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Tower of Secrets
Such a decrepit tower, isolated and alone in a dark forest. Home to a magnificent and yet feared wizard. A necromancer who practiced dark arts and even darker arts. Nearby villagers had only come to him when they had no other to turn to, now rumors said the necromancer was dead, but that his tower held all sorts of treasures. Mostly things that would be valuable to other spell casters. Artifacts, tomes, all manner of things. And a familiar, of sorts. A Nekomata trapped within the tower, stuck in the bedchamber of the dead necromancer. Lucky for him though the mean caster had died in the top of the tower, where the library was. So the two tailed cat demon was spared the smell of death and decay. He knew why the necromancer had chained him up once learning he was going to die soon. He wanted the cat to bring him back, but the man hadn't been thinking clearly, the chains around the demon's wrists that held him to the wall were enchanted and they prevented the nekomata from using any of his powers. No fire, no controlling the dead, no changing forms to escape. It had been weeks, maybe months. Ambroise wasn't sure, he couldn't tell day from night anymore. So weak, but the hunger had faded days ago and that frightened him. Was he dying now? Would he die from starvation, could he even die from that or dehydration? He had lived 125 years, but he wasn't sure if that type of thing could kill him. His arms were above his head, shackled to the wall and it was the only thing that kept him on his feet. Someone would come, maybe. Wouldn't they? Surely people knew of the necromancers demise by now, treasure seekers, or people interested in tomes and such would come to take the magical treasures and spell books, then they'd find him and let him out. Wouldn't they? He hoped they would, but knowing his luck they would go straight up to the study where most of the valuable things were and not even think to glance in the bedroom on the way up. |
Leah Janan was a striking curvacious woman, perhaps even beautiful…well beautiful if you aren’t bothered by the three jagged claw marks that took her right eye. Yet even without those scars she was a woman who caught your attention. Her hair was white as snow and her eyes pale blue, so cold and strange a blue they seemed like ice… She also moved with the grace and power of a big cat with an aura of power around her. It was clear from a glance that she was not someone to mess with.
She had come to the tower for magic, seeking a cure from the animal within her. She searched through the books in the library, ignoring any retaining scent her beast could pick up. The feeling of death, however, kept making her eyes flashing gold as her beast was excited by it. It was just as much a spirit onto itself, her magic having turned the curse into something even more violent and separate. She pushed it aside, however, with her sheer will power. She simply silently gathered the books and treasures she thought could learn from or thought too dangerous to leave for something with less will or scruples. As she started to leave, however, her beast had already made her senses too strong and her eyes were tinged with gold. She could hear the heartbeat of something living and it called to her. She felt her hunger rise so high she could nearly taste his blood as she followed his scent. She pushed away the feeling now that it was of no use to her as she paused outside of the room. She took deep breaths and her eyes shifted back from gold to ice blue as she bound the beast with her own quiet mantra. She stepped into the room slowly, with the expectation to see a treasure hunter but instead seeing a cat eared man. She couldn't help but smile at the irony... she looked fully human but her beast was probably deeper then his and maybe even stronger, she felt it's desire to find out as it fought it's bonds but she was yet stronger then the beast. It fell silent to her will and she silently walked to the Ambroise. She didn't say a word to him or appear to look in his eyes for more then a second. She simply placed her staff against the wall next to him, the crystals and celestial charms hanging from it making a soft tinkling sound. She felt the magic on the chains but she pulled a silver chain from one of her coat's many hidden pockets. If he was quick he might spot some of her blades... The silver chain, however, seemed but a necklace with a broken key on the end of it. She had adapted this ancient key for such a purpose, that and she hated having to pick locks. The key looked as if someone had just chopped off the tip. She touched the tip to the chain before she pulled it back and whispered a spell, the tip forming into the shape to open it quickly as metal from the top seemed to 'bleed' down into some invisible mold. With a quick turn Ambroise would be released from his magic chains one by one, Leah still silent. When she finished she whispered another word and the key returned to its 'broken' looking state before she put it away. She didn't say a word to the cat man and simply took up her staff again. She glanced at him to see if he could stand on his own or if he would start to fall. If he could stand she would start for the door wordlessly, with the clear intent to just leave him to fend for himself. |
Ambroise thought he was dreaming, or hallucinating when someone entered the room. His throat was so dry, and his lips moved as he tried to say something to the woman as she approached him. His tails twitching very slightly, he wasn't dreaming. She was really there, really coming towards him. He could hardly focus on what she was doing though, but he hadn't really been able to focus on much of anything lately.
She had come to steal, steal the things of the tower, of that Ambroise was sure. He expected people to come to raid this place before now. Why had it taken so long? It didn't matter, she could have whatever she wanted, he didn't care as long she helped him. She was helping him, he realized that a little late. As soon as the last chain was released, the nekomata began to fall. He had no strength. His lips were moving though no words escaped them. His throat to dry for his voice to work properly. His hands reached out, grabbing her arm for support but his grip was weak and he could barely hold onto her. His lips moved again, this time a very low, hoarse whisper left them. "....water..." It would help, food and proper rest would be better. One thing at a time though. Ambroise felt rather pathetic, and embarrassed. He had wanted someone to save him, but now he realized how weak and lame he must seem. |
Leah made a soft sound of annoyance in her throat as he grabbed her, he was too weak to make her tense up like she normally would. She did not, however, like to be touched. Still with a sigh she scooped him up bridal style in her arms and would carry him that way even if he objected. She used the strength of her beast to carry him to the bed despite looking far to slender to have it and a soft wind spell would remove any dust from the bed. She would drop him without a word to rest there and sit with her back to him on the bed as she took her pack and placed it at her feet. Within a few minutes she would pull a canteen from her pack and hand it to him. After he took it she would go to her bed again and pull out a tin of dried fish before she opened it and sat it on the bedside table within his reach.
"Eat just a little to start with...and drink slow" She warned in an uncaring tone, the sound of her voice contradicting her words. She would then pull her pack back over her shoulders and retrieve her staff where she had dropped it in order to catch him. She began to look through the bedroom for items of interest. She ignored jewelry and other things of monetary value, seeming more interest in that of magical or intellectual value. She half hoped to find a diary or something as sometimes they contained something helpful to her own studies and weren't just a bunch of arrogant claims or boring talk about their daily lives. It wasn't common but it happened just often enough for her to read them. She would in fact find a diary tucked away and sat in a chair, so she could flip it open. She seemed more interested in it then Ambroise now. She still seemed like she might leave him with the full canteen and a tin or two of fish to rest and otherwise fend for himself. She didn't speak or ask him who or what he was as if it didn't matter to her in the slightest. Honestly she didn't particularly care what he was. She'd found experiments before similar to him. |
Ambroise didn't make any other noises, or try to say anything else as the woman lifted him and carried him to the bed. He hated himself for being so weak right now. He struggled for a moment to sit up after she just dropped him there, but he got himself up, propped up on his elbows. His eyes on her, watching her curiously, she didn't seem very social. It didn't matter, when she handed him the canteen, he took it from her eagerly.
Eat a little and drink slow. Ambroise rolled his eyes, he knew that already. Still when that water touched his lips and slid down his throat it took a lot of effort to not just gulp it down. His eyes closed as he drank the water slowly, he didn't know she'd found his master's diary, but even if he had, he wouldn't have stopped her from reading it. Ambroise set the canteen aside, eyes opening as he reached for the fish. He stared at the fish for a long moment before he began to eat, he had been so hungry just days ago. Now it was as if his stomach didn't understand he was putting food into it. Ambroise could only eat a few bites before he sat the rest aside with a grimace. Still he already felt stronger, probably mostly because of the water. It didn't matter why, all that mattered was he was feeling better. The nekomata stood from the bed and stretched, his ears twitching and flicking while his twin tails did the same behind him. His eyes were on the girl now. "Find anything interesting?" His voice still sounded a little dry, but it wasn't a whisper and it wasn't as hoarse as before. |
"Sit and rest.... I'll drop you at the next town soon, from there you can do what you want." She answered with a non committal shrug as her only acknowledgement of his question. She honestly didn't know yet. He seemed to have actual information but nothing that particularly interested her yet. She did find some childhood thoughts on the nekomata but she was not interested in the familiar for herself so saw no reason to acknowledge it. She would simply give him his freedom and not look back, she had little use for friends and even less for lovers or familiars she had to watch out for.
She didn't look at him and seemed unconcerned when he stood. She simply turned the page she was on, as if expecting him to listen to her simply because it was the wise thing to do. She did find the mage's directness and focus on magic refreshing but so far there was no experiment of interest to her yet. Still she had only really gone through his beginning and a minor mention of the nekomata serving the family. She imagined he was use to orders... |
Well, she was right, he should just sit and rest while he could. Ambroise gave a shrug and sat back down, reaching for that tin of fish again. He nibbled at the food, taking tiny bites and not eating very much of it at all. He watched her though, his tails swishing and swaying this way and that behind him. "I'm Ambroise." No doubt she had already learned that from the diary she was reading, then again his master had never called him by name, so why refer to him as such in the diary? It didn't matter.
She really didn't seem the talkative type at all, he set the tin of fish down again and grabbed the canteen. He drank a little more of the water and set it aside. "If you're looking for something specific I may be able to help." Ambroise sounded more bored than anything. He was feeling better, but he knew he wasn't recovered enough. He probably wouldn't be able to make it halfway to the nearest town. Hell, making it out of the tower would probably be a feat for him in his current condition. Still, he sounded a little better, his voice had lost that dryness to it, his eyes were a little brighter and he wanted to do something. Anything. He'd been cooped up in this place for weeks. Ambroise stood again, he was feeling so restless. |
"I'm Leah..... and doubtful. Information is all I want and I've found what I can here... When you recover enough we will head down" She frowned at the last and glanced at him, as if saying 'you're the only reason i'm still stuck here.' There was something cold in her tone but he would find out that was normal for her. She then shrugged and returned to reading the diary. She didn't bother telling him to sit and rest... if he wanted to squirm around the room and end up collapsing that was his business. She could always carry him out if it came down to it.
It didn't seem the mage had worked much with therians either... and that he had little to offer her. Still some of his books she'd taken were older then even the nekomata, so perhaps they would offer her something and she hadn't finished the diary yet. She seemed to be reading it fairly quickly, years collapsing before her eyes as she picked out what was of use to her and dismissed what wasn't. She didn't even seem concerned as she watched the child turn into a mean abusive creature as he grew. Power corrupting in such a way was hardly new to her. |
Ambroise sat back down, arms crossing across his chest and he pouted a little. He wanted to do something other than sit around while she read that diary. Though he was a little curious as to what had been written about him in it. He wasn't curious enough to ask and decided he really didn't want to know anyway. The nekomata could have just left, he knew he wasn't strong enough to make it out on his own. He would probably collapse before he got halfway to the front door.
Honestly though, Ambroise didn't want to leave the tower. This was his home, not his favorite home but the only one he'd known for years and years. What was he supposed to do now? He bit his bottom lip and watched Leah, coming to a decision of his own. Ambroise stood again and moved across the room, he reached out, finger's gliding across the cool stone of the wall gently. Fingertips barely touching the rough stone at all, then he pushed on a specific stone and the wall moved. The wall slid up, disappearing into the ceiling, revealing behind it a marble pedestal with a very thick book sitting on top of it. Ambroise glanced over the book then looked to Leah. She had said she wanted information, but Ambroise wasn't sure if this book would help. Still books were good sources of information, weren't they? He reached out and lifted the thick book from it's resting place and stepped back a few steps as the wall slid back down heavily into place. The nekomata brought the book over to her and set it down next to her chair. He had no idea what was in that book, only that it had been very important to his master. Without a word Ambroise returned to sitting on the bed, panting slightly. Perhaps he needed more rest than he had thought, such a trivial excursion as retrieving a book had left him feeling winded. He drank some more water, and nibbled at the fish some. |
Leah didn't glance up until he made the wall open. She watched him, wondering if he was trying to leave or what. As he brought the book she nodded to acknowledge it and continued the diary for a moment. The only thing she said aloud was to 'lay down and rest' again with a slight sigh. She would reach the end of the diary in about another fifteen minutes and toss it back on the bedside table. It was useless to her. All if it was just modern magic the immortal already knew of and experiments that were not of a kind she wanted. She would then turn to the book at her feet and glance over it. It was fairly old...
Some of it wasn't even in 'modern' english or necessarily english at all when you went back far enough. A slight smile lifted her lips and she opened the book carefully. The binding was so thin with age it was probably only magic that held it together. She smiled slightly at the thought and continued to look through the pages. Finally with a shrug she turned to the beginning and began to translate what she could. She had learned many old languages... "This... may just be useful..." |
He scoffed lightly when she told him to lay down and rest. Ambroise set the tin of fish aside. He really wasn't hungry at all it would seem. The nekomata did lay down, facing her. His eyes didn't stay open for long, no matter how hard he tried to fight it. Within minutes of laying down, Ambroise had fallen asleep. He was terribly exhausted after all, even if he had kept telling himself he was fine. The nekomata would most likely sleep the rest of the day away and all of the night.
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Leah ignored him as he slept, her eyes on the book. She would get out a pen and paper to write down anything she found interesting. She wrote in a rune like language she preferred and few others seemed to know...as it belonged to a culture long dead. She would glance over now and then as time passed but she was more interested in the book. It was old enough to have the potential to be useful.... and it was something to do as he slept. Once he was rested up she could take him to the next town and dump him there she figured... She would eventually nod of to sleep herself, pen in hand just before dawn the next day.
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Ambroise was slow in waking, no doubt the sun had been up for hours before the nekomata began to stir. He yawned before he opened his eyes, glancing around to see if Leah was still there. It would probably be alright if she wasn't, he wasn't chained up anymore so he could probably take care of himself. All alone and what not. He shivered for a moment, and sat up, yawning again and stretching now.
That rest had felt so good. He felt even better than yesterday, and he was ready to leave this tower. Yesterday he hadn't been so sure he wanted to go, but now Ambroise was positive he wanted to get the hell out of this place. He stood and stretched again, his tails twitching behind him and his eyes roamed over the room while he stood there. |
Leah slept a few moments after he awoke, her arms beneath her head and her scared cheek against them. Her soft hair fell over her face like a curtain, her dark lashes even more visible against it. They fluttered slightly against the rounder part of her cheek, as if she was dreaming. Her ruby lips were slightly parted and almost seemed to pout. She looked so young, so vulnerable. The ice and years were gone and her face open. Whatever dream she was having it was bitter sweet and gave a softness to her features. As she heard him stand and the bed creak she woke up with a start. She seemed to almost bare her teeth at him before she remembered the day before. Her face shifted from beauty to beast in seconds before returning to that porcelain mask it always was.
"Eat and then we'll head to town. I'll find you a place to stay and then be moving on." She said simply as she began to gather herself together. She would put the book in her bag along with her notes. She then swung the bag over her shoulder and glanced to the canteen. It would likely have more then enough to last but she should probably pick up supplies in town. It was these thoughts her mind was on, having no doubt it seemed that the nekomata would accept her thought. She saw no reason to believe he would refuse the offer of his new found freedom... |
Ambroise watched her, not reacting as she woke and almost bared her teeth at him. She had looked so soft and sweet while sleeping, now she was the complete opposite. He shrugged at her words, grabbing the canteen and gulping down some of the water. He sat that down on the table and picked up the tin of fish, in moments he had finished that off.
His appetite was back and he was famished. The fish helped though. Those tails of his swishing and swaying, his ears up and he looked much better than he had the day before. "What if I don't wanna stay in the town?" That head tilted to the side slightly as he asked that question and watched her for a response. |
"Then you can go tour the world for all i care, its your life once i drop you there. You'll be free and i'll be back on the road. Hell you can stay here if you want... but i wouldn't recommend it. Not all treasure hunters are as sweet and gentle as i am " She responded with a shrug and a little sarcasm at the end as she turned to gaze at him. She raised an eyebrow and gave him a slightly perplexed look. She didn't think it wise he stay here due to treasure hunters... but it was his life. As long as he didn't interfere with her it was his right to do what he pleased with it. She had found a few clues so she just wanted to get back on the road...
She gathered her things and went to hook the canteen on her pack again. She glanced at the fish and took out another tin as that one was empty and opened it. She handed it to him wordlessly and glanced around to make sure she hadn't left anything. Other then the bedroom she'd checked everywhere for secrets and he'd revealed the only important one more then likely... she briefly wondered if he had any belongings to gather... |
Ambroise had no intention of touring the world or staying in a town or staying in the tower. He just nodded slightly at her words though, watching her almost carefully for a few moments. When she handed him another tin of fish he practically purred as he took it from her. Ambroise munched on the fish quickly but didn't devour it too fast. Well not fast enough to get sick from eating too fast.
Thoughtfully those eyes danced around the room as he chewed the last bit of fish. He would most likely need money if he was going to be out in the big wide world. He moved across the room to a desk and opened a drawer, he reached inside the drawer and felt around for a few moments before finding the button. A soft click and a tiny square hole opened up in the wall to the left of the desk. The hole was barely big enough for someone to stick their hand in it. Ambroise left the empty fish tin on top of the desk and moved to stand in front of the hole in the wall. He peered inside it for a moment then stuck his hand in there and pulled out a small bag of coins. He tossed the tied bag up and caught it. It might come in handy. After all money made the world go round. More or less. He turned to look at her. "Fine. Ready when you are, I suppose." Ambroise had tucked away that pouch of coins in nearly the blink of an eye. It was hard to tell where he had hidden it on his person, it was like the thing had just disappeared. |
Leah watched without any particular passion. She simply nodded as he spoke and started for the door. She would lead him out of the tower without a word and barely a glance. The only time she really acknowledged his existence was when she held the doors open behind her until he came through it. She really saw no reason to make conversation with him... or why he would want to speak to her.
She let silence fall between them as she headed for the forest path between the tower and town. She spoke more here, but only as she felt necessary. She occasionally would point out a plant or two to avoid and other things to be careful of, not wanting him to get himself hurt and slow them down. It would likely take almost two hours before they hit down. She would head towards the local inn because she figured he could stay there. She stopped in front of the door. "here you are..... This is an inn and should have rooms to rent. They did the other day when I stayed here. I can give you a weeks stay worth of coin, I'll be on my way to Oberon, a town north of here." She said simply as she got out the coin. She held them out towards him and once he took them would start towards the road, clearly thinking she would never see him again. Her good deed done...she thought. |
Ambroise didn't speak much either during their trip. He was too busy on focusing all his energy on keeping up with her. He wasn't fully recovered quite yet, but he was well enough. Finally they made it to the town, his tails twitching and his eyes looking about at everything, then they were stopping. Ambroise raised a brow and looked up at the building in question.
The nekomata shrugged lightly at her words and took the offered coins with a slight smile. A bit of mischief in his eyes as he put the coins in his little pouch of money he'd taken from the tower. That pouch replaced and Ambro trotted after Leah. Intending to go with her. He caught up with her quickly and fell into step beside her. He was free after all, free to choose what he wanted to do. He had decided what he wanted before they had left the tower. |
"What are you doing?" She asked in an annoyed tone as he fell into step besides her. Her own steps fell to a sudden stop and she turned to look at him. She put a hand on her hip, her other hand on her staff tightening slightly as her eyes narrowed on his. Her eyes were colder somehow and many had fled under that wilting stare she was giving him. She knew he understood english fine from his earlier speaking... he wasn't going to play with her. She had been traveling alone for a very long time... and for very good reason. When she first woke up or during a full moon she was dangerous or rather her beast was.
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"I decided I'd come with you." He had stopped when she stopped and shrugged. He met her gaze unflinching. She could give him death looks all she wanted, but it was just a look. "You look lonely and I'm tired of being cooped up in buildings. So I think I'll just follow you around for a while." It was half a truth, half the reason why he decided to go along with her. His two tails twitched and swayed and his ears twitched lightly atop his head. She wasn't going to get rid of him so easily.
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"I'm not lonely and i travel alone for reasons of my own...Shoo" She hissed. She made a shooing method with her hand and then turned to walk forward towards the path. She seemed angry, but anger is often a result of fear. She had killed before... and she had no desire to do it again. She wanted to make it to oberon before night fall too... and she wasn't so sure she could do that with a tag along. She was frowning at nothing now, inwardly arguing with herself. She knew he was likely abused judging by the diary... Maybe he had grown dependent on being controlled and abused? Maybe if she just ignored him...
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"Right, I guess I'm the lonely one then." Ambroise gave her a winning smile followed by a shrug as she attempted to unsuccessfully shoo him away. She was angry, at least as far as he could tell but that was alright. As she started walking again, Ambroise fell in beside her again. "So..why we going to Oberon? And why is the place named for the king of fairies? Will there be fairies there?" The mischief had gone from his eyes, if only a little bit, most of it replaced by curiosity.
Ambroise inhaled deeply, being outside of that tower felt so good. Felt good, but it also made him a little homesick. There was nothing for him there anymore, so he couldn't quite understand that feeling of homesickness that was trying to creep up on him. Nor did he understand why it was coming on him so soon after leaving. Shouldn't that kind of thing take longer to set in, besides it didn't make sense. He was glad to put that place behind him, so why should he miss it even a little bit. His brow furrowed for a moment and then he shook his head to clear it, glancing at Leah as he waited for her to answer his questions about the next town. |
Leah stopped and sighed before she put her hand on the boy's shoulder. She ignored the winning smile, not impressed. She was about to correct him about the 'we' part and yell at him when he continued to talk before she could. She stared at him a moment in sheer shock at his innocence. She put her hand against her forehead and sighed as if tired already. He was a talker, of course, and a naive one at that.
"No... there are not fairies there. I don't know why the town named itself that, nor do I care. There is however an inn, just like the one we just left which is where you are staying. There is no 'We', You are not traveling with me...." She said firmly but as nicely as she could. She then dropped her hand and put it back on her hip as she stared at him. She was clearly in no mood to cooperate. Why the hell did he want to follow her? Maybe if she was kinder about it he would be less clingy and go find someone else to be his playmate. |
"That's kind of misleading. I wanted to see a fairy." He shrugged it off, watching her almost carefully for a few moments. It really didn't matter, but still, it would be nice to see a live fairy and not a dead thing in a jar with no wings. Or only one wing. Ambroise shivered lightly as he shoved that thought away. "Alright, I'm not traveling with you. I'm just following you." Ambroise had his reasons for wanting to follow her, and it had absolutely nothing to do with how nice or mean she decided to treat him. His tails twitched and flicked behind him. "I won't cause any trouble for you. I do know how to behave myself...Mostly." The smile he gave her that time was a mischievous one.
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