Shadow of the Abyss

Small beads of rain fell overhead, slowly turning into a downpour that left her soaked, Her breeches sticking to what Tasha often called her sinuous hips and thighs. A small complement that would surely make her smile, but not today. Today, she wanted to feel sad.

She had taken too many lives, all rightfully taken, but some that were surely innocent. Regardless, she couldn't take the chance. Not when it concerned her Master. Were he to ever be slain, she shivered at the thought all that he worked for would be over. Her honor would be stained, and a life without honor is hardly a life worth living.

Honor? She wondered when she started caring about such things. Raven could still remember when words such as honor perturb her. She couldn't understand it. At least not then. She did now.

As the rain drummed across her matting hair, she reached for Zensu, the Fifth Form of Ethereal Grace. A slow, rich, and smooth pulse of something untouched and unsullied surged through her body, suffusing itself into her, caressing every crevice of her being. For a moment, she felt those sensations leave her: Pain, guilt, worry, even joy, and more, all seeming to lift themselves out of her.

There was only cold purpose now. Cold, icy reasoning, untethered by anything but her honor.

She was one with herself then, one with the Vale, spreading to fill that void where her emotions lay.

By the time she realized it, Raven had returned to the manor of House Nier. Coldy, she tugged at the reigns to Cloud, her master Warhorse; the young stallion stilled, allowing her time to get off, sliding into her shadow to be called either by its master or her again. It was the same for the other Forsaken behind her.

They were all young, lacking even the most basic knowledge she hadn't the time to instill in them; they needed to return to the World of Shadows, the Realm only Forsaken could enter within their Master, to begin their education. It would be there where they'd learn how to properly speak and develop skills that did not pertain to senseless killing.

After a while, once the last of the Forsaken had vanished, to the amazement of the guards—why were they so stunned— she made for her Master's ward. Through narrow corridors, the sound of trashing roared, and a strange, almost icy sensation snapped like a whip across her mind.

"Master!" The emotions that had left returned, and dread raced, shrouding her in cold sweat. She bounded forward, catching sight of the door where she had explicitly placed two Forsaken. They were both gone. She burst through the door, nearly tearing the thing off its hinges; her gaze snapped to Medusa and Iliana and the two Forsaken inside, watching her master, thrashing like a wild beast in chains.

It took only a moment to realize that the one who was trashing was not her true master but someone else, something else. His other self, the Vale King.

Spittle left his lips as he roared, "Release me this instant! Now! Release me or kill me!"

"I must say, a man like you ought to learn humility. If you come out and try to ruin all your other-self created, then that would be an issue for everyone involved, including the Abyssal Twins. I can't have that." Iliana was saying in an unbothered voice.

"He is me! Why would I destroy what he has created!" The Vale King demanded.

Raven moved closer, a scowl growing every present across her lips the closer she became. She would not have her Master caged like a dog. He deserves better than that. Even if this persona was not her Master but his other self, the Vale King, he was still her Master.

A Vale wrought glaive appeared in her palm and flashed, slicing through the chains that seemed to be warded against the user but not the assailant. The chains split, falling to everyone's surprise.

"If you want him trapped, Ward the room. But my Master will not be chained!" she declared. He was not a dog, and she would have no part in such madness. It was a bit of a disappointment that Medusa, of all people, would allow such a thing. She thought better of the woman. It was understandable for the Two Ninth Circles.

They were very much like children. They couldn't understand much, but not Medusa.

"Return to your post," she continued to the Forsaken. "Go."

They saluted and hurried off without the need to be told twice. At least they weren't stupid.

"Now, this is what I'm talking about," The Vale King decreed, rubbing his wrist. "Ever the valiant black knight, my lovely guardian."

Raven tried to hold back the spots of color from rising across her lips. It was only a few words, but she felt her chest ache with the need to throw herself into his embrace and sing to him for all that she had done. Perhaps if he had heard, she might be praised. He might even run a hand through her hair or offer head pats.

The Vale King stood up, eyes set on her, with an almost bemused expression that turned to a smile. What was he smiling at? Surely not her. Not with Medusa or Iliana present.

Taking her palm, he kissed it, "A gift from both halves," he said, his voice warmly sonorous.

She blushed, pulling her hand away. "Raven greets you, Master," she curtsy, graceful enough to make even the Lords of Hell feel she was of royal blood. "I've dulled out punishment on all who would see you dead."

The Vale King hummed a response. A cold, icy response. "On whose authority."

Raven suddenly felt her lips turn dry. Had she done wrong? Surely not. "By my own, your grace. You were—"

"What did you do." He demanded, and all eyes turned to her. She was grateful the pulse of Zensu had begun to react, pushing back her uncertainty. If not, she might have fumbled over each word.

She told them everything. The schemes against him, and the lives taken, even the parade of men and women heads on pikes, for all who betray the name, Nox De Nier. By the time she finished, startled faces had filled the ward. Even her master was looking at her strangely.

"Did I do wrong?" Experience tales with empire

"Wrong?" Iliana laughed. "A girl of my own heart."

"I would agree," the Vale King laughed. He knelt before her, and a type of shame she never knew filled her. A lord was not meant to kneel before his guardian.

Lifting her head by her chin with one finger, a smile that seemed to touch his eyes reflected across her amethyst eyes.

"You've done right by me and my other half. A fine job you've accomplished. A fine job indeed." And the Vale King's smile turned slightly. How? She could not say. It seemed hungry.

"I might ask you to help warm my bed, but I don't think these two would allow it."

"Warm your bed?" Raven blinked. "I can get you a bed warmer or create a ward that'll do the same." They all blinked as if she was crazy. "What? Is there something on my face? Are you all hungry?"

Medusa attacked her, throwing her arms around her neck and rubbing against her cheek with a big, bright smile. She hadn't noticed it before, but even when Medusa moved, she was sinuous in every way that mattered. More than that, it was as if she didn't need to try.

"You are just too innocent! Don't you dare deflower such a maiden?"

"Why not? There is power in corruption," The Vale King replied. And Iliana nodded in agreement. "He is right."

'Monsters the both of you!" Medusa snapped, bearing her fangs like a snake defending her egg.

' Am an egg?' she wondered, smiling at the image of an egg with her colored hair and eyes that suddenly popped into her head. She giggled as it bounced up and down, waving at them.

"Well, if I'm not allowed to claim the girl, then what can I offer as a reward? I am not without my pride. The girl has learned to hunt. She must be rewarded." He said as if it were the most natural thing. "Perhaps I could create a blood ring. They would match her eyes.

The hearts of a hundred—"

Iliana bonked him on the head. "Always with the killing. Reign it in, boy. I've little patience for this type of talk. If you must kill thousands of people, at least make it have meaning."

The Vale King tsked, clutching his head. "Fine. I'll let Altair decide. Bloody bunch of bitches.' he said that last part under his breath, receiving another bonk on the head from Iliana.

Raven had not seen the woman smile so warmly before; she almost seemed happy. Raven didn't like the woman very much, but even she had to admit it. Iliana was a beauty beyond the stars themselves.

Scrubbing his head, he glared, then said in a softer voice, "If I promise not to kill anyone in this manner unless attacked, can I tour it? Surely that is reasonable. I am still Altair, you know. I am still Nox De Nier."