Closed On the Edge(Vayl)

[Dolce]

85th of Spring The outskirts of Ravok Dolce, that's what he had called her Dolce. But that didn't matter now. She wiped her nose with her arm only to see it streaked with red. Great, her nose was still bleeding. Scooting to a puddle she surveyed her appearance. She had a black eye along with her bloodied nose. She could feel a knot forming on her head and she must have gotten a few good cuts on her scalp as blood had dripped down her forehead. At least that blood was dried. Dipping her hand in the puddle she was met with a twinge of pain in her wrist. It didn't feel broken, that was good. Ignoring the pain, she dipped her hand back in the puddle and tried to clean her face which had smears of mud and dirt. With the water and her skirt, she attempted to make herself somewhat decent... Not that it mattered any way. Looking around her surroundings she caught sigh of her bag. Dolce tried to get to her feet, she found her legs fine. But a pang of pain in her chest concerned her. Lifting her shirt she ran her finger over her stomach until she found the source of the pain. A rib, cracked maybe? Dolce sighed, maybe she could just lay here and wait to die. Not from her injuries, but maybe from exposure or something. She laid down waiting, for...something. Then as if her prayers had been heard, the sound of footsteps were heard. Good. Maybe they'd kill her or on the rare chance help her. Not like that happened in Ravok often.

[Vayl]

x

Vayl frowned when he heard a soft groan. It was, to him at least, clearly audible compared to the quite creakings and shufflings of the general crowd in Ravok.

Trap was the first thing to jump into his mind, and, curiosity still captivating him, he peered out of the glaring too bright sun, into the much more calming gloom of a side street. There sat a young human woman, horribly beaten up. Vayl frowned. How very unlike a human to be in such a disadvantageous position.

It was only when he saw the backpack that the woman was reaching for that Vayl's eyebrows rose and he rushed, without a moments thought, towards the girl to help her, some base instinct kicking in for Vayl to help the innocent. The girl was kelvic, he had seen many of those backpacks in the KRI as well as on the backs of many shackled poor souls. If he had the money he would buy everyone single one of them. Except those kelvics who had done some crime against their own kind. Those he would kill.

"Shh shh shh its ok, I've got you" he whispered quietly as he swooped past the girl to bring her backpack to her, frowning as he looked over her body a little closer.

"You're badly beaten up.. what happened?" he muttered, lavender eyes glistening with suppressed hatred towards the human who must have done this.

The sun shone gently down onto the girl's face and Vayl caught his breath. She was beautiful. Not 'attractive' or 'alluring', simply, purely, beauty. Blushing a little Vayl looked away to stop distracting himself.

"What is your name, little one? I'm called Vayl" he whispered as soothingly as pale skin and fangs could allow him to, before frowning in his innocent curious manner.

"Well I was called vetari at birth, but I didn't like it so I changed my name. My father wasn't happy." Vayl shrugged and smiled at the girl, [b]"But he never is."

x

But one day
you will stand before death's decrepit gate,
without really knowing why

[Dolce]

"Dolce or Dolly.. That's what HE called me...Not that it matters." She looked up at him skeptically and sighed, "It seems I had... unknown enemies within my master's home who wanted me...gone. Ones who pose as friends and plot behind her back. I was framed, by a 'friend'. Made it look like I stole some pricey items. I lived there almost my entire life minus the time in KRI. Where apparently I was sold being unbreedable said I was born that way. But I have a strange scar that makes me think otherwise. Once again not that it matters." "It just looks bad, sprained wrist, cracked rib, and a few cuts and some nasty bruises. Not enough to kill me but enough to make an example of me." Dolce finally looked up at the male talking to her, it was the first time she really looked at him. "Oh.. My sir, you're quite pretty. Mr Vayl was it, sir?" She managed to smile at him, even if it hurt a little. Dipping the edge of her skirt into the puddle Dolce continued trying to clean herself up. It figured a handsome man had come to her aid and she looked like this. "Thank you for your concern, I- I'll just have to stay a an inn.. M-maybe that whorehouse could give a job and maybe a room if I'm lucky. Heh.." She felt tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. How had she fallen so far in such a short amount of time? She hung her head in shame.

[Vayl]

x

Vayl frowned, his hair covering up his eyes more than before.

"That may be the name they've given you, but is it the name you want?. I used to be called Vetari, but i changed my name because I didn't like it. My father didn't approve," he smiled enigmatically, "But I don't think there was much I did that he approved of."

Vayl raised an approving eyebrow and rested a hand on her shoulder, hopefully reassuringly.

"You look quite the part, Dolce" he murmured with an iota of more kindness that he summoned from somewhere.

When Dolce referred to 'master' and 'sir' Vayl slumped slightly and sighed.

"Look... I'm not your master. In the eyes of the city we live in, you are, but in reality you're an equal to me ok? You owe me nothing. Please remember that."

As Dolce started talking about work and housing, a familiar feeling started sweeping through Vayl's heart. Compassion.

Vayl stood up slowly, picking up his katana with reverence.

"No Dolce, you're coming with me. Firstly your story sounds too similar to my life, and I won't let that happen again. Your captivation sounds far too much like my life in Kali- Uhh a cave." Vayl muttered.

Vayl looked away briefly.

"And you also complimented me far too much to not arouse some kind of friendship." Vayl smiled and offered his non-sword holding hand.

"Come on then"

x

But one day
you will stand before death's decrepit gate,
without really knowing why

[Dolce]

Bright green eyes lit up as Dolce heard what she first thought to be a joke. Only to look up at the man to see he wasn't joking at all."But you owe me nothing! Why get involved and take home a girl you don't even know?" She weighed her options for a moment or two, "Fine, I'll come with you...Just until I've healed! Don't get me wrong, I just feel like I'll be a large interference with your life." When Vayl mentioned her compliments Dolce felt her face burning red. She quickly turned her eyes to the ground mumbling incoherent words to herself. How had he gotten her so flustered with one sentence? This man was so much different than those of the family she had served up until this misunderstanding... Not that she had much to do with most of them. She had mainly help tend to the women of the family and children if needed. Finally feeling the blood leave her cheeks she looked up and gently took Vayl's hand. It took less than a second to notice his skin felt... different. Sort of like velvet but not like velvet at all at the same time. Carefully he helped her to her feet, and she staggered a bit finally leaning heavily on Vayl she was able to walk. What a mess she was. As they began the trip to where ever Vayl lived. Dolce began to really reflect on this day's events and this strange man. She knew he wasn't really a 'man' not a human one anyway and before in her old life that would of mattered.But now, did it really matter at all? She thought not. She was now a bird without a cage. Because of that she would repay him with the very life he saved, she promised herself that as they continued 'home.'

[Vayl]

x

Vayl wheezed a little as he tried his best not to look like the one of the total weaklings that he, and his race, were. Looking down, he saw a conflict of emotions on Dolce's face.

"Uhm, Dolce.. I think you said that was your name. Are you alright?"

Vayl frowned with innocent concern. He hoped she wasn't sick or belonging to another person. This would make matters hard for him. He hoped he hadn't just dug himself into a large hole. Vayl mentally shrugged, he was doing what he felt was morally right. That was all he did, and is all he will do.

Well, probably, the more vengeful and sadistic part of his mind had other ideas now he had a katana.

Vayl decided to fish into the girl's past, make sure there wasn't any potentially dangerous ground he shouldn't talk about with her. She was a kelvic after all, horrible things always happen to them.

"So uhhhm... tell me about your past, you uhh... you lived here long?" he muttered blandly. He was bad enough in conversation at the best of times, let alone when trying to covertly find out information from a person in the pretense of conversation.

x

But one day
you will stand before death's decrepit gate,
without really knowing why

[Dolce]

"Nng?" Dolce was pulled from her thoughts, brought back to the current situation. "Oh, sorry. I was thinking.There's nothing wrong, I was just going over the day's events and yes I'm Dolce or Dolly as my main master and the children enjoyed calling me... I'm still trying to figure everything out in my head. It all seems like such a blur."She shook her head gently and sighed. Dolce wasn't sure how much farther it was to Vayl's home. But she was getting winded. "Hey, can we take a rest for a tick? I need a breather. She moved to lean against the a wall. "Ahhh...Erng, I guess one forgets how painful pain is until you get hurt again and feel it. Nothing can ever prepare you for it." She gave a slightly pained smile. She looked toward the Symenestra man who had saved her. "My life...? I am a KRI born Kelvic and I was adopted fairly young into a higher class family.The Patriarch of the family picked me out, I still looked like a human child, then already deemed infertile. He took one look at me and said 'Dolce' he explained meant 'sweet' or 'honeyed'. After taking me home and talking to me he said that there was no name better fit for me to have, he also took to calling me Dolly because of my looks and his children took to the name right away. I was always treated well, taught to read, write, all the basics. A fellow Kelvic took some items worth more than my life and framed me for it. Seeing as you've saved me..You can call me Dolly as well." Moving slowly away from her leaning wall she returned to Vayl's side holding on to him. "I'm feeling...better. May we continue to your lodgings?" She looked at Vayl.

[Vayl]

x

Vayl frowned slightly as he heard Dolce's story. Something in his heart snapped slightly, some small remainder of innocence that believed there were good people left in the world.

"A fellow kelvic betrayed you?" a small low growl, like bone grating on bone, rose in his throat.

"If you would like to point this kelvic out to me I will quite happily kill it." Vayl muttered, overprotective already over this last fragment of innocence in this spoilt city. He would murder them all if he had to, every single rotten one.

Blinking his way back to reality Vayl looked down at the girl.

"Oh... sure lets continue to my house."

Vayl remained silent for the rest of the journey, contemplating. He knew already he wanted this girl to stay with him. She was just... too innocent to let go. she'd be swallowed up in the darkness of this city in seconds.

Upon arriving in his house, he closed the door behind him softly.

"Welcome." he said matter of factly, as if the fact she was staying was already agreed now.

"My hammock is in the corner, I can't sleep on beds, so feel free to have it all to yourself." Vayl ran a hand through his hair, considering.

"Uhm.. if you don't feel safe enough to sleep on your own I.... I guess I can sleep with you if you like.." Vayl hastily raised his hands in front of himself defensively.

"D.. don't take that the wrong way though! Please! I'm just trying to help."

Vayl sighed and slumped a little. "I'm just trying to help.."

x

But one day
you will stand before death's decrepit gate,
without really knowing why

[Dolce]

"That's right, sir. Another Kelvic." Dolce paused for a moment. "A ferret. She was a ferret. Looked like some elongated furry rat. Never told her that though... Maybe I should of...But that would of started an even bigger mess..." She shrugged. "Oh well..." When the mention of tracking down this fellow Kelvic Dolce made a laugh-like noise, "Just let her go, she's a loose girl if you know what I'm getting at. She'll get herself in trouble just give it time. N-not that that's why our Master kept us! He had a family. It's just she'll do anything that moves, our master included. But unlike me, she CAN breed. Her own ego will trip her up. I hope she enjoys it." As the two walked Vayl remained silent letting Dolce chatter away to him all the way to his home. Once inside he welcomed her like she could stay forever, even giving her the bed. Dolce smiled she had never been so grateful in her life. "T-thank you sir. May I use your washbasin? A-as for help, I'm going to need some to get out of these clothes so I can give myself a good look over. See how bad things are and what not." She gave a nervous smile. "Just to warn you... I have one gnarly looking scar."

[Vayl]

x

Vayl's thin eyebrows furrowed with worry. He'd gladly look over Dolce, but.. he was concerned that her beauty would.. Vayl sighed inwardly. What did he know about love after all? He thought Redd loved him.. how wrong could he be? He thought he loved Dolce right now.. perhaps he was still wrong.

"If you want to wash and take your cloths off be my guest." he muttered absently, still deep in thought. "I have a little medical knowledge if I can help at all." he smiled a ghost of a smile.

Upon mention of scars Vayl's eyes snapped into the present. Biting his lip nervously, Vayl rubbed his left arm inexplicably.

"Oh don't worry, I'm very... used to seeing scars. I have a couple of them myself." Vayl's eyes twitched to his left arm and back at Dolce.

Eventually Vayl smiled innocently and added "Hey, besides you haven't had to see a child eat his own mother on birth hey, what could get worse than that eh?" he laughed a slightly forced laugh, hoping he had lightened the mood.

x

But one day
you will stand before death's decrepit gate,
without really knowing why