[center][h1]Birth in Blood II[/h1][/center]

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In that dimly lit hall, Nalla sat upon a throne, eyes shut as she let her thoughts drift. The chief’s throne, or chair really, but to her it was a throne. She had claimed it in his… Death. It reminded her of the King in Ketrefa’s throne, sitting surrounded by his court of highborns. Oh how the thought was delightful. Delicious. Intoxicating. To be there, and not… She opened her eyes to view the room. Musty, wooden, old and stained. Granted, most of the stains were from her. In fact, most of the room was coated in the dark stain that was blood. She sighed, and leaned on her hand as she pouted. 

It had been going so well… Then Hekti decided to kill himself in the sun. Lesson learned. Then when she had grown hungry, Tesil’s memories flashed before her. Her final moments, what she had felt as Nalla stuck her blade in her, over and over again. Did she regret killing her sister? Did it make her feel bad for what she put her through? The vampiress giggled at the thought. It was an annoying part of her newfound power, but she did relish those feelings. The helplessness, the anger, turning to hatred, fading, fading, fading- Until she was but a corpse. Call it an intuition, but Nalla wasn’t keen on murdering anyone else, no matter how much she wanted to. There was no telling if more memories would pop up and her sister’s were quite enough. As such, creativity was key when it came to drowning her thirst with blood.

Nalla lifted up her sister’s skull from the side of the chair. Cleaned and cut, she now used it as a goblet when she drank. She took a sip of the day old blood. It had cooled, becoming room temperature but she drank regardless. Every drop was precious, for her stock was running low- again. She put the skull down and got up, twirling her way over to where her stock hung. Village folk, brought for ‘dinner’ with the chief, now used as her own personal blood bodies. There was Petyr, the strapping young hunter, Yiosalda, the lovely blond haired, blue eyed village looker and Hansa, the brunette who had gone after Hekti, plus she was her sister’s best friend. Petyr was out cold, for Nalla had enjoyed his taste the night before, but Yiosalda and Hansa were very aware. Each struggled to break the rope they were ensnared by, gags muffling their screams. Nalla liked the fear in their eyes, it was so… Welcoming. She toyed with Yiosalda by licking her throat as she hugged her from behind. The girl struggled, but could do no damage to her. Next she went before Hansa, who looked at her with such hate it brought a shiver down Nalla’s spine. She slapped Hansa, sending the girl out cold. She wiped her hand and then called out, “Yensen! Come here please!” 

It hadn’t been easy, fabricating the lie. When she had been found in the chief’s house, unable to leave because of the sun, it had been Yensen and three other village men who looked upon her with a mix of disgust and fear. She had told them what happened, the tragic story of Chief Ronton, his ‘wife’ Tesil and wayward son, Hekti. A tragic episode in the village’s history, but she had survived by the grace of the gods, and given powers to lead them. They hadn’t believed her until she had broken the arm of one of the men in a flash. Who were they to go against the gods’ will? So Nalla went about living in the darkness of the chief’s home, who had become sick with fever and his other family members were to remain by his side at all times. Yensen became her trusted ally, for he was easily persuaded by the secret of her power, and she held that secret over him as insurance. Thus, it was his job to keep the village running in the chief’s absence, with the other three men agreeing out of fear. They knew she walked outside at night, after all and they could not leave their homes and run away. Their livelihoods were here, with sheep and foods, so they played along. That brought her back to her blood problem. She needed people to feed her, to be her food, so in her haste for sustenance, she told them to bring those three to her. After they became aware of her nature, Nalla hadn’t realized those she fed off of lost their memory of it. But by that time, it was too late to set them free. No, she had to come up with another solution. 

Yensen, the balding man with a feeble build finally arrived in the room. “Yes, Nalla?” he asked, looking down at the floor. 

She turned to him and was soon beside him, hand upon his chest, with her lips to his ear. “Yiosalda is looking hungry, feed her would you?”

The man gulped, and nodded slowly. “Of course, Nalla.” he said quietly. 

“Good man.” she cooed, before once again sitting down upon her throne. 

She watched Yensen leave, returning with a plate of meat and a jug of water. He undid her gag and fed her forcefully. She had tears running down her face as she glared at Nalla. She watched as the girl swallowed a few mouthfuls, but when given a drink she spit the water out at Yensen. In a rare moment of anger, he struck the girl and then gagged her again before leaving the room. Nalla twisted her head, thinking of ways she might feast upon her, without murdering her outright. 

She sighed, slumping back into the throne. “What am I going to do with you, Yiosalda? Hansa? Petyr?” she asked herself, taking a sip of blood. “It’s not like I can just kill you outright. Or maybe I could. Who’s to say your memories won’t be added to my hunger? I don’t really want to find out though.” she growled angrily. “I wonder… Perhaps I should pray to find some alleviation.” She sat up and looked at the blond girl again. “Do you pray, Yiosalda? Or should I ask, have you prayed while in your current predicament?” she stood up, and came before her prisoner once again. “Do you think they listen? And if they listen, do you think they care?” Nalla touched her cheek with the palm of her hand. “Oh tsk tsk, did he hurt you? Perhaps you should ask a God to help you?” she smiled wickedly at her before backing up and outstretching her arms. “Who do you think about help? Cadien the allfather? Tekret the Ruler? Evandra of the fire? The Sun Mother? Perhaps, Neiya?” Nalla looked up at the ceiling of the roof, “Can you hear me, Goddess of Love? Can you help me end Yiosalda’s suffering with your touch?” she asked. 

A brief pause, a silence before the storm.

Then, as though Nalla had truly called upon the attention of the gods, the air in the room seemed to swell and expand around the gathered, a stiff and cloying grip taking hold of all gathered and swooping down from beyond to occupy the area with its invisible presence. Nalla felt the brush of wind rush through her hair, saw how her hung up captives swayed ever so slightly though nothing had touched them.

Then it spoke. A sultry yet distant voice, worming its way into her mind with overbearing need to be noticed. [color=8493ca]”You call for my assistance, Nalla, daughter of Rado and Alina, and in turn, I have come,”[/color] there was a sharp pause, and the sensation of the wind brushed against Nalla’s face and cheek, a strange pressure taking root in her mind. [color=8493ca]
“Is there room in your heart for anyone but yourself? Why would you end another’s suffering?”[/color]

Nalla remained stunned, eyes wide with disbelief as the Goddess’ voice spoke. What had she been expecting? She opened herself up to this, hadn’t she? “I…” she began, speaking aloud, “I will not lie to you, oh Goddess… There is little love in my heart but for me. You can see, can’t you? My upbringing? How my parents… Sister… They did not love me. They thought I was broken. So yes, I would end another’s suffering if it brought them peace. Even if I was the one to put them in their place of suffering. Needlessly so, I will admit. These powers…” she looked down at her hands, “I know not if they are a gift or a curse, but I think I’m beginning to suspect. I killed to be in power, to get revenge. I used Hekti to do so. It must be a curse.”

[color=8493ca]”Broken,”[/color] the goddess voiced with a dispassionate tone. [color=8493ca]”Pain put you on this path, my dearest. Pain carried you, twisted to anguish and hate. Perhaps you are being tested, my sweet. To endure, and evolve.”[/color]

“Have I not already evolved?” she asked, looking at Yiosalda. “I am no longer human, I crave their blood, I’m faster, stronger and I have heightened reflexes. Yet I cannot step outside in the sun, or I die and I cannot go without drinking, and when I do get thirsty, I see my sister’s memories and how she remembered her death. I enjoy them Goddess…” she whispered. “So, if I am being tested… How does one overcome such restraints?” 

There was a pause. Had it not been for the presence stifling the air still, one could have thought the divine visitation had ceased. [color=8493ca]”You enjoy them, yet you hesitate. The suffering you spread, that you feel forced to spread, it can be eased. All is possible, so long as one opens their heart to my affection.”[/color] The pressure on Nalla’s thoughts became overbearing for but a brief moment, and with it rushed a deluge of visions, affection, longing, a horned and pale woman, a taste of ecstasy. As soon as it had begun, it ended.

Nalla fell to her hands and knees, gasping. It delighted her body and mind, the taste given. It would not be forgotten, as it faded but instead, yearned for. “My heart… It can open itself to you… I swear it.” she breathed. “Please… Just let me ease their suffering so that I might enjoy myself. I don’t want to be enslaved by their cruel memories.”

[color=8493ca]”As you will it, so shall it be, my one and only.”[/color] The goddess replied with a growing warmth to her voice, breathing with a heat that could be felt in Nalla’s mind. The wind whipped around her with growing intensity, rustling cloth and debris aggressively. The skull of her sister finally toppled, battered away with the growing force. With the storm growing around Nalla came strange whispers, an endless flood of languages calling for love, revenge, assistance, or clarity, most of which Nalla could only understand by the intent of their words. The visions returned, though not with the same intensity. [color=8493ca]”I will always be with you, Nalla, daughter of Rado and Alina, so long as you ask for me, and love me as I do you,”[/color] another whisper built to centre itself in her mind. Archaic words, in a language she did not know. Yet she understood. The words to express her affection. [color=8493ca]”And as you share your heart with me, I shall share my love with those around you.”[/color]

The words registered with her mind, her thoughts and feelings focused on the experience of the Goddess. “Thank you,” Nalla whispered as she got to her feet, “Thank you so much Goddess. I am yours… Forever.” she said, mouthwatering as she looked at the vein in Yiosalda’s neck. The girl squirmed, knowing something had gone terribly wrong… Or terribly right. She tried to scream but the gag muffled her as Nalla approached and whispered the words of affection into her ear, in the language of the ancients. “Goddess, I open my heart to you, bless me with your eternal love.” before sinking her fangs into the girls neck. The girl had already stopped her struggling, breathing heavily and eyes widening as a smile grew on her lips. It was one of happiness - bliss even - and she reacted to Nalla only with the softest of breaths, her gaze locked on a distant mirage only visible to her. And just like that, Yiosalda died peacefully in bliss as Nalla reared back to take a breath as fresh blood poured down the sides of her mouth. 

“Thank you again, Goddess. She was delicious.” Nalla smiled happily. The winds stirred around her once again, leaving few moments for the vampiric woman to remain in stillness. A brisk, cold embrace whisked through her hair, grazed her neck and throat. As the whispers returned, for just a brief moment, Nalla felt cold metal clasp around her neck.

Just as quickly, the wind stilled, and the whispers turned silent. The voice of the goddess rang out in her mind. [color=8493ca]”Forget me not, my dearest. I am yours, as you are mine. Together, we evolve.[/color] There was a last, soft breath brushing against her ears, before the stifling presence seemed to lift from the room all at once, and the heavy feeling set against Nalla’s mind vanished as though it had never been there.

Nalla could not see what was around her neck, but she felt the cold metal and felt the large jewel at its center. She then smiled wickedly. “Together… Forever and ever…” she whispered in the dimly lit room. 

[hider=Summary]
We find Nalla sulking over her new existence. She’s found ways to overcome the curses in effect, but barely. She has captives and man servants that fear for their lives basically, so they do what she tells them to do. Her captives are from the village and she feeds on them without killing them, though she wants to. Eventually she begins to go on a tirade about gods and prayer and makes fun of one of her captives who’s prayers aren’t working. She then prays to Neiya in jest but Neiya shows up and they talk and she gets cool powers that allow her to make the final moments of her victims divinely bliss, thus overcoming the negative emotions they would normally give when she gets hungry. Post ends there pretty much.
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[hider=MP/DP Summary]
Neiya Starting MP/DP: 1/2

Consecrated:
[i]Charm of Desire[/i] - Artifact
This artifact takes the form of a brass choker. At its center is a large blood-red ruby.

Lover's Fancy III:  (The wearer catches the eye of those that can see the artifact. Viewers are tinged with a degree of lust for the wearer, and gradually builds into feelings of trust and kinship. This slowly wears off while they cannot see the Charm.) - 1 MP + 2 Free titles with Devotion.

Nalla - Hero

Undying Love IV: (When this hero praises Neiya with a specific set of phrases, those who hear it spoken are swept up in the Eternal Lover's affection, and experience a state of divine ecstasy. This leaves them sedate and happy, swept up in happiness even in normally dangerous situations. The effect wears off after Neiya loses interest.) - 2 DP + 2 Free Titles with Devotion.

Ending MP/DP: 0/0

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[hider=Prestige]
Nalla starting 0

12k chars = +5

Charm of desire

12k Chars = +5
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