Shadow of the Abyss

The arrival of Nox did not go unnoticed by Lord Finra Vadica, who had been informed of his arrival by Raven. Unease had never been more president than it was at that moment. He had hoped that Lona would manage to kill him in that window, but his heart fell into his gut when he saw her limp body being dragged over the cobblestone.

His jaw was clenched so tightly that veins protruded on one side as he forced the words from his mouth, "Welcome to my humble abode, Young Master Nox." he forced a smile, no longer able to deny the sensation of unease creeping up his spine like a Wraith Demon. He felt scared and small beneath those cruel amethyst eyes with a scarlet center.

Calmly, Altair pulled the snowy white gloves off his hand and handed them to Therion. "Does this belong to you, Baron?"

"My Lord?" Finra's lips thinned. "Does what belong to me?"

Altair smiled. "Shall we talk inside, your humble abode?" he asked, lifting an eye towards the towering manor behind him. "Bring the wench."

Tasha opened a hand, and a hooked chain of energy sprang forth from her palm, impaling Lona through the tongue and down into her jaw. She squealed beautifully, the stench of hot piss slipping from between her legs as she wailed. Tasha ignored it, dragging her away behind the Young Master.

It was a grim sight, though perhaps the most abhorrent thing Finra had ever seen. It had taken all he had not to demand she be free. It ached him so that he wanted to fall on his sword if it meant alleviating some of her pain. But it was too early… he needed to know what the Young Master Nox knew and what he wanted.

In the common room, Lord Finra grinned as young elvish maids brought forth refreshments, a few laced with a sedative that allowed one to be more open with the truth.

"It was a surprise to hear you were awake," the Baron began, fashioning himself at the head of the table. "You probably don't recognize me. My Father perished a few years ago, and as heir to his name, I took over his title some hundred years ago."

"Oh? How'd he die?" Altair asked, savoring his tea, allowing his metabolism to consume Lord Finra's sedative. It was a simple matter of understanding the nature of the drug and controlling one's body on a cellular level.

"He was killed during the Siege of Dragon Horn. One of his men betrayed him, driving a spear through his heart." From the look in his eye, Altair could tell Finra wasn't nearly as sad as he portrayed. "The inquisitors learned it was the work of the Shadowbringers. It was by their hands that Viscount Yinvar held an insurrection."

"You've my condolences," Altair said softly.

"It's the cycle of life," Lord Finra explained. "A son is meant to bury their father, never the other way around."

"Indeed," said Altair.

"But I'm curious, Young Master," Finra expressed. "Who might this be?"

Altair glanced at the assassin beneath Tasha's boot, pooling liquid tears of blood. He smiled, "This is an assassin that tried to kill me today. One of many."

"Heavens! Do you wish to use my dungeon? I assure you I've some of the best torturers in all of Almor," said Finra, with a tinge of hope.

Rising to his feet, Altair sauntered over to the braiser to warm his hands. "That's good to hear, Baron, but you see, my Tasha here may have you beat. This assassin, you see, was lobotomized. She can't feel pain, yet she squeals louder than any pig." he turned in time to see the color drain from Finra's face.

He'd thought she was perhaps faking it, but Altair had shattered that hope.

"I see… then what by chance did—-"

"Tasha dunk her head into the flame; I'd like her screams to dwarf the halls."

"No!" Lona gargled a howl so fierce it seemed primal, but against every fiber of being, screaming to flee, she was dragged towards the brazier, desperately trying to flee from the hock that held her.

"My Lord, isn't that a bit too cruel!" Finra shouted in haste. "I mean, this is my common room. Not some dungeon."

"You've got a point. Tasha, stop." The Lilm palm that was reaching for Lona's head paused. "The baron doesn't wish for us to sully his home."

"We wouldn't want that," said Tasha with a wronged expression. "Then might we use your dungeon, Baron? It'll be a quick thing. No one has lasted more than ten minutes with me. The trick is not to ask for anything. Even if they desperately want to tell me something.

They'll spill their guts after the first cycle is over. By the second cycle, all forms of deceit will vanish, and the third, well… that's just for fun. And can I take the Captain? I simply love to have my toys humiliated near the end. It's like a reward."

"A fine idea," said Altair. "Baron. If you would, please lead us to your dungeon. I would very much like to hear what this wench has to say."

"But isn't she bounded by an Eternal Vow?" the Baron said, scrambling for an idea to get his Lona away.

"I've already gotten rid of it," Altair assured him. "Our Duketom has many such things, right captain?"

"Y-Yes, indeed," Captain Taren lied. He had never heard of such a thing, but the Baron would not know that. No one would. It was such a blatant lie that anyone in their right mind would have seen through, yet…

"Y-Y-You can't…" The Baron said. The desperation in his voice all the more tangible."You can't…"

Altair snapped his finger, and Tasha ruthlessly dungked the assassin's head into the brazier. Her scream only seemed to further shatter the Baron. He howled, bounding towards Tasha, but Captain caught him by the arm, throwing him back.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Despite her legs being broken, they flailed about like tentacles. The sight alone was enough to break a man, but a lover. Altair wasn't even sure what type of pain he was experiencing at this moment, but he smiled nonetheless.

"Why don't we drop the act," he calmly said. "You sent the assassins after me. You needn't try to lie. I already know the truth. I just need your admission. Tell me the truth, and Tasha will stop.

Or we can all watch as my knight each takes a turn on your woman as she burns."

Alyssa, who had been ever silent, had to glance at her master, startled by the words he'd spoken.

'Was he always like this?' she wondered.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I'll admit it!" The Baron, Finra Vadica, relented, falling to his knee with his head touching against the marble stone. "Please, my Lord, forgive her. I ordered it. It was all me."

"You snake!" shouted Captain Taren, unsheathing his blade. It was Therion who stopped him with a raised palm.

"Wait for Master's decree," he said coldly.

"Did you think poison would have done something?" Altair snorted. "Defiling such good tea, I should toss your Lona into a brothel so every man could have her and have you watch, simply to observe you fall into true despair. I wonder how many days it would take for you to fall on your sword."

The air left the Baron's lungs. Never before had he ever felt so faint. "Please!" he breathed. "Please!"

"It's a curious thing, you know. Once you know a man's weakness, even the strongest one will break. You must have loved your wife. You even raised this little thing. You know she's not your wife, but you still beg like a worm." he shook his head, finding himself on a tangent. "Tasha, that's enough."

Reluctantly, Tasha pulled what was left of her head from the brazier and tossed her on the ground. She smiled, glancing at Finra. "She's just a little crispy. But her hole is still good. That's all that matters, right?"

Finra bore that shame, keeping his posture. He religiously thanked Altair for his mercy.

"Alyssa, did you record it?"

"I did, my Lord," Tasha said, taking out a Holocube from her pocket and replaying the Baron's admission. Explore more at empire

"Baron… I'll give you one chance. Tell me who ordered you to kill me, and I'll release your Lona to you. Lie, and she, alongside your wife's immortal soul, will face a fate even death can't imagine."

"A-A-A Raven came from Viscount Vadica estate. I—"

"Arnt' you a Vadica?"

"Where a branch family." Finra hastily said. " Bastards, in their eyes, were allowed to exist simply to maintain votes around the Dukedom."

"Send a raven to them. Let them know that I am aware of their involvement in this assassination attempt and will be demanding an answer. They'll have by week's end answer my call, or it's war."

"But if I do that—"

"They'll kill you. I'll have a few knights on standby in your estate to guard you. Ah…also, I'm in need of Heartstones And Mana Cores. Highest grade if you can." he smiled, waving to his compatriots as he left.

Tasha grinned once they entered his carriage. "Why do I feel you did all that simply to gain some Heartstones?"

Altair shrugged. "Can you blame me? It's a three-hour ride. I'm not going through that again. Though, It is a shame. I can't kill that bastard yet.

Having a pedo like him alive breathing the same air as is rather disgusting. We'll see how useful he is."