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[Arakad]

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The forests of the crystal glens laid dark and musk filled, a dry air filled the normally glistening land. The dark paladin quietly made his walk from his personal garden into the glen's following his normal path towards Poets when a familiar yet seemingly forgoten smell fragranted the air around him. Coming to a complete halt in the middle of a barren area he came to realize, all the fen houseing was missing, there was nothing in the area. Even the stray sparrow or crystal elemental was missing.

Steping from behind a shadow covered tree all that could be seen of the figure was it's outline and the glisten upon its angular lower face, the hood of shadows whiping around its bulky form and almost animal-like appearance. As an alien smile crossed its thin lips a haunting breeze began begain to stream through the dead of the night around the paladin as he took in this image, The hooded figures features recieved the dim light of the glens as caress upon its concealed features, an aura of eagerness, cold as death and yet a savage lust could be caught on the air to those trained to smell such. Then he could feel it, Oblivion. He could feel the immense power of the thing that was staring him down. This was a spirit of Death. This was a Killer of men.

Knowing there was no turning back now, Arakad took in what would have been where a normal beings eyes were, now only dark sockets staring into chaos itself, glaring from behind the shroud like beams from the malestrom. They stood there, man and death frozen in what is known as the most ancient of dramas, His own dark black pits of eyes never faultering from the image, taking in all its features. The hair, long wavey lenghts like palid acid pouring down its neck and out of the shroud, Its bareing teeth white as pearl but having just the tips tinted with blood, and its breath... hovering on the swirling air, the foul smell of rotted dead.

A low growl rolled across the stillness of the trees, the feral sound of this unknown menace. Arakads face grew ashen, giving highlights to the hidden hued sigiles that snaked beneath his skin with a life of their own.

Turning to run, the dark paladin ran across the plateu of the glens dodging trees and leaping mounds of crystal, but never quick enough to escape unscathed as he gets battered by several trees at once. Leaping to his feet to spring back into a sprint, his mouth filling with blood from his wounds, his right hand going numb to his side. His body begins to tense... perhaps shock... perhaps fear... but it was the numbness that started to over come.

Racing through another patch of forest he can see the opening of the glen ahead and knew Poets tavern was close. His heart pounding, his mind crowded with terror, the feeling only true prey could know, The thing could be heard on the breeze, the feral growls rumbling through the night air as it chased down trees to reach the dark paladin, The wolf in the dead of night with its incredible speed and grand strides.

Running across the opening of the crystal glen's the paladins eyes resembling those of a madman searching for a place to hide, he saw the dark outstretched and empty cove and desperatly he darted towards it. Poets was missing as well, all the houses were gone. He saught sanctuary against the mountains over hang, simply standing there resembling a trapped deer waiting the pounce of the tiger.

He didn't look around as the sound of feet pounded toward him, he did not turn when the thing reached the mountains shadow. Hearing the rustling of rock and metal leggings - still the paladin did not turn.

His trembling ceased, as shock begain to flood into his brain. A huge hand with inserted talons grasp deeply into the man's back at the base of the spine sinking deeply into thin flesh. Near death he barely felt himself being lifted up into the night sky over the things head, the vicious shaking that snaped his neck, the teeth that clamped hard onto his throat, with his last bit of strength he gazed up at the beings face beneath the hood and realized. This thing was... himself.



With swift movements Arakad came up from his sleep, looking quickly around his unfamiliar surroundings with sweat of fear runing down the side of his face, his eyes began to adjust to the darkness of a figure laying beside him pale hair tied back and pallid skin glistening in the null-light. She was tucked neatly into the large feather bed, covered in her satin sheets. In this scenario she would look almost angelic, a complete contrast to the being that strives within Ellysia DeMonte.

Slowly coming to realize his predictament, he came to remember the reason he was there. She had offered him a stay at her house while he was getting the Crystal Gardens completed for the public view, he had laid down to watch over her as she slept, as the last time he had come to visit he brought with him a score of assassins.

"You Damned Fool" the dark paladin muttered mutely to himself as he slid carefully from his spot on the feathered bed and eased his way out of the large bedroom.

Dellan, the butler was already up... or still up, doing his duties of straightening and cleaning, re-cleaning and then checking it all again. He looked to see Arakad make his way carefully out of his mistress's room and gave a nod "Would the gentleman like a night cap or somthing to drink?" the butler asked through hushed tones, steping noisless across the floor, having memorized exactly which boards creeked and which were safe.

"Mate I think it's the drink that's keeping me awake, I really shouldn't drink white thunder before sleep ye know"

Dellan gave a bit of a nod, perhaps uncomfortable that another man was staying in the estate, or perhaps untrusting after the last incident, who could blame him... Arakad did make a mess of the man's normal every day chore.

Quietly, Arakad began to make his way downstairs circling around the hall and coming into the dojo, he looked over the entricate patterns along the floor and gave a long half centered sigh "Old fool..what the hell ye think ye doin` in your frail's house, could she truely know who you are, could she care?"

Lowering his head into an almost mournful bow he came to a crosslegged position in the middle of the floor, prepared to meditate upon the situation when he began to drift off once again...

[Rryn Anyai]

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Ellysia knew the exact moment he entered her bedchamber. Being of the night, her senses were heightened in the darkest hours. She heard the whispering of the door panel as it slid open. Just enough so he might get past it. She remained quiet, unmoving, as she felt the bed shift under his weight as he laid down next to her above the sheets. Moments later, his even breathing told her he was fast asleep. She smiled to herself and drifted off to sleep knowing she was safe with him beside her.

She had arrived home earlier that eve with Arakad escorting her. After giving instructions to her butler, Dellan, to see to Arakad's needs, they said their goodnights. Ellysia went to her private chambers to prepare for sleep. Changing into a nightshift and brushing her hair back into a ribbon, Ellysia slid into bed and closed her eyes. It was not long after she sensed his prescence on the other side of her door.

She sensed his dream as well. Though he lay still she could feel the energy coming from him. When he suddenly bolted upright it took all she had to remain quiet. She heard him leave the room and speak with Dellan.

Ellysia waited as the house quieted down one again. She began to focus on the house. Dellan was settling in for the night, everyone else was asleep. When he did not return to her, She slid quietly from the bed and threw a nightrobe over her shift. Quietly she left her bedchamber and wandered about the house searching for Arakad. His scent led her to the dojo where she found him sitting on the floor seeming asleep. She sat down in front of him and gazed at his face. Ellysia knew this man was much more then he said, yet he kept much mystery about him. She sensed a great power within him and knew without a doubt that near him she could be herself. Feeling safe here, she laid her head in his lap and dozed off.