By the all seeing EYE
Blossom let the Blackguard lead the way back down the long corridor to the mansion entrance. She studied him as he briskly strode ahead of her. He was tall, maybe six feet four inches, and normally very well built. That is, he was well built before she had weakened him by atrophying his muscles with an enfeebling ray. She smiled inwardly at the thought of what she had done recently to a Uniclops that had threatened her with bodily harm in a most uncouth way.
She had reduced the creature so much so that it had shriveled up like a grape in the sun. It had ultimately been unable to support the weight of its trophy belt of humanoid corpses hung upside down like a fleshy kilt. Not only had the belt become too heavy, but also too large to fit properly and it ended up tangling about its feet. And thus, she had taken it's dignity before she took it's life with a final burst of purple-black negative energy to the crotch. Who knew if a creature such as a Uniclops even valued a notion such as dignity? But if it had, she had taken it.
With a wistful sigh, she returned to the present. Eyeing the Blackguard again, she wondered aloud "What things can this Chiam teach me?"
Without stopping the Blackguard replied, "If he so chooses, there is nothing beyond his ability to teach you." With a backward glance at Blossom he chided "What is your desire? Put a name to it child." Blossom didn't truly intend to betray her companions-at least she didn't think she did, but this Chiam intrigued her. Perhaps he could be more of a kindred spirit than her present companions could ever be capable of. After all, she had never met a single individual that had even understood her infatuation with death and all things dead, let alone someone who could cultivate her deepest desires towards that end.
Blossom put voice to her thoughts, "I have need of a bodyguard. Several actually. Bodyguards who need not rest so cannot be caught slumbering or otherwise unaware. Bodyguards who have no need for sustenance so cannot be poisoned while supping. Bodyguards who have no need for air so cannot be drowned or strangled. Fearless bodyguards with a singular motivation-my welfare."
In the same chiding voice that the Blackguard used earlier she asked "Can this Lord Chiam of yours provide me with such?" The Blackguard stopped and turned to face Blossom. Even on a face so distorted with black magic's as his, the derision was evident.
"My Lord's minions are legion" he began, the red pinpoints of his pupils flaring. "Long ago, before his ascension, he may have shown interest in such trivial things. Now he has but to utter a single profane word and he can command uncountable abominations to shake off the dusty slumber of death and rise to his bidding. But why would he have need to resort to such elementary pursuits when he can possess the forbidden fruit?" The Blackguard spun and started back down the corridor again and Blossom had to hurry to keep pace. She had not intended on becoming so intrigued with this man, his master and the possibilities.
"What is this forbidden fruit you speak of?" Without responding, the fallen paladin continued his march towards the exit. "Lord Drusk" she began again. Perhaps he had not heard her. "What is this forbidden fruit of which you..." Before Blossom could complete the question, he was on her. He had pinned her against the wall with his gauntleted forearm forcing her windpipe closed. Her mind reeled as she struggled to concentrate enough to utter the keyword for a defensive spell. However, when she attempted to cast it, all she could manage was a pained croak and the spell fizzled. He loomed large over her now and, despite having been enfeebled earlier, he still far outmatched her strength. He brought his face a mere inch from hers and she could feel the heat and smell the rancid stench of his breath.
"You want to know what the forbidden fruit is? Do you?" His feet were now dangling off the ground. "Then let me tell you. My Lord considers Death, Discord, Pestilence and Suffering to be his brethren. He revels in their work and seeks to further it. These things, that are harmful to one with life, do not affect My Lord anymore. Conversely, he is empowered by them. They provide him a kingdom is which to thrive and recruits to serve him-willingly or not, breathing or not. Naturally, a creature such as this, such as My Lord, would be the foe of Light and all those who love and defend it, would it not?" Here, the Blackguard paused and glared down at Blossom. Her eyes were tearing up from lack of oxygen (and frustration) but she managed to nod pitifully. "Yes...yes it would!" he hissed. "So, what better insult to those who value Light could one impart than to persuade one of their Champions to betray his cause? To betray his beliefs? To betray all those who hold him dear?" He looked truly maniacal at this point and foam formed at the corners of his mouth. He threw his head back and laughed hysterically then leered down at her again. His pupils burned brighter than ever. "What torments and promises of power do you suppose it would require to compel a paladin of Light to become a paladin of the Dark, a fallen paladin, a Forsaken?" And for that same paladin to revel in it, to lust for it, at the expense of all else that was once held sacred? Each of My Lord's disciples has their own forbidden fruit, but for Lord Chiam, it is creatures of the Light. I..." he nodded "...am his forbidden fruit!"
As he finished his tirade, the foam at the corner of his lips sprayed onto Blossom's face but she couldn't look away. With one last painful heave, the Blackguard pushed off of Blossom's throat with his forearm and Blossom fell to the floor gasping for air. This man was psychotic and would have already have killed her but for Chiam's orders to the contrary. Though Chiam had the mastery to further her necromantic ambitions, it seemed it would not come without considerable danger to herself. And there would be groveling as well, she was sure of it. She couldn't bear the groveling. She had no intentions of accompanying this psycho to his master, but perhaps alone...? At any rate, she could not let this man know of her intentions lest he attack her and her companions immediately. And neither could she suffer his touch again. She recovered her composure and glared at the man. "Lord Drusk, be forewarned that the next time you lay your hands on me I will shrivel your balls to the size of peas! And, if necessary after that, I will bend you over a table after totally sapping your strength and then summon one of my skeletons and instruct it to retrieve a knuckle bone that it has misplaced up your arse. Are we clear, Blackguard?" The fallen paladin glared back and spat on the floor then abruptly whirled and strode away. "Soon," Blossom glowered as she watched him retreat "soon I will have this one's head."
No comments:
Post a Comment