And now a slight scene change to Marian, the strange scarred woman who supposedly pioneered a drug Azia...
Yeah, I thought the wording at the end of this chapter was quite... awkward, I suppose... but I couldn't think of any other way to put it in. Oh well.
The Poisons
Marian saw the flash. The first thing she thought was, Oh, how pretty. Then realization struck her full force, taking her breath away, and the thought turned to No no no no no! She ran down the streets of the town, one whose name was in dwarvish and she couldn't even pronounce, much less remember. She was done with being discreet. She would shout his name in the enemy's face if she had to. “Nikolas! Nikolas! My goodness, Nikolas! Answer me, will you?” She closed her eyes, walking in the River- a last resort, but a necessary one. She saw him there, by its banks, and felt his presence near. I'm coming, she told him. Let me in when I'm near. I will, he said. Room 106. Hotel Arei. That's where I am. Come quick. As if I'd tarry. Marian burst into the inn, ignoring the thirsty stares of hot-blooded thugs. Now where is room 106? She caught sight of a staircase. Aha. “Hey!” the propietor called. “You can't go up there without a key!” Marian turned. “Beat it,” she snapped, her eyes glaring. He swallowed nervously. “I'm sure you have a good reason. Go right ahead.” Of course I have a good reason, you dolt, she thought. Marian continued and was not interrupted until she reached the room. She raised her hand to knock, but the door opened first. “I was waiting,” Nikolas explained. “What in the name of the Victor made you use the River like that? What if someone had seen?” “You were there too, you fool,” she replied. “You should be grateful I found you so easily. You could have helped me, you know.” “Sorry, my queen,” he apologized, and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “How's my wife been lately?” “Same old, same old,” Marian dismissed, “but he's moving. We're having no more reservations.” “I thought you wouldn't interfere. Matter of principle and all that, after what happened with Cattallus.” “Well, I decided that if good men do nothing, evil shall prosper.” “You cheater; you didn't say that,” he said with a grin. “Oh, please. I can't quote? In any case, I'll explain more later. Grab the veela, the were-lion, and your coat- I assume you were smart enough to get one- and let's go.” “Now?” “Well, of course. Time is of the essence.” She smiled. Nikolas laughed at her private little joke. It was quite literal in their case. “Anything else?” “Hiding's over. I want my name back.” Nikolas nodded, chanted, and then gestured with his hands to complete the spell. “Try it.” Marian took a deep breath. “Mariale Belladonna… Regina.” She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they appeared reptilian, like a snake's, but somehow... colder, the purple violently bright. The scar shone silver, and she seemed other-worldly, a full Victura. “Your turn.” She also cast the spell, and Nikolas smiled. “Let's give it a shot. Nikolas Oleander Regus.” His eyes shifted as well, acquiring a rounder, more cat-like appearance. “What happened to your face?” He touched her scar gently. Mariale pulled away. “It's nothing,” she said. “Mari, how'd it happen?” “I told you, it's nothing.” “It's something, all right.” “Drop it, Ole,” she hissed. “Fine.” Oleander took her arm. “Come, my beautiful lady. Together at the courts of Regnum we'll go calling.” Mariale laughed at the pet-name. “Of course, my king of poisons. Wake the servants and we shall take our leave.” Jessica and Joel popped out, ready to go. “Mistress has returned,” Joel acknowledged, and bowed. Jessica mirrored his action and added, “Your absence has been sorely felt, milady.” “Sorry for the wait.” With a nod, they linked arms and entered the River, letting its sweeping current deposit them leagues and leagues away. The River, though it would not flow backwards, could not stop its masters from walking against its current; nor could it disobey them. After centuries of skimming in the shallows, they had entered the rapids with fire in their eyes and orders on their lips, harnessing its power as if it were their own. And, in a way, it was their own.
And now a slight scene change to Marian, the strange scarred woman who supposedly pioneered a drug Azia...
Yeah, I thought the wording at the end of this chapter was quite... awkward, I suppose... but I couldn't think of any other way to put it in. Oh well.
The Poisons
Marian saw the flash. The first thing she thought was, Oh, how pretty. Then realization struck her full force, taking her breath away, and the thought turned to No no no no no! She ran down the streets of the town, one whose name was in dwarvish and she couldn't even pronounce, much less remember. She was done with being discreet. She would shout his name in the enemy's face if she had to. “Nikolas! Nikolas! My goodness, Nikolas! Answer me, will you?” She closed her eyes, walking in the River- a last resort, but a necessary one. She saw him there, by its banks, and felt his presence near. I'm coming, she told him. Let me in when I'm near. I will, he said. Room 106. Hotel Arei. That's where I am. Come quick. As if I'd tarry. Marian burst into the inn, ignoring the thirsty stares of hot-blooded thugs. Now where is room 106? She caught sight of a staircase. Aha. “Hey!” the propietor called. “You can't go up there without a key!” Marian turned. “Beat it,” she snapped, her eyes glaring. He swallowed nervously. “I'm sure you have a good reason. Go right ahead.” Of course I have a good reason, you dolt, she thought. Marian continued and was not interrupted until she reached the room. She raised her hand to knock, but the door opened first. “I was waiting,” Nikolas explained. “What in the name of the Victor made you use the River like that? What if someone had seen?” “You were there too, you fool,” she replied. “You should be grateful I found you so easily. You could have helped me, you know.” “Sorry, my queen,” he apologized, and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “How's my wife been lately?” “Same old, same old,” Marian dismissed, “but he's moving. We're having no more reservations.” “I thought you wouldn't interfere. Matter of principle and all that, after what happened with Cattallus.” “Well, I decided that if good men do nothing, evil shall prosper.” “You cheater; you didn't say that,” he said with a grin. “Oh, please. I can't quote? In any case, I'll explain more later. Grab the veela, the were-lion, and your coat- I assume you were smart enough to get one- and let's go.” “Now?” “Well, of course. Time is of the essence.” She smiled. Nikolas laughed at her private little joke. It was quite literal in their case. “Anything else?” “Hiding's over. I want my name back.” Nikolas nodded, chanted, and then gestured with his hands to complete the spell. “Try it.” Marian took a deep breath. “Mariale Belladonna… Regina.” She closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they appeared reptilian, like a snake's, but somehow... colder, the purple violently bright. The scar shone silver, and she seemed other-worldly, a full Victura. “Your turn.” She also cast the spell, and Nikolas smiled. “Let's give it a shot. Nikolas Oleander Regus.” His eyes shifted as well, acquiring a rounder, more cat-like appearance. “What happened to your face?” He touched her scar gently. Mariale pulled away. “It's nothing,” she said. “Mari, how'd it happen?” “I told you, it's nothing.” “It's something, all right.” “Drop it, Ole,” she hissed. “Fine.” Oleander took her arm. “Come, my beautiful lady. Together at the courts of Regnum we'll go calling.” Mariale laughed at the pet-name. “Of course, my king of poisons. Wake the servants and we shall take our leave.” Jessica and Joel popped out, ready to go. “Mistress has returned,” Joel acknowledged, and bowed. Jessica mirrored his action and added, “Your absence has been sorely felt, milady.” “Sorry for the wait.” With a nod, they linked arms and entered the River, letting its sweeping current deposit them leagues and leagues away. The River, though it would not flow backwards, could not stop its masters from walking against its current; nor could it disobey them. After centuries of skimming in the shallows, they had entered the rapids with fire in their eyes and orders on their lips, harnessing its power as if it were their own. And, in a way, it was their own.
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