River Black
She sat on a pile of cushions and fanned herself. It was stifling in the ‘room’. Cinder didn’t seem bothered, but he was wearing far less than she was. He grinned at her, like the cat who caught the canary, clearly proud of himself.
“Something wrong, Princess?” he asked, tone sarcastic and sly. She wasn’t sure if he actually cared if she were upset or not. She guessed not.
“Several things. When are we leaving?” she asked, trying to keep him on topic. She’d learned, in the short time she’d been in Cinder’s company, that he hopped from topic to topic like a bee flitting from flower to flower. And every topic was about -him- in some way or another.
He pouted. “Suit yourself! Soon. When the sun rises. You should rest, you know.” He waved a hand, as though her question was a bad smell he was trying to get rid of.
She snorted, though she reluctantly tried to get a little more comfortable. It was hard because it was so wa
Tamsin EventideIt had never happened before, in the decade since he’d had his curse. He’d never lost control before the full moon and transformed. But like all the times before, he lost control of himself utterly. He could see and hear, he could think, but it seemed like his body was not his. He watched himself tear through the forest, his skin replaced by thick, silvery white fur that mimicked the moon’s light.He could feel branches and bramble tear at his skin through his heavy coat, but any pain only spurred him on, encouraged him. Tamsin had found River’s scent, like springtime, like fresh waters and lilies, sweet and good. Cinder, he could smell the treacherous Fae, wood smoke and copper. He’d find him, and he would tear him to pieces.He’d find River and claim her. The desire and urge to do so was all consuming. His primal cry tore through the chilly evening air, calling others to him. He may have been a cursed prince
Tamsin EventideIf he’d been able to control himself, he’d have stalked through the trees silently. He could have gotten the jump on the Dain. He knew, even as it happened, that charging the monstrous son of the Witch Queen was a bad idea. It was foolish. But his Beast was hell-bent on destruction and had no fear, no strategy, just terrible, hungry animal instinct.The Dain was in no better shape, he noted as he charged towards him. The monster towered over him, over some of the trees. His body was bare bone and hanging, fetid, rotten flesh. His face was a skull, likely a bear’s with glowing blue witch lights for eyes. Antlers, uneven and broken protruded from the skull.Tamsin had long wondered what had happened to create such a foul thing. Had he ever been as Tamsin was? A Fae cursed and twisted by dark magic? There was no way to know. Carmun used her sons as a means of control over the Realm.The Dain howled in rage,
River BlackShe must have dozed. She woke with a start, coming messily out of sleep. A soft glow emanated from across the small room. Cinder had propped himself on a pile of silk cushions and seemed to be asleep himself, his eyes closed, a little candle flickering on a low table near him.River heard it then, what woke her. An anguished scream. Nothing human could make that sound. It sounded like someone was killing a dog. Or a wolf. And while it made no sense, she felt, she knew it was Tamsin. He was in trouble. She shouldn’t have cared. He wasn’t her friend. Just a beautiful stranger in an even stranger land.When she heard the scream again, muffled and far away sounding, it sent shivers all up and down her skin and made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She had to help. She wasn’t sure why. She just had to.Carefully, River crept around the room. She had an idea, though it wasn’t great, and she was pre
Aelnith EventideThe Dain shuddered, stumbled as he drained it of the dark power that powered it. Just a little more, he thought. But it was overwhelming. He could feel himself slipping, losing himself every single moment. The dark magic tore through him and immediately began changing him. He could feel it’s poisonous influence.Aelnith wondered if it would make him like the Dain, shambling through the wood, only ever hungry, only ever destructive. The Realm would hunt him down, which was fitting. It would be a mercy. At least, he thought as he further slipped away, he wouldn’t be aware of his House falling to ruin or lost to time.The Dain fell to it’s side, but was unable to dislodge him. He wondered dimly if he could even stop if he tried. The dark magic flowed freely into him, twisting and breaking his soul apart. It wasn’t physically painful, but it hurt him in subtle ways. Aelnith wanted to look upon the wood with t
River BlackBefore she could render any aid at all, the Dain roared viciously, so loud and horrible it hurt her ears. As River looked up, a great, stinking appendage swung at her. There was no time to dodge or get away. Pain expolded in her midsection as she was sent careening through the air. She landed in the brush, at least ten feet away from where she had been.It knocked all the air out of her and she lay on the ground, dazed. Pain, like fire, spread all over her abdomen. River wasn’t sure if she was seriously hurt or not. She lay still, hoping the Dain would forget about her. She only raised her head a little, vision blurry, head spinning, hoping to spot Tamsin.She couldn’t see him. All she could see is Cinder holding aloft his flaming dagger, shouting at the Dain. He flared brightly until she couldn’t see him at all. He was a pillar of flame, an inferno. For a moment, she could feel a wash of heat.Then, the Dain
River BlackTraveling Cinder’s way, the paths of magic, was very disoreintating. She would have preferred walking. For Cinder, being a Fae meant none of the side effects. He simply continued on, right as rain. River, on the other hand, found herself leaning on the nearest tree and throwing up, even though she really didn’t have anything in her stomach -to- throw up.Vertigo and dizziness made it feel like the ground was actively trying to hit her. It took several moments of closing her eyes and taking deep steadying breaths before she could stand fully upright. She shot Cinder a withering glance.“What? Not my fault!” he protested.“It’s all entirely your fault,” River pointed out, crouching by Tamsin who Cinder had placed on the ground. He was still alive, but so pale. His breathing was shallow, his pulse thready.She stared at him, boggled at how she could feel so much for him even though
River BlackRiver watch Inana work on Tamsin, clean his body, his wounds, pack them with pungent herbs. After she’d finished, she stepped back and frowned, brushing gilded hair from her cat green eyes. She shook her head.“This requires...much more,” she said, her voice low and tired.River looked at him. His skin had lost so much color, his cheeks were sunken. Likely blood loss, she thought. But again there were no hospitals, no doctors. She doubted if she said blood transfusion the witch would understand. She’d probably just think she meant...Aelnith.Reflexively, her fingers went to the bite mark on her neck. She watched as Inana followed with her eyes, looking at the mark.“And that,” the witch said. “Must be dealt with. I assume you don’t want the curse?”River shook her head. “No. No,I don’t want it. He didn’t...really ask.”Inana smil
Aelnith EventideThe sun set at last. He’d made his home a cave for the daylight hours. Luckily, it had been one he’d used before. He’d almost not made it. His skin still tingled and burned where the sun had touched it. He couldn’t help but think how much better he’d have faired if he’d had more of River’s intoxicating blood.Hard to believe she was only human, he thought. If she had any other ancestory, it was hidden by magic. It was something Aelnith considered. He’d met many human women, especially when he’d been a bit younger and took frequent advantage of Cinder’s door making to travel between worlds.They’d been friends once, but the other Fae proved too untrustworthy. But once, they’d shared adventures and wine. Now, he’d see Cinder dead for his treachery. That he seemed to be on the side of House Eventide wasn’t to be trusted. Aelnith had fallen for it on