Post by Venus on Sept 3, 2009 10:23:24 GMT -5
The darkness was as musty as ever. Dust and dirt decorated walls and floors in curtains and carpets. Cobwebs covered tombs in long forgotten funeral shrouds. It was a place full of death - and would be staying that way, if nature had its say.
Unfortunately, nature didn't really have much jurisdiction over him anymore.
Rafael allowed himself a rumbling chuckle at the irony as he stalked through the series of underground caverns. Eyes scanned the names engraved above each vault, each alcove - and in some cases, the lesser clan name too if the dragons had been stupid enough to leave the protection of the main family.
"Ah, nostalgia," he murmured, claws tickling along the wall and leaving behind three long scratches to mark his progress. There were similar marks at intervals throughout the catacombs from talons both old and new. Being in a rather vindictive mood, he erased any that weren't his own. Especially the familiar five-line pattern. Those were obliterated with a flash of dark lightening.
Behind him, traces of midnight magic lingered.
It took him almost two hours to defeat the magic laid to mislead him in this underground maze.
The central tomb opened out in front of him in a grand stage. It was huge, ceiling far out of reach and ground littered with carvings, runes and ancient spells. His smirk turned wicked as he ran the tip of his tail over the naming plate set into stone before the entranceway. He made sure to step on it on his way in.
The Shantari magic written specifically to burn, kill and eradicate intruders only made his feathers flutter. Centuries spent sealed in this room allowed him time to worm his way into the wards and create a convenient little loophole. And so he walked unhindered. Grave markers in concentric circles sprawled around him, growing less in number and higher in rank as he moved unerringly towards the heart of the cave.
He stopped in the middle. White claws caressed the single keystone before Rafael lifted his head, addressing the empty chamber.
"My, my. More of you in here than last time. I wonder where little Venus managed to find the bodies..." Pitch eyes turned thoughtful. "Maybe I didn't hide them as well as I thought, hm?" He evidently didn't want to dwell, dismissing the topic with a flick of his tail. "No matter. I won't be as shoddy this time. There won't be any of you left to find her body after I kill her."
As if reacting to his words, hidden spell circles flared to life against the dull brown soil. Rafael laughed suddenly, watching with gleeful eyes as the magic burned itself out under the power of his alterations.
"Not this time, Shantari."
Turning in a whirl of feathers, he moved freely through the circles to stop at the back wall. The stone was covered entirely in carvings, colourful dyes coming together to create a mural spanning the length of the cave. Rafael examined the familiar story, the familiar chapters and characters with a rolling chuckle. He was still laughing when he drove his claws into the pattern of raven feathers sitting quiet below the Shantari name-rune.
Power blew backwards, sending each of his feathers dancing in the unnatural breeze. The ground rumbled, dust tumbling from the roof. Markers creaked in rusty screams. And above all the noise, Rafael laughed, high and wild and deranged.
Cracks exploded in the stone lining the walls. Shadows seeped free. There was a low chattering, grating and harsh. Things escaped, finally escaped from the seal that left them useless against the years. The wind eventually fell. He pulled his claws from the centre of his age-old key spell and turned to the pools of inky darkness. There was a fleeting smirk, before-
"Akachi."
A dragoness unfolded, stretching wings and unused limbs. Her grey eyes were alert, the line of her head and shoulders regal and poised. The raven feather swinging from one of her curled horns stilled under his attention.
"My lord."
His smirk grew into a grin, eyes glittering.
"Guide the rest of the forces to the labyrinth. They are to take up their usual stations. Your old orders still stand... lieutenant."
Something like smug satisfaction slid into place, and she dipped her head once.
"Of course."
Magic swirled around her - but it faltered in motion when Rafael spoke casually over the hum.
"And Akachi? I'll have to introduce you to my new lieutenant when I have the chance. I thought you may need the help. Getting on a bit now, aren't we?"
The red dragoness looked inscrutable, haughtily wrapping the spell around her like a cloak. But just before she faded into the air he caught sight of her face twisting into a vicious, hate-filled snarl. The shadows sealing his army followed her, returning to their rightful place in his labyrinth. Rafael cackled heartily.
'Now... for the other piece of business.'
Pivoting on one foot to face the concentric circles of grave markers, his laughter slowly dwindled into a deadly smile full of triumph. All but the central stone had collapsed inwards, split directly down the middle. The magic surrounding them was dead. And more importantly... their precious contents were gone. A full family set of bodies, nicely stowed away in his spell-chambers inside the labyrinth.
He'd always imagined that the Shantari rulers would make excellent slaves. Or assassins. Maybe even kitchen staff.
Pushing away from the back wall, he sauntered over to double-check names and ranks. Perhaps he would allow them some level of awareness, if only to realise exactly who it was they were serving. Not to mention what they were doing to their last living family member.
Just picturing the expression on her face would be worth every second spent bending them to his will. Looking back at the smoking mural - still intact - Rafael curled his claws, eyes narrowed in anticipation.
"Time to get to work."
The shadows shifted, and he was gone.
Unfortunately, nature didn't really have much jurisdiction over him anymore.
Rafael allowed himself a rumbling chuckle at the irony as he stalked through the series of underground caverns. Eyes scanned the names engraved above each vault, each alcove - and in some cases, the lesser clan name too if the dragons had been stupid enough to leave the protection of the main family.
"Ah, nostalgia," he murmured, claws tickling along the wall and leaving behind three long scratches to mark his progress. There were similar marks at intervals throughout the catacombs from talons both old and new. Being in a rather vindictive mood, he erased any that weren't his own. Especially the familiar five-line pattern. Those were obliterated with a flash of dark lightening.
Behind him, traces of midnight magic lingered.
+ + +
It took him almost two hours to defeat the magic laid to mislead him in this underground maze.
The central tomb opened out in front of him in a grand stage. It was huge, ceiling far out of reach and ground littered with carvings, runes and ancient spells. His smirk turned wicked as he ran the tip of his tail over the naming plate set into stone before the entranceway. He made sure to step on it on his way in.
The Shantari magic written specifically to burn, kill and eradicate intruders only made his feathers flutter. Centuries spent sealed in this room allowed him time to worm his way into the wards and create a convenient little loophole. And so he walked unhindered. Grave markers in concentric circles sprawled around him, growing less in number and higher in rank as he moved unerringly towards the heart of the cave.
He stopped in the middle. White claws caressed the single keystone before Rafael lifted his head, addressing the empty chamber.
"My, my. More of you in here than last time. I wonder where little Venus managed to find the bodies..." Pitch eyes turned thoughtful. "Maybe I didn't hide them as well as I thought, hm?" He evidently didn't want to dwell, dismissing the topic with a flick of his tail. "No matter. I won't be as shoddy this time. There won't be any of you left to find her body after I kill her."
As if reacting to his words, hidden spell circles flared to life against the dull brown soil. Rafael laughed suddenly, watching with gleeful eyes as the magic burned itself out under the power of his alterations.
"Not this time, Shantari."
Turning in a whirl of feathers, he moved freely through the circles to stop at the back wall. The stone was covered entirely in carvings, colourful dyes coming together to create a mural spanning the length of the cave. Rafael examined the familiar story, the familiar chapters and characters with a rolling chuckle. He was still laughing when he drove his claws into the pattern of raven feathers sitting quiet below the Shantari name-rune.
Power blew backwards, sending each of his feathers dancing in the unnatural breeze. The ground rumbled, dust tumbling from the roof. Markers creaked in rusty screams. And above all the noise, Rafael laughed, high and wild and deranged.
Cracks exploded in the stone lining the walls. Shadows seeped free. There was a low chattering, grating and harsh. Things escaped, finally escaped from the seal that left them useless against the years. The wind eventually fell. He pulled his claws from the centre of his age-old key spell and turned to the pools of inky darkness. There was a fleeting smirk, before-
"Akachi."
A dragoness unfolded, stretching wings and unused limbs. Her grey eyes were alert, the line of her head and shoulders regal and poised. The raven feather swinging from one of her curled horns stilled under his attention.
"My lord."
His smirk grew into a grin, eyes glittering.
"Guide the rest of the forces to the labyrinth. They are to take up their usual stations. Your old orders still stand... lieutenant."
Something like smug satisfaction slid into place, and she dipped her head once.
"Of course."
Magic swirled around her - but it faltered in motion when Rafael spoke casually over the hum.
"And Akachi? I'll have to introduce you to my new lieutenant when I have the chance. I thought you may need the help. Getting on a bit now, aren't we?"
The red dragoness looked inscrutable, haughtily wrapping the spell around her like a cloak. But just before she faded into the air he caught sight of her face twisting into a vicious, hate-filled snarl. The shadows sealing his army followed her, returning to their rightful place in his labyrinth. Rafael cackled heartily.
'Now... for the other piece of business.'
Pivoting on one foot to face the concentric circles of grave markers, his laughter slowly dwindled into a deadly smile full of triumph. All but the central stone had collapsed inwards, split directly down the middle. The magic surrounding them was dead. And more importantly... their precious contents were gone. A full family set of bodies, nicely stowed away in his spell-chambers inside the labyrinth.
He'd always imagined that the Shantari rulers would make excellent slaves. Or assassins. Maybe even kitchen staff.
Pushing away from the back wall, he sauntered over to double-check names and ranks. Perhaps he would allow them some level of awareness, if only to realise exactly who it was they were serving. Not to mention what they were doing to their last living family member.
Just picturing the expression on her face would be worth every second spent bending them to his will. Looking back at the smoking mural - still intact - Rafael curled his claws, eyes narrowed in anticipation.
"Time to get to work."
The shadows shifted, and he was gone.