Dreams and Nightmares
From Atlantic Roleplay Wiki
Title: Dreams and Nightmares
Author: Vailanna
Curling her body into a ball, Vailanna let out a soft whimper, feeling the unnatural chilled touch even through the deep sleeping potion induced slumber. Out of the hazy dreams flitting though her head, a raspy whispering was heard, slowly increasing in volume, calling her name...
Shivering she soon recognized the voice, it was that of Rune Artisem, her master. In her mind, a darkness grew, and the form of the lich emerged from the shadows. He gave her an icy smile, and ran his boney fingers along the scar on her left cheek "Now my little pet... I will give you a gift." He gave a low cackle, still stroking her cheek. Her eyes fixed on his as she fought the urge to pull away from his cold touch. "I want you to remember a bit of your past..," his cruel smile widened as he looked down at her, "and know this.. what you remember will be only a taste of what you will endure should those light- bringing fools try to cross me.."
Vailanna stared up at him, a look of confusion on her face. Rune suddenly reached down, and pulling off her soft leather gloves, he cast them aside, took her hands, and turned her wrists upwards. "Now little one.. REMEMBER!" he screamed.
Sitting up, her eyes darted around the room, and she relaxed as she recognized her room, and a little smile found its way on her lips as she sank back into her pillows. "A dream...," Her eyes began to close again, but suddenly flew open again as the door was flung open with a loud bang. Verimos, the daemon servant of Rune quickly strode across her little room, and gripped her arm tightly, hauling her up to her feet. Giving him an indignant frown, she stared at her sparring partner, not understanding his behavior. "Are we training again so soon?" she asked. The huge creature merely dragged her along down to the courtyard in front of the house. His vise-like grip never wavered as a black gate formed in front of them, and he stepped in, pulling her along. As they stepped back out of the gate, Vailanna shivered as the icy wind easily tore through her nightdress, her feet already starting to numb from the snow as Verimos tugged her toward Golgotha.
"Caina?" she whispered, "Why.. why are we here?" "Verimos.. please.." she begged, wanting to know why she was being brought to the icy lands in the middle of the night. He looked down at her but once, then continued on, up the steps of the great place and into the hall. Vailanna's jaw dropped as her eyes adjusted to the dim place, her eyes widening as the sight of Rune standing alongside Azalin, the great Lich Lord. A fear gripped her as both of them turned to look at her. "Rune.. why.." she began. Rune instantly cut her off "Silence!" Rune looked toward Verimos, who clapped one hand over Vailanna's mouth, then wrapped one arm around her waist, and carried her to the top of the tower...
Vailanna, her head held still by the daemon, was unable to miss the sight of the altar and the blazing forge set up beside it. She watched as Rune and Azalin stepped behind the altar, starting a long ritual. She couldn't understand any of words they spoke, but there was to be no mistaking the cold smiles on their faces as the liches motioned Verimos to bring her forward. Fear clutched her as he forcibly dragged her forward, his knee bending into the back of her knees, dropping her into a kneel before the altar. Starting to panic, she tried pulling back as two of the Skull's priests each grabbed her arms, wrenching them down to lay on the altar's surface. Azalin looked toward Rune, nodding his approval of the warrior, "She will serve us well". Rune, looking pleased, glanced toward the forge, and cackled as each lich reached toward a handle sticking out of the hot flames. The liches again began their chanting, and the priests gripped Vailanna's arms tighter as the liches slowly approached her. Each lich held in his hand an enchanted brand, their ends glowing an eerie purplish black instead of the expected reddish glow of burning metal.
"Please.. n-n--noooo" she croaked out desperately. Verimos tightly wrapped both his arms around her, holding her motionless as the two liches continued their enchantments, and then each pressed a brand with his own seal into her bared skin. The pain was unbearable, and as she screamed over and over the liches cruelly smiled down at her, not letting unconsciousness grant her a respite.
Vailanna awoke with a start, finding herself in a jail cell in the town of Wilmeth, her mind still feeling a bit fuzzy from the potion. She struggled to get to her feet, trying to wake fully as the sounds of her own screams faded way from her mind. "It.. was.. a nightmare.." she shook her head a little, "Surely.. just.. a nightmare" Her eyes glanced down at her wrists, staring at the faintly glowing marks. "He meant only.. to scare me.." she whispered "Just.. a nightmare" She leaned against the wall and stared out the window, trying to convince herself that the nightmare was just a tactic used by her master, yet an icy chill gripped her heart as she began questioning just how favored a pet she was to Rune...