to elicit in others. It's chaos was only tamed by a fur-lined hat that was pulled down on her head. A pair of what appeared to be real ears from a lop-rabbit dangled from the top of the hat, one on each side and dyed bright pink. A severed pink bear head from a children's toy was attached on the front, one of his glass eyes replaced with a metal cap from an ale bottle that had been cut, crimped and warped to rudely resemble the gesture of one's middle finger to those who looked close enough. Her right ear was pierced numerous times with a plethora of metal which glinted in the firelight of the flickering hearth. She wore a black leather kilt with pinkish-purple striped stockings underneath that extended down to the large pair of “ass-kickers”, which most might call leather work boots. Even the boots were spiked in placed from nails having been driven from the inside and were a constant bone of contention from the damage they left on the furnishings of Ariana's home. Above the waist, she wore a black shirt with a dog-collar spiked choker and a necklace of ale bottle caps that had been punched through and threaded on a leather strap. The tip of a unlit cigarette was sticking out the top of her shirt as if she used the bra underneath as a pocket of convenience. Seven silver rings gripped her fingers with each engraved with a letter that spelled out Sitka's typical retort to irritating conversation. Had some fashion designer created Sitka's look, the title of “Metal and Hate” would have been an absolutely appropriate for it. When Ariana had met her, Sitka had been 'chilling”with a mismatched group of homeless teens and young adults. Sitka was eccentric in her appearance and her thought processes, but it was her eyes that betrayed the fact she wasn't as hateful as she looked. She was nice enough once you got to know her, if you could get passed the insanity that fell from her lips on occasion. Phaidra had idolized Sitka from the moment they met and it was this that led Ariana to employ the young woman in her home. Although Sitka's care proved a far cry from an ideal structured environment for the young girl, Ariana knew... no, hoped... for the most part that her younger sister would be safer than being alone.

“We thought ya might not come home tonight,” Sitka said with a grin.

“When 'ave I ever nay come home?” Ariana responded with an arched eyebrow.

“Never, but...” Sitka looked over briefly at Phaidra and then back, “... but we thought perhaps some handsome man had enchanted ya into his bed to give ya a good pounding.”

Ariana smirked slightly as she glanced in Phaidra's direction, “I don't believe this would be an appropriate topic for Phaidra's ears. Regardless, it has nay, nor do I ever predict, t'such will happen.”

“She's fourteen and not ignorant of that sort of thing.” Sitka said as Phaidra grinned slowly.

“I didn't question her education on the subject, only the appropriateness of the topic, “Ariana said as she reached up and rubbed her temples lightly.

“So if some lucky bastard didn't nail ya, what kept ya out so late?” Sitka asked. Phaidra rolled to her side, the kyrss still cradled lovingly against her.

“A game. That is all.” Ariana replied as she went to sit down on the other side of the couch.

“So ya've been out playing checkers?” Phaidra interjected, a look of amusement on her face.

Ariana sighed, pausing to rub her temples a few more times before attempting to sit back and recount the evening to the two. She told them about the game called “Truth or Dare” that was played at the Den of Sin tavern. She shared some examples that were presented, although making sure to leave out those that involved her hoping that the two would be satisfied with the story as it stood. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

“So what did ya have to do?” Sitka asked as her eyes sparkled mischievously.

“Do? What makes ye think I had -t'do- anything?” Ariana responded.

“Well, I didn't know, but now I know ya did -something-. If ya hadn't ya would have just said nothing.” Sitka grinned wide as Phaidra giggled under her breath.

Ariana scowled slightly. She was tired from the late evening out and hadn't chosen her words well enough to discourage further questioning. Although, she wouldn't resort to a blunt untruth, she would pad it, redirect it and anything to not reveal information she wished to hide. “Nothing... I plan on revealin' t'the two o' ye.”

“Awww... come on! Did you have to kiss someone?” Phaidra piped up.

“Nay..” Ariana said

“Eat something gross...?” her younger sister continued.

“Nay...” Ariana said, smirking at the realization that the next hour would be a continuation of questions until they nailed her down to the truth of what had happened.

“Did you have to taste blood too?” Phaidra asked.

Ariana smirked even as Sitka responded for her, “I doubt Ariana would try to hide something so mundane, Phaidra. It has to be something -she- found uncomfortable. “ Phaidra tapped a finger playfully against her lips as she continued, “She was sent to the Court when she was your age so perhaps something that made her less of the elegant 'blue blood' she is... perhaps something that made her seem less pure than she really is... most likely involving some ma-.”

Ariana stood up sharply, muttering, “I'm goin' t'take a bath an' then t'bed. Good night.” Without waiting on a response she quickly moved to the teleporter and felt the reassuring pull of its magic towards the safety of her bedroom. However, even the thick stone walls did not stop Ariana's keen ears from turning red at the sound of the laughter that filled the room below.