From the frying pan into the fire [Rak'kena]

[Fade]

time stamp: 50th day of Spring


Fade was completely lost. Her surroundings were so different. The smells, the sights her senses where overwhelmed, and the people…the Eypharians… they were so different. With their four to six arms, their coloured hair, majesty and alien customs she had never felt out of place.
A proud Eypharian woman passed Fade, her hair dyed blue, eyes dusted by gold and with six arms. Fade couldn’t help but feel out of place. She stuck out of the crowd like a beacon with her general paleness, clear eyes and white-blonde hair. Her dress revealed the mark under her collarbone: trying to keep covered in the heat was almost impossible.


She had left the Sanctuary, she had left the only safe place she had ever had. She had to sustain herself now, and one touch meant the loss of everything.
Why had she left? Fade felt a pang of guilt, guilt for leaving the paradise that had been offered her. And here she was, in an alien city, alone, completely alone.

Her face would seem utterly flummoxed and lost, even her footfalls were hesitant: she didn’t know where to go, she didn’t know what to do. She was following the wind.

She turned to find herself suddenly facing a big open air market. It was bursting with exotic scents and people, her eyes roamed the turmoil of merchants and their stalls. She stood there for a few seconds, getting a few curious glances and then turned around sharply bumping straight into a grey haired Eypharian. She quickly stepped away her mouth already forming an apology but his hand had already touched her arm in an attempt to steady himself. She shuddered as a wave of compulsions hit her confused mind, she almost ran to get everything he needed from the market, she bit her lip her face set in a small concentrated frown. She was still, a small bead of blood forming where she was chewing her lip, the Eypharian, surprised, stood still as well. After some slow seconds she pushed away from the baffled man, stumbling out of the market mumbling an excuse.

Quickly she half ran away from the market, but she didn’t go far at all. At a corner she simply sat down, her back against the wall, clutching her knees her eyes fixed ahead her dress streaked with dirt.

[Rak'kena]

"Rak'kena, I promise to you, it's not my fault. The Gardens, they are well guarded by that Myrian. Worthless dog. I cannot get in to speak with the girls there. How can you be certain that-." Rak'kena, stood there for a long moment, staring at the smaller human man, probably a boy to be specific, not quite in the age of manhood. Nevertheless, the four armed Eypharian watched him for a long moment. Nodding, handing out humming sounds to fuel the conversation onward, but both of them knew that Rak'kena wasn't buying the excuse. The human, someone that had been working for Rak'kena for little more than silver and food, he was so desperate, had come back as a failure. He would not be paid. No, he would be punished. Rak'kena spoke, of course in his native tongue of Arunemic. "I am not interested in your excuses boy. You swore to me. You gave your word, which I should have known to be more worthless than some eunuch guard dog from the jungles. You!" One firm muscular arm stretched outward, grabbing the boy by the collar of his tunic and pressed him against the wall of the alleyway, where nobody could see them, just how Rak'kena wanted it. "You failed me." A second hand launched outwards, striking the young man in the jaw with his fist, then another from a third arm. So many limbs had their advantages. Rak'kena's face did not redden from anger or twist in some sort of unrestrained rage. Rather, he was grinning, smiling with a sparkle in his eyes that one might see from a wolf ready to devour a wounded and trapped prey. "You lied to me." Again his hands struck out, each eye was punched as two hands worked to hold the lesser being against the wall, one was even over his mouth to deny him a chance to cry out in pain or in help, not that it would do much. He was a human, no Eypharian would lift a finger or give him a moment of concern. Another fist collided with his sternum, his chest quivered as he was released, and slid down to that dusty sandy floor under him. His body, as if working by its own will, coiled up into a fetal position to ward off any more violence. Rak'kena wasn't going to stop there though. This violence was pleasing him, it made him happy to pummel the boy, defenseless he was, and it was a joy to break him. It wasn't until a woman ran around the corner and hid, as if that would hide her from an army of dark and vile creatures that was nipping at her heels. She didn't look up at him, but she would most likely notice him there and the boy quivering in pain at his feet. Rak'kena couldn't risk this, not people seeing him. Rak'kena wanted to enjoy this moment in silence. He quickly stormed over to the girl as four arms quickly attacked her, grabbing her arms with his, one hand over the mouth, and he picked her up, stood her against the wall, and hissed into her face as one of the many Dhani that thrived in Ahnatep might. He hadn't realized the mark above her breast nor the way she was already panicking over the city, nor most importantly how she could read how he wanted to thrash the boy for no other reason that to pleasure himself. He held her there though, for a long moment, glaring into her eyes, only inches separated his pupils from hers. It was a game of intimidation, a tool of power. If people feared you, they wouldn't dare cross you. "You've made a wrong turn human. I don't know where you planned on going, but you're stuck with me for a little bit. If you don't want your corpse to be dumped in the Pillars and used to pleasure the vilest of men that thrive out there, I suggest you keep your mouth shut. Don't. Make. A. Move." Rak'kena, after whispering his threats in his native tongue, not particularly caring if she understood him or not, began to feel a strange tug towards her. He had only heard stories about the Ranuri, but even if he had seen it or knew what the effects were, there wasn't anyway for him to know that is what was drawing him at that moment. No, rather, he felt she was drawn to him. It was the only true explanation in his mind. Rak'kena was the one that was going to be great, powerful, she was drawn to him by some strange coincidence. Rak'kena grinned, now feeling his desires not only strengthen, but widen in generality. He still wanted to beat the boy, it had both purposes of business and pleasure, but he wanted to take this woman, Fade, a filthy human even, and do whatever it is he wanted to. He wasn't sure what it was he wanted from her, or to do to her, but he wanted to do it. he cocked his head to the side, seeing the boy look up at him. He was afraid, but wasn't fearful enough. He needed to fix that, as intended. "Human girl, how badly do you want to live?" Rak'kena frowned as he realized something, she wasn't from here. She couldn't have been. She was too afraid to know this place, to know his language. He knew a little Common. It would have to suffice. "Do you want to live?"

[Fade]

Fade glanced at the road she had just run up and noticed, for the first time an Eypharian standing over a trembling boy, before she had time to register what she was seeing she was being pinned against the wall.

The compulsions that washed over her were vile, and worst still was her willingness to help him in his pain inflicting act. They were so strong, Fade closed her eyes for a moment as Rak’kena hissed at her then opened them her icy eyes meeting him coolly. Her gaze was steady but her body was trembling violently.
She thrashed her head from side to side trying to loosen his grip. But he wouldn’t the waves of compulsions didn’t stop, she gasped as if in pain as the desires changed, this time they involved her. Then she stopped moving her mind suddenly calm, this was her last defence. She tried to regain control over herself but her efforts were interrupted when the man uttered words she could understand "Do you want to live?"
Her cold blue eyes widened and she uttered “Yes, maste…” She cut herself short, master? The small Fade battling against the compulsion shuddered, if he would only let go. She screamed in desperation “Stop touching me!”
She sobbed and succumbed to the wave of emotions her mark gently throbbing with a soft red light.

Yes, thought the Fade contaminated by Rak’kena, it would be a pleasure to help him, and be his.

[Rak'kena]

Rak'kena grinned, a venomous exhale pushed itself through is teeth as Fade demanded he release her. It was too much, he had expected as much, but certainly she didn't think she had anything on him, no way to force his hand. He liked it though, that fight in her, that urge to resist and break away from him, it made this whole game of his just that much more intriguing. Rak'kena chuckled violently as he pulled Fade to him and ran his tongue across her cheek. "Everyone wants to live." It was a little more than a whisper in her ear, but he sent shivers through his own body, violent tingling sensations of desire. "Come, it's time to earn the right to live." It didn't seem possible initially, but somehow that vile grin of his expanded as he led Fade over to the young man lying against the wall. Humans, they were so easily manipulated, so easily taken advantage of, so easy to dominate. This woman, Fade, almost seemed in some bizarre way, to want to do whatever he wanted from her. He assumed it was just desperation, the will to do whatever to stay alive. Rak'kena positioned Fade to where she was standing in front of the already beaten man. "Break his fingers." It was twisted, cruel, made no sense, but there was a subtle hint that this was part of the requirement for her to earn the right to live. "Or I break his and yours." Rak'kena chuckled lightly as he finally let her go, but he was standing directly behind her, is she planned on running from him, it would be very difficult to get away from those four muscular arms. His reasoning for this, forcing Fade to torture the man she didn't know and most likely would never see again, was complicated. He wanted her to be as wicked as he was, to break her innocence if there was any, to tear her world apart. She hardly seemed the violent or angry type, which meant he had to make her be violent, whether she liked it or not. He wanted it.

[Fade]

His desires inflamed Fade, she smiled and gasped as he licked her cheek and told her what to do, even though she already knew exactly what he wanted.

Fade looked at the cowering boy, his eyes were wide and bleary, and maybe he hoped she would help him escape or help him. She seemed such a delicate creature, so pale and alluring. The boy whimpered as she knelt down tucking behind her ear a stray strand of white blonde hair.
She smiled her hand entwining with his fingers, his eyes met hers, but he was nothing to her.
She moved slowly then stopped, they boy whispered something incomprehensible eyes filling with tears. She looked away then back flicking her wrist, bending it, so all his fingers broke, the boy screamed and started to sob trying to break lose. But Fade was stronger than she looked, she was an athlete after all, she clenched her fist crushing his fingers “Keep still and quite or I’ll crush your fingers to dust” That stopped him, the fight weeded out of him with the sheer pain in his hand.

She let him go, getting up and turning to Rak’kena “Done” she said simply her Ranuri still glowing faintly.
She looked at him, he would notice that she wasn’t afraid just, expectant. She would do anything he wanted and feel happy doing it, such was the gift the goddess had given her. Rak’kena would start to notice that he was missing something, that she was not reacting as she should.

[Rak'kena]

Rak'kena nodded slowly as he watched. His eyes drinking in the situation. He wanted this, his desires were slowly being sated, but he was let down. She did it in one single action. The young man screamed, only momentarily as his fingers cracked under Fade's strength, but Rak'kena himself saw the situation playing out much differently. He wanted each finger broken backwards, one at a time, individually, and every scream stifled with a swift punch to his teeth. He sighed heavily as Fade stood up and faced him, it was then that the mark drew his attention. That tattoo, something that wasn't particularly uncommon in Ahnatep, was shimmering? Odd, he hadn't seen that before, but it was intriguing. He had wanted her to cause agony to the man, and even though Fade had done that, he was let down. It was strange, yet he knew why. She seemed almost proud or adapted to the situation, being forced to hurt someone innocent of crime. Rak'kena was shocked for a moment, something he wasn't familiar with, being speechless, then recovered. "I did not expect this from you." Rak'kena's tone of voice sounded more like he was saying 'I was hoping for something more, you let me down' but he knew she did exactly as he commanded. Rak'kena reached up and took her cheek in his palm, almost an affectionate motion one might see between two lovers. He grinned, then stepped past Fade. This gave her the chance to leave, despite how let down Rak'kena was with her. He towered over the shuddering man as he returned to his native tongue, Arumenic. "Where were we. Ah yes. I don't appreciate being treated like a commoner. I put my faith in your promise, and you broke it. There are always consequences for this. Put your hand on the ground." The man sobbed silently as he reached out his already wounded hand, Rak'kena shook his head slowly. "The other." His other hand reached out. Rak'kena turned his head to glance at Fade. "You can watch if you want." Rak'kena stepped down on the hand, as the brutalized victim turned into his shoulder. If he was going to scream, he was at least going to try to keep himself from drawing attention. That would anger the Eypharian. Rak'kena reached down to the hand pinned under his foot, wrapped his fingers around the man's pinkie, and slowly wrenched it up and backwards. After a bit of resistance, a few sounds of popping and snapping were heard as the structure of the finger gave way. Rak'kena chuckled to himself as he glanced up to see if Fade was truly disturbed and stayed, or left like she certainly could have. If she stayed, Rak'kena would be indefinitely intrigued.

[Fade]

Fade felt a deep sorrow spread through her heart, she had not pleased him, her eyes stung with sorrow, eyes brimming with tears. A first grade Ranuri would tell her what, not the details. The deepest sense of failure grew in her heart like a burning seed embedded in her chest.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t understand” She said her voice betraying her anguish, she stood there as Rak’kena got to work on the miserable boy again, while she stood there, her lip trembling slightly a hand on her mark. In a quiter voice, more to herself than to anybody else she added "I am not worthy"

She suddenly felt angry that her goddess had given her one mark, she wished with al her heart that Nikali would grant her more. She would have been able to satisfy him, what good was she if she didn’t understand his desires to the end?
Fade regained her composure, her lip stop trembling though she still felt good for nothing, her feelings reflecting his. Nikali would do what she saw best, Fade stood a straighter taking a step closer to Rak’kena and the boy: the least she could do was watch and learn.

[Rak'kena]

Rak'kena stood up, leaving the man to cradle his shattered fingers against his chest and rub his tear stained cheeks on the dusty ground. He was thoroughly pleased with the results now. Picky, everything had to be done precisely when he knew how precisely he wanted it done. He turned to find, much to his disgustingly pleased surprise, Fade still standing there, waiting for something. She almost looked wounded, perhaps her pride was damage, though it was more likely to Rak'kena that she was miserable for torturing the innocent man. He covered the distance between them in a heartbeat as his hands moved around her head, gently embracing around the ears as his fingers gently buried themselves in her bright hair, white, perfect contrast to his own shadowy black threads. "No, you are not worthy, but I am aroused by your presence, intrigued by your strange nature." Physical attraction, it was there, but it was buried under so many other interests that it almost seemed he didn't sexually desire her at all. He wanted to mentally dissect her. "Come. I want to show you things." Rak'kena, very much different from the way he initially greeted Fade, held onto Fade's hand and tried to lead her out from the alleyway, and into the beating heart of Ahnatep. There was so much she needed to see. Eypharians, their lifestyles, the lesser peoples, everything. He wanted to show her what Ahnatep was like, he wanted to boast about his city, showing off the things that tended to disgust the other races. "Ahnatep wants to teach you."

[Fade]

Fade looked at Rak’kena with a look short of adoration as he took hold of her hand. She followed him as he led her out of the alleyway, away from the sobbing man.
A part of her recognized the pain he was feeling, she had been beaten too, but another part of her, the part which was now connected to the Eypharian leading her away though rejoiced that pain. She cast a glance backwards, catching the eye of the boy and only malice shone through her blue eyes.

She didn’t feel comfortable in the open, in the press of people, especially in this alien place but she followed him anyway wanting to satisfy his new petty desire of showing her his city. Fade kept her eyes open, yearning to drink in whatever she saw or heard.
“Where are we going?” She asked, she asked…Fade frowned she didn’t know his name, she opened her mouth as if to say something then closed it slowly. Then she said quietly “Better avoid slavers” They would take her away in no time at all, she would be life changing to any slaver that had her. She was more valuable then her weight in mizas for the right buyer.

[Rak'kena]

"Avoid slavers? No, that's what cowards do. We aren't cowards, right?" Rak'kena grinned, he was actually leading her in the direction of the Slave Auctions, though as long as she clung to him, her arm on his forearm and his hand on hers, everyone would assume she belonged to him. It was a game though, Rak'kena was toying with Fade. She expressed her concerns, and he was going to torment her with them just to see her reactions. Why? Several reasons. He was cruel, heartless, a bastard in every sense of the word. He wanted to figure Fade out without having her tell him. He wanted to play the detective, gathering intelligence from every source without revealing his intentions or interests. It was tickling him to see how she would respond and what he might come up with. A wicked, detestable, tickling. Sick man. They walked through the crowds, only his hand on hers is what kept her mildly safe from Ahnatep, though that's not to say Eypharians wouldn't try to take her from him just because he was a brother of theirs. They were backstabbers, betrayers, and kinslayers, there were few that truly cared for each other. It was all about themselves. "Why do you follow me?" It was a simple, straight-forward question. Why did she trust him, if that was what it was. She had her chance to flee from him, to escape that wickedness when he turned his back to her. She had every chance and reason to get away from him in all haste, but she stayed. "You have seen a bit of my people in me, how cruel we can be. You know I am cruel, because I made you hurt him. Do you not wish to be gone from me?" Rak'kena wondered if she followed him and trusted him almost because she had nowhere else to go. It would be a twisted, unfortunate situation, but the fear of being a slave could be worse than suffering whatever Rak'kena had planned. Could that be her reasoning? Could there be more to her? It was a complex question.