WAR: Family Reunion Part II

Continued from: http://aoc.rp-haven.com/story/neverlin/war_family_reunion_part_i

"Seize her!"

It was the signal.

Voices in her head competed for Dawn’s attention as she wavered, steeped in the serious moral dilemma Neverlin placed her in.  It felt like a blanket smothered her thoughts, suffocating them before reaching the surface.  She turned to face the Invictan, as if seeing her would help Dawn reach a decision.  It only complicated the matter.  Kemena was slim, her ample bosom concealed under a modest homespun dress.  The embroidered neckline of her white gown revealed the Lady's graceful neck. Dawn thought Kemena stood as a statue of righteousness, an epitome of mankind. She sighed, while Wardawn was hardly a stranger to violence, Kemena's aura of sincerity contrasted sharply with Neverlin's clever sophistries

She swallowed hard, wishing she was back in Pollopont.

 

Her hands trembled at her sides, she had to decide quickly.  Dawn's mind raced, this Invictan had shown her no malice, had this been a different time or place they have even been friends.  Nevertheless, Neverlin's words crept into her mind as a haughty reminder of her pledge. 'Can I trust you?' they echoed. She closed her eyes and took a breath.  That settled it.  Dawn kept her word; this day would yield no exceptions. 

With a vestige of remorse, Dawn committed to the act. 

Ruthlessly, she snatched Kemena's arms at the elbows, yanking them up behind her back in a painful arm lock.  Dawn’s lips turned up in a sneer as the struggle awakened her warrior spirit.  She reeled the surprised Priestess in close, trapping her against her body.  As the danger became evident, Kemena thrashed about attempting to break free, but the petite woman was no match for a Conqueror.  Dawn stood at least a head taller than Kemena and handled her with no more effort than she would a toddler. 

Kemena's chest heaved with a mix of panic and anger.  Pinning the struggling woman tight to her body, Dawn caught a breath of Kemena's honeyed perfume.  Unexpectedly, Dawn found herself flushed with arousal.  Kemena's sweet scent became intoxicating and Dawn parted her lips in moan as she pressed Kemena's tiny frame firmly against her breasts.  But the distraction cost her. 

Sensing an opening, Kemena bent her legs slightly and sprung upward clipping Dawn's chin with the top of her head.  The taste of blood filled her mouth as Dawn rocked back on her heels to absorb the surprise counter attack.  Kemena seized the moment to wiggle an arm free and lunge for an amulet dangling at her neck. Dawn scowled; angry at both her lapse in judgment and the woman's temerity in hitting her.  Dawn licked the blood from her bottom lip and quickly assessed the mistake and how to recover.  Dawn saw the amulet, a plan forming. She knew the Invictans used these clever devices to communicate great distances, and more importantly, knew better than to allow Kemena to touch it.

Dawn drove her knee into Kemena's back, putting her considerable strength into the hit.  The blow sent Kemena plunging face first into the pool.  Instinctively, Kemena brought both hands up to catch herself before splashing into the chilly water.  Wardawn pounced on her like a tiger, grabbing both the amulet and a fist full of the woman's ivory dress.  Dawn tugged violently, snapping the cord off her neck and breaking the top two fastenings of the gown. 

She tossed the amulet into the water well out of reach and straddled the Invictan.  Kemena's humble dress was now open at the neckline, exposing the soft tops of her white breasts. The sight of her heaving, trembling bosom had a profound effect on Wardawn.  The drenched gown betrayed the shape of Kemena's slender body, hugging her feminine curves teasingly.  Kemena's struggling flamed Dawn's secret desire as she held her captive's wet body tightly against her own. 

Neverlin glided through the knee deep water like death itself.  With a self-satisfied smile playing on his lips, he reached for Kemena, placing an open palm on her quivering forehead.  Kemena's jaw gaped open in a silent scream at his icy touch.  Removing his hand after a moment, Neverlin looked past Dawn.  His eyes widened in recognition and exclaimed "Grymm my boy!"  Satisfied Kemena was again secure in her grasp; Dawn craned her neck, looking over her shoulder to see whom Neverlin addressed. 

From behind a pillar, a grotesque hunchback hobbled towards the group.  It was naked, save for a tattered brown cloth hung loosely about its loins.  The creature carried a worn sack that jingled and jangled with each of its misplaced steps.  Its pale, malformed back was covered in pink lesions and festering boils.  Grymm's tongue poked out between its swollen lips in what Dawn could only guess was a smile as he hurried as best he could manage to please his master.

Mandisa ignored the creature, appearing as if she wanted to maintain the subterfuge a little longer.  She dove into the water clutching Kemena's legs pleading "My daughter! Why?!"  Kemena remained silent, her brown eyes fixed on nothing in particular.  Dawn took the moment to wipe the blood from her chin with the back of her hand.  She quickly gripped Kemena again when she saw her blink.   Kemena’s eyes darted back and forth and then screamed "No Mama run!" Mandisa clung desperately to her daughter's leg and retorted dramatically "I will never leave my child again!"  Neverlin spun on Mandisa with a smile and rolled his eyes mockingly.  He grabbed Mandisa by the collar of her blue dress, prying her off Kemena and sent her sprawling into the water.  Dawn noted the content look on the Necromancer’s face; he clearly enjoyed that part of the ruse.

Then, like a bird of prey, the Necromancer swooped on Kemena, pressing his face nearly nose to nose with hers.  He raised a single finger, touching it lightly to his red lips.  Locking gazes with his victim, he shook his head back and forth with an admonishing "Shhhhh" Kemena's eyebrows arched in anger as she renewed her battle against the giant holding her.  The Invictan's wiggling merely caused Dawn's face to redden hotly. Neverlin's fine lips turned down in a frown, and then appealed in a compassionate tone "Please Kemena, do not make this harder on yourself." 

The artificial moment of tenderness ended with the arrival of Grymm, who sloshed to a halt before his master.  It groaned over the effort of handing the heavy wool sack to his Master.  The creature then lowered itself to all fours into the pool, dutifully awaiting its next command.  Kemena began to quake with fear, her helplessness beginning to sink in.  She whispered through quivering lips "run Mama, run." 

Neverlin ignored the plea, focused on spilling the contents of the burlap sack on the large surface of the hunchback, like a twisted table. The Necromancer fastidiously sorted through the wicked assortment of blades, saws, and other sharp instruments. With a reverence of a priest preparing the sacrament, he neatly lined the tools atop the hunchback in perfect rows and columns. 

Watching Neverlin lay down the silver tools infused Kemena with panic and the strength.  But Dawn easily controlled her, even chancing a glance at Kemena's pink nipples now partially visible through the soaked blouse as she writhed in the Warrior’s arms. Again, the indulgence cost her.  The Invitican stomped on Kerra's ankle sending a sharp wave of pain up her leg.  Dawn's passion quickly changed to anger as she grabbed Kemena by her long black hair and reined her in like a mule.  Mandisa placed both hands on her face, observing the melee through her fingers in mock horror. 

Neverlin seemed oblivious to the fracas.  Placing the last tool in the finale row, he slowly turned to the besieged woman, cupping her face in his honeyed hand. "Child, please...I do not mean to hurt you any more than necessary."  Kemena let out a shriek startling Dawn.  Neverlin shook his mane of blond hair, not the least bit fazed, only appearing a tad frustrated. "Stop this nonsense, and stand still."

As Kemena strained to shake her chin from his icy grasp, Wardawn gripped her hair tighter to hold her in place.  Neverlin pointed to the ground with his long finger. "Put her on her knees."  Kemena screamed hoarsely. "Please Mama, run!"  She floundered in the Warrior's grip like a fish, gasping and writhing desperately.

Wardawn drove the breath from Kemena's lungs as she planted a knee in her back.  Collapsing like a doll, she splashed into the water submerged to the waist.  Once the Invictan was again secured, Mandisa stood out of the water, advancing calmly a few steps to take a place at Neverlin's side.  The mother's look of horror twisted into a smirk unmistakably Mandisa's.  Kemena looked up to her mother speechless and confused. 

Neverlin's scornful eyes settled over the selection of cruel instruments.  He ran his fingers over the tools which glistened in the torchlight.  His long fingers stopped over a needle about the length of a carving knife.  Taking a composing breath, Neverlin knelt down in the pool beside the terrified woman.  Again, Kemena made a frantic attempt to fling herself at an angle to escape the inevitable.

But Dawn had her; Kemena would stand a better chance running away from a hurricane.

Dawn bore down on the woman, yanking her hair so hard she feared Kemena's neck might snap.  With her neck wrenched back and arms pinned, Kemena struggled simply to breathe.  Neverlin's face flashed with impatience as he whispered through gritted teeth. "Hold her still" Wardawn bent the woman's arms up and back painfully, determined to serve her friend.  Neverlin slapped a palm to Kemena's forehead, brushing her dark hair back from her eyes lovingly.  He lowered his lips to her ear and whispered darkly "I say this one last time…peace be still" 

Kemena went motionless at his command, Dawn wondered if Neverlin cast a spell on her already.  A tear trickled down Kemena's face as she remonstrated meekly "Why?"  Neverlin twirled the needle once in his nimble fingers, as if pondering her question.  Without answering, he spun the sharp point towards the center of her left eye.  Kemena stared down the length of the needle, and spoke with a resolve that surprised Dawn. "What do you want?" 

Neverlin continued inching the needle closer to her face and replied "Just that you make this easier on yourself, I really do not wish you harm."  The bravery left as quick as it came "Please, please no!" she stammered.  Neverlin seemed deaf to her appeals, he hovered the silver needle a breath away from her eye as he rejoined "You see, that dog of yours Kyzafi interrupted our research." The Necromancer took an affectionate tone, not one of displeasure as Dawn expected.  He shook his head and looked almost sorry "I pray you understand, I must know what he did to you. I did not mean for this to happen, but in reality, you brought this upon yourself and your friend gave us no choice." 

Kerra winced at Neverlin's duplicity. His comment brought to mind an old maxim often repeated by her father.

The hallmark of the vicious is to blame the victim. 

But what did she know? She was just a soldier after all.  Soldiers should not contemplate the spectrum of possibilities.  Kill or be killed, that was all that mattered.  She ought to leave the grey areas to those with more knowledge. Who knows, maybe the Invictan had this coming. 

Kemena now protested through tears "No, he just healed…" Neverlin interrupted her, absently saying "we shall see."  He held the needle precariously close to its target, his hand still as the dead.  Kemena pressed her head into Dawn's pelvis attempting to retreat from the silver point.  Unable to the back away further, she protested as her lips shivered "Please believe me." Kemena's quaking so close to Dawn's loins made her throat go dry. 

Trapped, Neverlin struck like a scorpion, plunging the needle through the black pupil of her left eye.

Kemena's back arched, become stiff and ridged like a frozen corpse.  Mandisa recoiled placing a hand to her mouth in surprise, but a smile slithered across her red lips as she watched Neverlin push the needle deeper and deeper into her skull.  Dawn tentatively loosened her grip on the woman, but Kemena did not move.

Neverlin drove the needle impossibly deep, Dawn felt sure it would exit the other side of her head.  But finally, Neverlin lifted his delicate fingers away from the needle.  A finger length of thin silver protruded from Kemena's eye, her jaw set in a silent scream. Turning back to the table, Neverlin picked up a gold chain, thin and long like a necklace.  Quietly, he thread the gold chain through the large eye of the needle. He then turned to an ornate wooden box on the hunchback. 

Flipping the lid back gently, a soft yellow illumination emitted from its depths.  Dawn peered inside to see golden sphere pulsing with energy.  Neverlin gazed into the little orb affectionately as he took it in the palm of his hand.  With a flick of his wrist, the gold chain floated lazily into the air, snaking eerily towards the orb.  When the chain contacted the orb, a soundless spark flashed through the chamber.  The chain fused with to the orb, going limp.  Dawn shifted uneasily as she looked at Kemena's unblinking gaze. 

Holding the Orb in the palm of his left hand, Neverlin used his other to take the end of the needle protruding from Kemena's face between his thumb and index finger.  He moved the needle from left to right, and then back again ever so slightly.  His brow furrowed in concentration as he scrutinized the orb, as if looking for something within its golden depths.  As he worked, red fluid squirted down the length of the needle from the woman's eye.  It sailed in a slothful arch landing on Neverlin's wrist.  Dawn held her hand to her mouth to suppress vomiting.  Neverlin did not even seem to notice, however he casually commented "Kerra, do ensure we do not stain Kemena's gown."  Dawn gathered herself, grateful to have a task to focus on.

Neverlin spoke dreamily, almost to himself as he probed.  "Kemena, did you know that our species has evolved over many centuries?"  He paused, examining the image in the orb; he shook his head and continued.  "You see, over the years, our brains have grown larger to accommodate higher level functions, which set us apart from animals."  Neverlin lifted his finger in the air to make his next point. "However, our skulls have remained approximately the same size, in order to fit; the brain folds over itself creating wrinkles."

Neverlin's eyes lit up as he spoke; fascinated with his own lecture. "As we extend our knowledge in this life, our brain continues the process of folding, making deeper and deeper wrinkles.  Just as one may judge the strength of a man by the size of his muscles, intelligence may be likewise measured by the depth of these wrinkles."

Neverlin's calm demeanor and casual tone left Dawn thoroughly nonplussed. She focused her attention on Kemena, watching for blood.  Neverlin turned his body slightly towards Dawn. Her jaw dropped.  On the surface of the golden orb appeared an image of a grey brain.  Dawn stood astonished, for when Neverlin moved the needle, the image in the orb would likewise shift. 

Neverlin continued his lesson without noticing the expressions of consternation on his assistants.  "Well, did you know that Kemena?"  The victim obviously could not reply, she simply stood slack jawed and frozen, kneeling in the pool.  A trail of blood began to seep from her ear.  Dawn quickly wiped the blood off with her hand, being careful not to move Kemena's head in the process.

Neverlin continued to adjust the position of the needle as he spoke.  "You see, if one were to say, examine the brain of a common Cimmerian, it would appear nearly as round as the orb in my hand, with very few ridges or crevices at all." He looked to the ceiling for a moment and then said emphatically with a wry grin "Like an orange rind"

Dawn uttered an involuntary grunt of surprise.  For a moment, she began to tremble, feeling weak in the knees.  She glanced to Mandisa, still in the image of this Arine.  The Tempest still seemed amused, her face contorting from time to time as if tasting the pain.  One time, she thought she noticed Mandisa bite her lower lip and pant, as if aroused by what she saw.  Dawn steadied herself, taking strength in Mandisa's sinister delight.

Neverlin then looked upon Kemena, his voice filled with respect "But you Kemena, look at all of these delightfully deep wrinkles."  Neverlin turned the face of the orb around placing it before the Invictan.  Like an instructor, he pointed to one of the folds, tracing the line with his finger on the orb as he spoke "You see, the crests are called gyri and the valleys sulci, here…and there…"  He planted a finger to a space that, even to an untrained eye appeared to be missing a section of brain matter, he muttered "ahh here it is, this is where you are sadly missing a piece of your wondrous brain Kemena."  Neverlin peered into the golden orb, apparently absorbing every detail.  He shook his head.

'Yes, and here, here is where that friend of yours invaded my work" Mandisa smiled, but Dawn could tell a forced one when she saw it.  To her surprise, the woman was now actually scared! Neverlin continued, never taking his eyes off the orb, "clever that one, I expected divine intervention, not a demonic purge.  I shall have to ask him how he did it" Neverlin continued twisting the needle in the woman's eye, Dawn finally had to turn away, dangerously close to losing her tea.  Neverlin spoke flippantly "Anyway, we shall not let him pull a trick like that again"

Neverlin closed his eyes and clenched his jaw with focus.  A humming filled the room, low at first but quickly increasing in pitch.  The gold chain became enveloped in a blue hue which pulsated with each breath Neverlin took. The azure energy began to flow down the length of the chain as if poured from the Necromancer's finger tips.  The magic danced across the needle and siphoned into an eye opened impossibly wide.  Kemena's face glistened with a thin film of perspiration in the flickering torchlight as she absorbed the Necromancer's power.

Gasping for a breath, Neverlin flipped his eye open and smiled. "Let us see your little friend breach that ward."  He said with satisfaction.  Dawn considered his words, hoping the task completed so she could go home. But Neverlin was far from finished.  Without warning, Neverlin twisted the needle brutally and yanked it upwards, tearing the eye from its socket with a stomach-turning pop. 

Mandisa jumped back, her face contorted in sympathetic pain, staring into the gaping hole where the eye had only moments ago been.  Neverlin pivoted the skewed eye towards him on the end of the needle.  He grinned, looking into the eye playfully.  As he carelessly regarded the gruesome trophy, a single drop of blood dripped from the eye ball and sailed downward toward ivory dress.  Dawn dove to catch the drop desperately, but the tiny bubble slipped through her fingers and splashed down on Kemena's chest.  Dawn's eyes closed in a panic, wanting only to throw herself down at Neverlin's feet to beg forgiveness.

He did not even notice.

Holding the needle upright in one hand, Neverlin placed his long fingers into the fleshly socket of the woman's face.  Whispers trickled from his lips as his mouth twisted in a rictus of concentration.  With each shadowy incantation, the Necromancer pushed his finger deeper into her skull.  His body swayed rhythmically as his chanting resonated sonorously through the chamber. His movements were fluid, like a dancer's, and only the sweat on his glistening skin betrayed the effort he made.  How many long agonizing moments the ritual lasted, Dawn could not say.  But eventually Neverlin's eyes opened and he slowly retracted his blood soaked fingers from the hole, extracting them with the same grace as they entered.

Neverlin smiled widely, swiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist, leaving a bloody streak across his forehead.  Almost as an afterthought, Neverlin returned his attention to the socket, prying the hole open wide with his two fingers.  Holding the skewed eye aloft, he glided the white orb at the end of the needle back into its opening.  

The loose flesh around Kemena's eye pulled taunt with an unnatural stretching sound as the eye was swallowed whole, fitting back perfectly.  Neverlin withdrew the needle in a single elegant pull, turning to Mandisa with a theatrical flourish.  Neverlin whispered in triumph "It is done"

Kemena's eyes were closed, looking no worse off than before the procedure.  Wardawn felt a torrent of emotions: enchanted, stunned but most of all confused.  "Should I let her go?" She stammered in a diffident tone. Neverlin fixed a satisfied gaze on Mandisa, who returned the look with excusable ardor.  He replied, "Fine, but she must not drown of course" Wardawn gingerly lowered the woman into the knee deep water, holding her head just above the surface.  The Invictian appeared asleep, her long raven hair floating around her head like an angelic aura.

With the ritual concluded, Mandisa tore her eyes from Neverlin, her contemptuous attitude returning swiftly.  Looking doubtfully down on Kemena she said "Will she remember what happened?"

"No," Neverlin replied flatly.

Mandisa retorted angrily. "I am in no mood to play that one's mother again; it's sickening having this flesh upon mine."  Neverlin chuckled "Yes, unpleasant indeed, let us see how she fares now." With a nod of his chin, he motioned down at the Invictan.  Kemena's brow was furrowed uncomfortably as her eyes blinked open.  Wardawn released her grip immediately and Kemena splashed in the shallow water, scrambling to regain her footing.  She stood, her white dress clinging to her soaked body.  Wardawn watched her rise from the water hungrily. 

Neverlin stood with his arms folded, regarding the drenched woman curiously.  "Mama!" she yelped.  Mandisa's face twisted into one of genuine compassion, Dawn marveled at how the woman could manipulate her emotions so quickly.  "My dear, you tripped into the pool and hit your head, are you all right? "Mandisa fussed.  "I…did?" Kemena asked puzzled.  Mandisa knelt beside her in the water, cupping her face in her hand.  "Yes, you gave us all quite a scare"

Neverlin cautiously walked toward the women.  Mandisa even gave him an annoyed look, puzzled at why he drew so close, but Kemena did not seem to mind, or even notice.  Neverlin drifted his hand in front of Kemena's face, passing it between the two women. Dawn went white.  Kemena failed to see the intrusive gesture.  Mandisa kept her composure, ignoring Neverlin's actions.  Obviously, Mandisa had seen Neverlin commit fouler acts than tonights.

Neverlin began to laugh, softly at first, then rising in volume and intensity.  His cackle filled the hollow halls, bouncing off the cold stone eerily, causing tendrils of fear to shoot down Dawn's spine. Mandisa hugged Kemena tightly, cleverly concealing her frustration with Neverlin.  Neverlin turned on his heel, mumbling to himself "it worked…"

Neverlin sobered, addressing the Warrior.  "Dawn, escort Kemena to the edge of the desert, see that she arrives safely to the Khopshev docks.  You have done well this night, just like old times."  He patted her cheek and turned away from her, heading towards the inner chambers of the Pyramids.

Wardawn hardly considered this anything, like old times.  On the contrary, this was a new chapter. 

 

Up Next: Dinner With Moki