Quessstioning

[enigma]

Heavy bolts drew back as the door at the top of a large staircase opened. The door swung about halfway open and Marissa stepped through the doorway, the serpents on her head shrinking back slightly at the sudden rush of cold, stale air that reeked of death and blood. The smirk upon the marax's lips grew slightly as she started down the stairs, her bladed tail clanking each time it hit the previous stair. She was going to see about this worm, and if it still and enough life in it to speak to the King.

Finally, Marissa reached the bottom of the stairs. Turning around, she nodded toward Osirus and continued walking. After what seemed like an eternity, she found her victim, a middle-aged woman with matted, dirtied blonde hair, pale skin, and bleary blue eyes. Upon seeing Marissa enter, she made no reaction, just hung limply, not even bothering to look up at the King of Alyssus.

"Come now, sssweetie..." Marissa hissed, bringing one hand to the woman's chin, lifting her head and making her eyes fixate upon the king. "Now...hisss majesssty will be asssking you some quessstionsss... And you will anssswer them, alright?"

The woman said nothing, but simply nodded. She knew there was no hope for her here... She was in the place of no return...the place of death...

[King Osirus]

Osirus growled and grumbled his way to the Blood Chamber. Not only had his dinner been ruined, but now, several momentous occurances in this one night had set him upon a downward spiral of worries and frustrations. He felt tired and weak for the first time in ages. He wasn't sure what Eros had done to him by touching him, but all he did know was that Nocens Atrum had taken a brief vacation. It was a sickening feeling that bothered Osirus, but more than anything, he wanted information. He craved information and if Marissa had someone that was going to give it to him, he would walk the very dawning hours to get it. He had a war to prepare and a kingdom to run, but he was not ready to retire to bed yet.

As he followed, his coat swollen and heavy with blood, had trailed a mark of red from the dining room to the blood chamber. Halfway there, he had discarded it, it being much too heavy for him to deal with as he went into the chambers. His face was pock marked with blood as he walked down the cold narrow halls to where Marissa held her captive. His black coat had done little to keep the white long sleeved blouse underneath from being seeped with blood. The black vest over his chest had at least done that.

Stepping to where Marissa stood, cooing her captured into submission, Osirus felt his anger surge back over his worry as he stood tall over the dirtied female urchin before him. He looked down at her and snorted in disgust.

"So you know some information about the Lustful Prophet huh? You also have information on my missing Knight, Lourette, right?" Osirus growled.

"And don't lie to me. I've had a very frustrating night so far..."

[enigma]

The woman was silent for a while, then closed her eyes momentarily. When she opened her eyes, the bleariness had disappeared, revealing one bright blue eye and one deep gold eye that had a slit pupil, much like a cat's.

"I have seen much..." she spoke, her voice cracked with pain and weariness. "I know the location of your rabbit-eared lieutenant, as well as the Lustful Prophet... Which one would you like to hear of first?" With that, a teasing, almost devil-may-care smile formed on the woman's lips.

Hearing her impudence, Marissa hissed through clenched teeth, her razor-sharp claws pressing into the woman's cheeks. "You will not ssspeak to hisss majesssty that way, bitch! Now, tell him the location of the bunny-eared woman!"

"Very well..." the woman spoke, wincing inwardly at the pain in her cheeks. "Your rabbit-eared soldier is currently not far from Du Aurella with her new...friend...a fox woman named Akikaze Kitsune-Onna... She...She is a...famous artist... Certianly you must have some art somewhere in this castle that is painted by her..." That same smirk formed on her face again. "Rumor and legend have it that she is Freya's daughter... And she also possesses a music box that...when it is played, Freya, if she is nearby, will...be attracted to it...like moths to a flame...or ants to a corpse..."

[King Osirus]

Osirus stared at the women for a moment, his mind quickly calculating the information that had just been given to him. There were several things he did not like so far, and the woman herself was one of them. Who was she and where did Marissa find her? Purging the thought from his mind, he struggled to recollect something about this so-called artist, Akikaze Kitsune-Onna. So she was the daughter of the Prophet Freya, was she? And she had means to call the Prophet to her? Hmph...interesting enough...and Lourette is with her? That bastard woman left the Knighthood just like Laties. Who would've thought that my three greatest Knights were to turn out to be a bunch of traitorous whelps? Well, I guess its safe to say at least they won't be coming back for the Sergeant any time soon. But this up coming battle could prove to be difficult if the Order's prophet knows of what is to come. But if Freya is captured and brought here, Freya and Camine will be mine. The other Prophets will not be able to touch me! Osirus' face morphed from disgusted to cynically pleased. His twisted smile graced his lips as he knelt in front of the woman, gently prying Marissa's nails from her face. Taking both hands, he gently held the woman's face in his cold hands, looking into her eyes.

"My dear woman...you've been through much. But I'm afraid I need to know just where this...artist is so that I may speak with her. Maybe if you do this for me, I shall have food brought to you and maybe, even release from this prison!" Inwardly, Osirus chuckled. Once someone was in the Blood Chamber, they were never to escape the bloody bed they had been laid upon. This woman was good as dead, but a little white lie couldn't hurt, could it? Of course, if this woman had any sort of brains, she'd already know this. But still, his gentle touch never wavered, looking at her almost as if he cared about her life.

[heavensinger]

A loud rattling sound danced on the walls. Then silence fell into the darkness once more. From behind the two, a white figure emerged from the impenetrable darkness. All her features where highly accentuated, including her hips and bust- and the rubbery tendrils which danced atop Miao's head swayed and danced, copying Marissa's snakes perfectly.

Her body hovered above the damp tiles which lay on the floor, bloody and broken-- Which meant, she made no sound as she approached with a strange, serene mist protecting her pure white skin from such horrible stench and grotesque scenes. Miao seemed to be in her own world when she stood behind the king, her head slowly swaying like a 'nodding-dog'.

"You called...?" Miao smiled blissfully. Her voice exuded admiration- as well as her eyes which sparkled in the dim light. With her eyelids fluttering rapidly and her head saying left to right like a fool, she looked almost unaware of the female form before her idle and Marissa.

[enigma]

Marissa felt her fingers being pryed from the woman's face, and almost as if it were a command, she stepped back. What his majesty was planning wasn't obvious to the marax, but she had a feeling that whatever he was planning, it was a good idea.

The odd-eyed woman stared into Osirus' dark eyes, and immediately felt the lack of darkness within him. "You have no need to lie to me, Osirus... I know you will not free me... Besides..." She closed her eyes, a long breath escaping her lips. "There's not much more left for me anyway... Death's cold grasp is creeping up upon me..."

Her strange eyes opened again, and the woman nodded slightly. "In Du Aurella court, in the place called the White Forest... The two are gathered there...beneath an apple tree..." Again, her eyes closed. "But, I must warn you...the fox woman...has the power of Fox Fire... Not only that...she seems to be an enchanted painter..."

[King Osirus]

Standing up slowly, Osirus smiled, his lips twisted in a cruel smirk. This is excellent! If I can capture the artist...I can gain the power to summon this Prophet and capture her like Camine. I will then have two Prophets under my control to subdue Bassette with. Osirus let out a chuckle and looked to Marissa and Miao.

"Have it arranged to have this artist captured and brought to the castle. She can be beaten and chained, but I need her alive to capture her "supposed" mother, Freya. Marissa, I will leave that up to you. Miao, I would like you to do some research on her...enchanted powers. Even if we can't gain Freya's power, this woman's powers must be tested to see if they would better fit under my control. I will need this before I set out to battle within the next few days. I will not be pleased if I do not have this woman and her mother in my grasp before the battle," Osirus muttered, He then looked down at the woman captured and gave her an icy smile.

"You have proven to be more useful than I thought. I''ll give you the honor of having a quick death. Marissa, set to it she dies quickly. Now, if that's all there is to say..."

[enigma]

The odd-eyed woman shook her head, allowing it to hang limply downward so her eyes were looking upon the King's, the marax's, and the strange white creature's feet. "There is nothing more..." she said, coughing weakly. "Just put me out of my misery already..."

Marissa gave a glance to King Osirus, then to the woman. Shrugging, the marax took a step forward, taking the woman's face in her clawed gauntlets again and forced her face to look at her. "Pity..." she hissed, a small smile on her lips. "You were ssso pretty, too... Ah well..." Leaning in, she kissed the woman, which triggered the crystallization. Five long seconds ticked by before the marax pulled away, her tongue slithering back into her mouth. She watched with cruel amusement as the woman crystallized over, her face the picture of shock, like most of her victims.

"Majesssty," the marax hissed, kneeling down at Osirus' feet. "If I have your permissssion, I will go and hunt down the artissst right away..." The grip on her zanba-tou tightened slightly. Finally, she'd get to toy with some fresh prey! Not some half-rotted carrion that had been down here for a week!

"And what do I do if I find the rabbit woman?" she asked, standing up. "Do I kill her or bring her back alive?"

[King Osirus]

Osirus looked at Marissa for a moment, the look in his eyes indecating that he had to truly think about just what to do with her. For one thing, he cared not for her life. She had betrayed him as Laties had. While he still had the Sergeant Israfel under his control, he was sure that if he had not done so, surely all three of them would have disappeared. Such insolence could not be forgiven so easily. While he desired nothing more than to see her head on a platter and her body turned into a fur coat, there was still some thought that perhaps Laties would come back to take her. Therefore, if she was in danger, perhaps it would summon Laties faster. And yet, even though he still had Israfel under his control, Laties had made no movement to take back his friend. Just what was running through the mind of the General?

"Hmm...no, no...unfortunately I need her alive. She'll be good leverage if Laties ever dares to come back. For now, I need her alive. But I daren't say you can't...beat the resistance out of her. She'll most likely cause a problem upon her capture, so do be careful not to get in the way of her swordsmanship. I hate to admit it...but I lost my best team of Knights all thanks to Laties..." Osirus growled. He could feel the anger writhing up again in his chest. That single man had not only left the castle, giving up his rank as the General, but caused such a massive rift in power between the Knights, Osirus had to replace him with Takashe. Laties cannot be allowed to continue like he is...