Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 1, 2007 20:32:32 GMT -5
Aubrey followed, staying close behind as instructed, acting like a shadow, as the man had said. His heart raced in his chest, filling his ears with his own fear, but he did well not to show it. Be hypnotized, be hypnotized.. he thought, a sort of mantra to keep him acting the way he was supposed to.
His mind went over many of the things that had happened, which kept him from looking too anything other than emotionless.. They could do this. If they were very, very careful, they could do this..
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Post by Arion on Jan 2, 2007 21:20:56 GMT -5
Eligor looked up as the Vampyre and the boy came down the stairs. Something was wrong with the boy, it looked like the Vampyre had put some spell on the boy, or maybe turned him to become a Vampyre to.
"What did you do to him?" Eligor asked curiously. "Will he still be able to work?"
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 2, 2007 22:21:29 GMT -5
"He is unharmed. I simply put an enchantment on him to keep his mouth shut." All the polite scorn of his voice had returned, eyes narrowing as he folded his arms across his chest. "I'm quite disappointed. He kept going on about how his friend had perished. He is good-looking, but poorly natured for this line of work."
Jaiden considered going into some long diatribe about how he was going to have this place burned to the ground, but going farther than they had to could put their lives in jeopardy. Best to play it safe. "I'm feeling generous tonight, however. I'd like to offer a proposal. While I've certainly been compared to a spider before, I don't like to eat like this." He gestured to Aubrey, who was doing a fine job of acting hypnotized. "In exchange for not filing a... formal complaint against your establishment, I'd be willing to accept an offer of night-sky feeding. It is much more comfortable to feed beneath the moon for my kind, away from all this noise and clutter. The boy is under my total control - when I am finished with him, he'll return without a single memory. If you'd like, I offer collateral... certainly more than he's worth."
He untied the leather Ka pouch from his waist, holding it out to the man. "Of course, you could refuse my proposal, and then..." His voice trailed off before he offered a short, unpleasant laugh. "Well, we'll burn that bridge when we come to it."
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 2, 2007 23:18:16 GMT -5
Aubrey was terrified under the watchful eyes of Eligor, heart racing, but remained as devoid of emotion as a rock. His eyes were half-lidded, as they had been, making it easier for him to not blink, yet not looking anything out of place. Just a little longer, he thought to himself. Just a little bit longer, and they could be well on their way to Ardenbau.
He was almost tempted to do something that he wouldn't normally do to prove that he was 'hypnotized,' but the would-be Vampyre had said nothing about proving it, and Aubrey didn't want to surprise the man as much as he might surprise Eligor. If his mysterious savior were to look surprised at him.. well, then Eligor wouldn't be very convinced, now would he?
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Post by Arion on Jan 3, 2007 17:23:50 GMT -5
Eligor considered the vampyre's offer. It was a considerable amount of money, certainly more than the boy was worth. However, he had an offer from Raechen to actually purchase Aubrey. Eligor was holding out on him in hopes of wheedling more money out of him, but he was going to sell Aubrey to Raechen.
"Very well," Eligor conceded. "However, you must have him back by dawn. He's being purchased by a powerful man tomorrow, and if you don't return him, that man will come looking for you. And if he finds you, vampyre or no, he will destroy you and take possession of that boy."
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 3, 2007 18:06:44 GMT -5
Jaiden nearly flinched. This complicated things a bit - sure, he wanted to help Aubrey out, but he agreed to do so on the assumption that they'd only have the tavern to compete with. He didn't much like the idea of someone hunting them down, especially if he was as dangerous as the Nymandine was making him out to be. It wasn't too late to change his mind...
He blinked and then snarled behind his wrappings, bringing himself close to Eligor. "I don't appreciate threats, even second-hand ones... but I will do as you wish. You'll find him in his bed in the morning, none the wiser." Jaiden stepped around the man and headed towards the door, hoping that Aubrey could keep up with him. He could've done that more gracefully, but he wanted to get out of this place, wanted to get away from the voice in his head telling him to leave Aubrey behind. Eventually they'd cross the point of no return and it'd be out of his hands, and he would be thankful.
Once they'd made it out into the night air, he hitched his bag up onto his shoulder, keeping his eyes straight. "Stay like this for a while. They might have someone watching," he whispered faintly. "I won't feel safe until I can't see this cursed place on the horizon. Come on... let's go." He began to move, muttering something under his breath.
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 3, 2007 23:40:08 GMT -5
Someone was..? But who? He almost lost his composure as realization set in: Raechen. Aubrey felt whoozy, but kept up with the pseudo-Vampyre as evenly and as blankly as before. He listened to the man, but said nothing, knowing better. If Raechen hunted them down.. Dear Inve, they'd be f***ed!
After a moment of walking, still the 'hypnotized' little slave that he was, Aubrey spoke in a very, very low voice. Whispers travelled farther than a lowered voice, after all, and the Nymandine were nothing short of keen of hearing to a degree that put most animals to shame.
"I'm scared.."
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 4, 2007 0:01:49 GMT -5
Jaiden would've loved to stop and discuss just how screwed they were with the kid, but he could hear it in his voice that he pretty much realized that now. Besides, with only the night to get ahead of whatever would-be pursuers they would have, he didn't want to waste any time... even if his feet were already starting to hurt.
"You didn't tell me you were spoken for," he said in a bit of a dry voice. He kept his eyes to the ground, pulling the cover from his head and stuffing it in his travel bag as the wind had its way with his oddly-colored locks. "From the sound of it, we'll be lucky if he even waits until dawn. I didn't know we were getting into something like this."
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 4, 2007 7:50:32 GMT -5
Tears welled up in Aubrey's eyes, and he stopped where he stood, trying not to let them fall and staring down at the ground. "I didn't think he would- I-I mean, I didn't know I was-" he closed his eyes, a small sob escaping him, and he covered his mouth with one hand, as if that might keep his pitiful noises from being heard.
"I should go back," he said after a while, voice quiet. "Y-you don't deserve t-to get in trouble b-because of m-me.."
He was terrified of either prospect, really. This man had saved him, or had so far, but if Raechen would pursue either way just to have Aubrey.. Well, Aubrey didn't want to see another person die because of him. Heh.. When had his life become so hopeless? Was it when he wasn't looking, or had it been when he had felt he had nothing left worth living for?
"I should.. should.." he swooned, flushing despite himself. He felt dizzy, like his mind was against him as well, trying to slow them.
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 4, 2007 18:33:09 GMT -5
Oh, jeez... look what he'd started. He'd just been venting a little. He had no intentions of actually upsetting the kid, but he should've expected it. Jaiden could only imagine what he'd been through, but the prospect of being hunted down by this slave trader or whatever he was made it hard not to think selfishly. They were enough of a ways from Yareth that he felt confident about stopping, though Aubrey didn't give him much of a choice.
"Hey... look, don't cry, okay? I'm just scared and I'm not very good at handling it, so I blame things on people when it's not their faults and... you know, right? Please don't cry." He winced, listening to Aubrey's hitched voice and sobs, walking over to him. "We'll be alright. Really..." Jaiden bit his lip and awkwardly put his arms around the boy, hoping it would calm him down.
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 4, 2007 18:51:12 GMT -5
Aubrey couldn't stop crying. He tensed as Jaiden put his arms around him, body instantly wanting away from the touch, but he felt almost faint as he cried, and so let the other hold him for support. Yet, once he was calm enough, and he felt less faint, he pulled away, wiping his eyes and sniffling still. Even though this man was risking a lot to help him, Aubrey still related touch to his rape, and the fact that his mother was a dirty whore. He didn't want to be like that.
"I'll-" he sniffled, "-b-be okay.. I'm sorry.." He really had no idea of what to do or say now.. He felt a bit better, drained, but better. "W-we should keep going.."
He really didn't want to have to see Raechen again.
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 4, 2007 18:55:04 GMT -5
Well, Jaiden felt like he'd helped a little bit, even if it didn't seem like the kid wanted it. Probably wasn't too keen on strangers putting their hands on him, considering how he must've been treated in that place. He sighed and looked out towards the horizon, wishing the stars could last until they made it to Meridian. He knew they wouldn't.
"Yeah, we should... but I don't know what good it'll do. Once morning comes, we're done for, unless you know a shortcut or we run into a guide. Fat chance of that happening. I don't see any nearby forests, and certainly no mountains..." He looked at the boy, his own hands on his hips, and tried to smile. "I guess I'm not helping, am I? Don't worry about it... let's just walk and we'll see what happens..." It was hard to be encouraging in a situation like this, but damn it all, he was trying.
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 4, 2007 19:07:30 GMT -5
Aubrey bit his lip, trying to think. His father had had many maps, being a merchant and a trader, and once or twice, Aubrey had gotten to see them, scour them for their secrets. There weren't any forests nearby, that was for certain.. But..
"There are mountains to the East of here," he said, voice small. "But if we want to avoid Nymandine, we'll want to keep going North.." Hell, Aubrey was willing to go as far as Windwarren and the Albian Elfish cities there to escape Raechen and Eligor alike.
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 4, 2007 19:19:27 GMT -5
Jaiden trudged along, wincing at the pain his boots brought his feet. They weren't really cut out for this sort of thing... who travels by foot anymore? "That's the most direct way, but I don't think we can make it there before they catch us. Besides, they might be expecting us to go that way... a detour might be in our best interest." It was a long way North until they hit Ardenbau, but he was pretty sure that Garumeth was much closer to the West. It wasn't civilization, per se, but it was better than being run down by Nymandine. "Have you ever been to the centaur lands? My father took me there once. It may be wild country, but the centaurs are honorable from what I can tell. We might be able to make it there before dawn."
He looked to the boy and shrugged one shoulder. "It's not Meridian, but it might keep us alive long enough to make it there some day."
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 4, 2007 19:25:14 GMT -5
Aubrey followed, quiet as he listened. His eyes widened at the prospect of going to the centaur lands. He seemed quite keen on the idea, from looks alone, and when he spoke, there was a quiet sort of interest in his voice, almost enthusiasm. "I've never been there before.." he said in awe.
It would be wiser to detour, because it would make them much harder to find. It was.. a new adventure, perhaps. They weren't running for their lives, they were just starting an adventure while dodging the majority of the Nymandine race.
"I think we should go West, then," he said, a flush of semi-adorable-embarrassment at his cheeks, as if he were excited, yet trying to hide it and failing. "I-I mean, of course, if.. that is.. you want to.."
Heh.. how cute. No wonder Raechen wanted to purchase him (albeit, for other reasons).
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