[center][h1][b][color=c4df9b]Tayla[/color][/b][/h1][/center] [hr] Tayla stood inside the lounge of the Shimmering Fin, the giant inn near the center of town. The Clan had procured the building early in their venture of Shimmer Town. It had become a sort of... 'Church' for the Clan. A center of operations. They had been quick to decorate the place appropriately. With tapestries displaying the Distortion's Green Sun and Moon. Paintings of men and women scratching out their eyes. A Muriel, made of tiny tiles, depicting Vetius, the Wisest and most ancient of all Sightless. And at the center of it all, a statue of a Shadowy Eye atop what appeared to be on top of a vine-like pillar of some sort. It's white unseeing pupil in the shape of a slit. Tayla stared uneasily at the unseeing eye, as she sat waiting in one of the lounge's cushioned lavender colored chairs. Her mind replaying the day's events over again. Tayla placed her right hand over her bandaged wound the damned woman had left her with. A cold rage bubbling beneath her skin at the thought of her. It begged to be unleashed. It cried out to her. Calling her name. Taunting her! Tayla grit her teeth and pressed down on the wound with two fingers. Welcoming the paint that flooded her, using it to wash away the rage. She refused to let it take control! Well, at least for now... She would save her rage. Let it simmer. Let it grow. And then, when the white haired woman revealed herself again, Tayla would unleash it upon her. "Tayla Li'Vaire." Said a familiar voice at the foot of the stairs. Tayla turned her head to face the woman she had been patiently waiting for. De'laire, an Clan member like herself. "What makes you think a runaway like yourself is welcome here any more?" De'laire was a step away from becoming Sightless herself. A restricted magic user with more than a few screws loose from an over usage of her of magic. To become Sightless would mean to give up the cursed magic De'laire had been born with. A cure, De'laire hoped, to the ailing state of her mental capacity. Tayla pressed on her wound more intensely. It allowed her to clear her thoughts and not let anger get the better of her. [color=c4df9b][b]"Sightless to be, De'laire."[/b][/color] Tayla said with a bow. She did her best to act polite. Unfortunately, her actions did not reach her words. [color=c4df9b][b]"They tell me today has been one of your more saner da-"[/b][/color] Tayla meant to complete her sentence but found herself unable to. Her voice left her, enveloping her. A vibration in the air. Panicking, Tayla glanced wide eyed in De'laire's direction. A wicked smirk upon the woman's face. Tayla knew what came next. The vibration buzzed around her for half a second longer before rushing into her ears. It attacked from within. Vibrating her eardrums, making them feel as if they were about to explode. Tayla fell to her knees screaming in pain. Clutching her right ear with her only good hand. "Is that what they've been saying?" De'laire said with a cock of her head and a cruel smile. [b][color=c4df9b]"PLEASE... FORGIVE ME!"[/color][/b] Tayla screamed in-between cries of agony. [b][color=c4df9b]"I'M SORRY! I...I WAS WRONG..."[/color][/b] "You're sorry, are you?" De'laire said with a giggle. "Well I suppose that makes it all better then." The vibrations immediately stopped. Tayla found herself on her side with tears streaming down her face. "Sightless Nieffar says he is displeased with your actions. Something about abandoning your family, and Sightless Syella as well? He would like to know why we should allow one who cares only for herself to reside among us. Would you like to explain that to-" [color=c4df9b][b]"I-"[/b][/color] Tayla felt her voice leave her yet again. A familiar terror shaking her as she heard the vibrations of De'laire's magic. "I DON'T BELIEVE I WAS DONE TALKING YET!" De'laire screamed, eyes wide with madness. The buzzing entered Tayla ears yet again. She prepared herself for the pain- [color=a187be]"That's enough!"[/color] The buzzing stopped immediately. Tayla looked up to find Sightless Syella at the top of the stairs. [color=a187be]"It is not fitting for a Sightless to act in such a manner to her followers."[/color] "Sightless Syella." De'laire said with a bow. "Please forgive me. I was only following Sightless Nieffar's orders." [color=a187be]"Oh? Sightless Nieffar instructed you to torture and kill one of our more promising new followers?"[/color] "He..." De'laire paused and put her finger to her lips as if thinking. "No... He told me to scold her... Though, I don't think he told me [i]not[/i] to hurt her..." Syella tsked audibly. [color=a187be]"No, of course he didn't."[/color] "Sightless Syella?" De'laire asked questioningly [color=a187be]"No, it nothing... De'laire, you are dismissed. I believe one of the prisoners upstairs requires more... questioning."[/color] "Ah, questioning... I do love questioning." De'laire said absentmindedly. "I do so enjoy their screams..." De'laire placed her finger to her lips again, thinking to herself with a smile. She seemed as if she had completely forgotten about Tayla. [color=a187be]"De'laire..."[/color] "Ah... Yes, yes. That's right... I've been dismissed." Sightless to be, De'laire, gracefully bowed goodbye before proceeded up the stairs. She hummed to herself happily. Her next torture victim just around the corner. Tayla got to her knees as Sightless Syella strode down the stairs calmly. [color=c4df9b][b]"Sightless Syella, please allow me the chance to redeem myself. I desire nothing but to serve."[/b][/color] [color=a187be]"Do you now? Funny, that was not the impression I received from today's failing."[/color] Tayla's blood boiled at the words. She wanted to scream in rage, to blame the white haired woman for the day's failing. It was her fault that Tayla ran. It was her fault! Not Tayla's! [color=c4df9b][b]"I was... distracted. Reminded of my past."[/b][/color] [color=a187be]"That is a very poor excuse for your failing."[/color] Tayla said nothing. Sightless Syella stared her down before smiling. [color=a187be]"Come."[/color] She said, nodding towards an empty nearby room. Tayla followed Syella into the room, closing the door behind her. The room was lit with candles. The Sightless would talk to people in this room when they didn't want other Sightless using the Insight to spy on conversations. Being unable to see in the candle's light, Sightless Syella traced her hand along the wall to help guide her through the room. [color=a187be]"Tayla, my poor Tayla. You were but a filth covered girl when I first found you cowering in the street. I gave you a home, a family to call your own. And when I became Sightless, you vowed to serve me in my ascension. Today you failed to serve, and in doing so you failed our Lord. I am deeply disappointed, to say the least. Tell me Tayla, how is it that you plan to undo this mishap?"[/color] It took everything Tayla had to keep it together as she listened to Sightless Syella speak. She pressed ever harder on her wound as her she felt her temper flare. [color=c4df9b][b]"Unless I'm mistaken, Sightless Syella, I would imagine that I am not the only one being blamed for what happen today."[/b][/color] Sightless Syella frowned coldly. [color=a187be]"Blaming your superior is not a good way to gain favor."[/color] Syella said in that raspy dry Sightless voice of hers. Tayla smirked. It appeared she hit a nerve. [color=c4df9b][b]"Sightless Syella, you know that I would never blame you for what happened. Sightless Nieffar, on the other hand... Well, we both know how he is. He will tell all who will listen how much of a failure you are. He'll claim you are undeserving of the title of Sightless. Raise doubt in your capabilities. Anything he can do to gain more power and control within the Clan. Am I wrong, Sightless Syella?"[/b][/color] Sightless Syella said nothing for a long moment. [color=a187be]"You propose that I fight back and prove him wrong."[/color] It was a statement not a question. Tayla simply smiled and said, [color=c4df9b][b]"Give me the chance and I'll find the heathens for you. I'll track them down and kill every last one!"[/b][/color] Or just the white hair woman at the very least. Tayla didn't say that part though. [color=a187be]"Very ambitious of you."[/color] Sightless Syella said with a smile. [color=a187be]"Unfortunately, we are not to kill them."[/color] [color=c4df9b][b]"But why?!"[/b][/color] Tayla cried out in frustration. [color=a187be]"That is none of your concern. Do not kill them."[/color] Tayla was about to object but was was stopped when Syella raised her hand. [color=a187be]"That said, I like you're way of thinking. The one who fought against me, the man covered in filth. I wish to know who he is. Find him, and bring him to me. Can you do this for me?"[/color] Tayla's heart leapt at any chance that might lead her back to the white haired woman. [color=c4df9b][b]"Yes!"[/b][/color] She said eagerly. [color=c4df9b][b]"Yes, I can this for you."[/b][/color] And should Tayla find the white haired woman with the filth covered man and then accidentally kill her... [color=a187be]"Very good."[/color] Syella said with a smile. [color=a187be]"Now then, get to work."[/color]