Carantathraiel

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Envy pulled the blade down as he heard Miral scream in pain, and he froze, listening to Taris' throw her off the carriage. His eyes were wide, his ears attentive, his muscles twitching as he sat like a cornered creature ready to pounce on the first threat he could see. Listening, he heard Taris take down a few more, and heard the ward around the door crack. Or was that the sound of bones breaking? Turning his head to the carriage door, he raised the knife, growling, but he could only hear the screams of whoever had broken the ward as he fell away.
“Hadhen, how are you doing?” Envy asked, his eyes moving, looking for any movement.
“Mmrhmn.” Hadhen grumbled back. “Don't make... talk..”

Pursing his lips, Envy kept listening, waiting to spring at a seconds notice. He didn't have much room to move easily in here, but he found that might be an advantage. Less room for him meant it may be harder for anyone else to get in and try to reach Aera or Hadhen. “Taris,” The Kartaian called up as Hadhen fell onto his side and retched. “How many left?”

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Russel saw the flicker of movement from the corner of his eye just as Hadhen cried out beside him. Already alarmed by the sound of the wards breaking, he hesitated, unable to decide if he should reign the horses to stop or not. But when Taris surfaced on the top of the carriage, the look on the elf's face made Russel urge the horses on, clicking his tongue.

Envy, inside, helped Hadhen to sit down, letting him lean against the cushion on which Aera lay, trying to keep the lad upright. “Easy,” he murmured, checking Hadhen over, touching his clammy cheek and feeling his pulse.
Assassin's Guild. Envy's lip curled. He had never been fond of the group, despite offering to help them in the past with small projects. And now they were here, and it didn't take long for the Kartaian to figure out why. His ruby eyes landed on Aera's pale cheek as she slept, completely oblivious to the danger around them. Why, exactly, they were after, he couldn't figure out quickly, but he knew he wouldn't let them reach her.
Nor would the angry Shadow Elf standing above him.

When he noticed the slight dip of the carriage roof, announcing the second elf above them. Envy glanced around, looking for a knife, a staff, a glass bottle he could break... anything to use as a weapon. He felt Hadhen tapping gently on his hip, and patted the young man's knee softly. “If you're going to be sick, just aim for the floor.” Hadhen gave a soft grunt, still tapping on Envy, so the elf turned around to see his young adept holding out a rather pricey looking dagger.
“Hadhen! You amazing little devil!” Taking the knife, he kissed Hadhen's cheek, receiving a nauseated grunt in return. Unsheathing it, he looked up and waited.

From inside the carraige, Envy could hear the venom in Taris' voice as the one who called herself Miral made the threat on Aera. And, when the assassin took a step, Envy saw the shift in the roof and thrust his arm up, jamming the knife through the structure and into Miral's foot.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Envy nodded, approving of the idea. Due to his size, he felt cramped in the carriage, and turned slightly to try to stretch out, his long legs across the floor. "I'll take first watch." He said in Taris' direction, though his eyes were glancing past the carriage curtain out onto the silent street. He squinted, the setting sun still bright to his sensitive eyes. "You rest. Keep her warm."

As the Shadow Elf nestled himself into a comfortable position, Aera wrapped in his arms, her eyes closed once more, Envy considered the past events. The heir to the city was slain. No child. By rights, it should go to the next male heir. But, as it seems, Taris had taken care of a good many of them. So Risa would be the next logical heir. However, as she is a woman, the throne would technically belong to her husband. Pomp and glamour would say she held the crown, but the people would know they're now under a foreign thumb. 
No child. 

His ruby eyes went to Aera as she slept soundly, wrapped in Taris' protective arms. He knew Kentaro had tried to sire an heir off her for at least the first few years. Before the thrill of his new toy lost its appeal. But what about recently? Taris certainly shook things up. No doubt Kentaro would have gotten jealous. 
And he knew Aera and Taris had enjoyed one another. Her tantrum in the tunnels had given that away. 
As much as he disliked thinking about Aera having so many partners in the time she had, it was undeniable. Rape, by majority. But it was still a fact. 

As the evening became night, the elf stared, thinking hard, as the world passed by. It was after midnight, just past the halfway point of their journey, so the giant elf nudged Taris with his foot, wincing as the leg Vier'na had stabbed had grown sore. "Wake up." He grunted. With the allotted space available, he stretched, his gaze on the other elf. "I need to ask," His voice was low, his eyes went over Aera to make sure hers were still shut. "Drugan had one goal in mind in taking her. He had a week to try." He sighed, hesitating. "Did he ... I mean, is she?" He couldn't even bring himself to say it.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

On Envy's command, the tired boys went to work, fitting themselves in attire. Both were too spent to be amused by the appearance of one another in the uniform. The atmosphere too grim.
Taris and Envy carefully dressed Aera. Thanks to Taris and his magic, nearly all of the bruises on her skin were gone, nearly all over her wounds sealed and faded. But to Envy, as he held her and moved her so she could be gowned, she looked like nothing more than a ragdoll. She hung limp and breathed slowly, making no noise and putting up no fight. It made his chest hurt. He didn't like seeing her like this. His fire-filled Treasure.

When they were ready, they wrapped her in a blanket and, with Taris carrying her, got her downstairs. Envy stood by the door, looking for the boys on their return with the carriage. Aera opened her eyes, though she didn't seem to be awake, or even aware. But she stared at Taris above her, fixated on him, her eyelids low.

"They're back." Envy said, turning to glance for a moment at the two elves. "Do you think it's safe to take her out?" He asked. In all honesty, he was unsure. He didn't think that his kin would come after them so soon, but if they really wanted revenge, the time would be now, while they were weak and separated from their resources.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Envy heaved a heavy sigh, his eyes on the assassin. "I don't know yet." He admitted before lifting his eyes to the Shadow Elf. "It may be more complicated than I originally thought, Taris." He came forward and stood tall over Aera, his expression showing some of his concern. "I can't say for sure. Not yet. But I can." He glanced back up at Taris. "I can manipulate minds pretty well. I don't like to, but I can. I taught Ru..." he stopped. "If they did what I think they did... with the two of them... it may make her more difficult to ... save."

He lifted the heels of his hands to his eyes and groaned. "Chances are, they used him to break her, he had to get into her mind. To do their bidding, to save his life, to try to help her, I don't know for which reason. But if she killed him while he was in there, chances are..... he still is." He lowered his hands again and stared down at the pale face in the bed. She looked so peaceful.

The Kartaian stared down at her, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to best explain it. "Ruli will respond well to me, if I manage to find him inside her head. At least he should. I see no reason why he wouldn't. Aera, on the other hand.... there's a chance my presence would do more harm than good." He sighed again. "Its hard to say. But the longer his essence stays in her head, the less chance we have of getting her back to who she was before."

Envy stood over her and stared for a long moment, letting Taris filter what he'd said, while his own mind raced through what options he had. "Hold her hands..." He said suddenly, bending down. Taris raised an eyebrow and hesitated, Envy's previous words making him pause. The Kartaian grabbed his hands and pulled them above Aera's head, lifting her arms to make Taris grasp them. "Hold onto her, this is the best chance we have at the moment." He put his knee beside her hip on the mattress and cupped her face in his hands as he pressed his forehead to hers. His dark lips moved as he mouthed silent words.

Aera strained and pulled against Taris arms, her body tensing and twisting. Envy gracefully adjusted and swung his leg over her, sitting on her to keep her still. A noise that resembled a growl came from her throat and her eyes snapped open to glare at the elf above her. She hissed and writhed.
"Envy!" Taris snapped, but the Kartaian ignored him, flexing to put more weight on Aera. She let out a scream that died down as her body relaxed, her eyes closing again. Her body went limp again, though after a few uncertain seconds she planted her feet and bucked her hips and, with strength that wasn't her own, tossing Envy off of her. He fell from the bed and knocked his head against the bedside table, spilling the water Taris had brought earlier. The elf swore and rubbed his head while Aera glared down at him. Wordlessly she glared at Taris and kicked at him until he released her. Envy knelt on the floor beside the bed as Hadhen and Russel came running into the doorway, attracted by the noise. 

Aera's nostrils flared in her anger as she looked around, her eyes narrow. Envy held up both his hands and made an odd symbol with his fingers. Aera paused and leered at him, her eyes on his hands. Then she made another with her own hands. Envy made a face. Ruli was speaking to him through Aera. 

Taris sat beside Aera, his face blank, though he was obviously a bit confused, as Envy and Ruli signed to one another. It was slow going, and every few minutes Aera would flutter her eyes and start to panic and hyperventilate until Envy grasped at her again and held her until Ruli took over again.
"When I first found Ruli..." Envy started to explain as he signed. "He couldn't speak a single word. So we started communicating with our hands.... It seems he's forgotten a lot of it." He went quiet, his face growing serious. "I'm asking about Aera, where she was, if he knew what happened..." Aera moved her fingers, hesitantly from time to time, as Rulitus' essence in her head spoke back. "He says he can smell flowers. And moss. And there's a woman..." He blinked and signed faster. "I don't know where that is... Ruli, what... who is she?"

Without warning, Aera screamed and flung her arm out, knocking Envy in the face. He swore and leaned back, his hand over his nose. "Grab her!" he shouted, and Taris' hands shot out with impressive speed to grasp at her wrists. She writhed and kicked, calling for Ezra again as she pulled against Taris' grip. Tears leaked from her eyes and she gasped as Envy threw his hand against her face, holding her forehead. Immediately, she went limp again, whatever he'd done acting fast. 

He exhaled, holding his bleeding, broken nose. Gritting his teeth, her pressed his fingers to his skin and pressed, clicking his nose back to its original position. "She's always been good at that..." he grumbled, blowing the blood from his nose before picking up the wet cloth Taris had been using earlier. "I won't try that again." He sighed. Probably shouldn't have done that this time..... He squared his jaw and thought. "Aera is hiding. Terrified." he told Taris, sitting at the foot of the bed to gaze at Aera. "Even he was afraid, so her fear... its alarming. He said he could feel where she was. Could smell flowers. Moss. Stone. Butterflies. And something about a woman, holding water, and feeding the tr-" he paused. "I know what he's talking about. Its a statue, in the forest where she grew up. Theres a marble statue of Our Mother. She told me once she used to hide her treasures beneath it." He glanced over at Envy, still holding his throbbing nose. "If you need to get into her head to find her, that'd be where she is."

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Aera ran. 
Far ahead of her, she could only see the golden color of dry grass under a blue sky. In the far distance were green hills, but no matter how fast she moved her feet, they came no closer. Her bare feet pounded against the grass and she heaved, taking deep breathes as she ran, her arms pumping, the warm sun burning her skin.
She paused, then, and slowed to a stop, looking down at her hands with a confused look on her face. Her skin was brown. Had she been in the sun that long? She put her hands down and looked at her feet. They were still the same porcelain white they'd always been. She lifted her hands again to find that they, too, were back to their normal pale pigment. 
Puzzled, she dropped her hands and her eyes fell on the dark blue-grey figure of a Kartaian, his jagged blade raised and poised in her direction, ready to strike. She raised her hands, unsure of what she was doing, only moving on instinct.
“Aera!” She whirled around to see a pale Raielwen standing, bow aimed at her, his silver eyes stern. “Duck!” He yelled. 
She fell to her knees, her hands covering her head as the arrow flew overhead. She followed it with her eyes and saw that it struck the heart of a pale woman, her ears wide, like Taris', her soft pale hair trailing her head as she slunk to the ground. Mortified, Aera turned with a questioning look to find the holder of the bow was a short Kartaian with a maimed ear. “Envy?”
He shouted at her and pointed, but it didn't make sense to her ears. Her brain muddled it and she shrugged, confused, lifting her hand to her ear. Her arms were brown again. 
She heard the crack of a whip and she tossed her head back and screamed as pain ripped across her back.

Screaming, she flung herself forward, suddenly finding it hard to move her hands. She gasped, her body sore and stiff, her movement hindered. “Envy!” She shrieked. Her eyes darted around as she realized she wasn't sure where she was. She was on a bed, and beside her was some black skinned elf. Her scream had startled him, and he looked uncertain about whether he'd like to grab her to quiet her or leap out of her reach. Her eyes narrowed and she glared at him. He seemed to shiver and shimmer in from of her eyes, dark swirls of shadow leaping about him. She paused, snarling at him. “What the hell are you?” Something.... something about his eyes....
Her head turned when she heard approaching footsteps, and she glared at the Kartaian who stilled in the doorway. With difficulty, she pulled her legs up to her chest and pushed herself back against the headboard of the bed with a growl, her bound hands in front of her. Her vision went fuzzy. “Ezra!” She shouted, looking around. The Kartaian pulled a face, suddenly looking serious. He glanced over to the black thing beside her and pointed in her direction. With a slight hesitation, it reached out and grabbed her arms and she cried out as her head was riddled in pain.

It died away and suddenly, her vision wasn't fuzzy anymore. Her breath came fast as she realized whose red-purple eyes she was staring into, her lip quivering. “Taris!” she cried and ceased her resistance against his grip. Her head fell back and she looked over her cheeks at Envy as her limbs went heavy with grief. “Envy! I'm so sorry...” she whimpered, tears falling, her breathing broken. “So, so sorry.” Her vision was going fuzzy again, her tears still flowing, and she tensed in Taris' hands again, pulling away from him, her hands extended toward Envy. “The blue skies darken the earth and make the straw grow.” Her breath quivered. “I'm sorry.”

“Hold onto her.” Envy demanded, stepping towards her, his expression one of perplexity. 
“What was that nonsense about the skies?” Taris asked. “What does that mean?”
Envy frowned, his hands quickly working to untie the shirt that bound her hands. He pulled the cloth away and, no longer worrying about her hands, dug his fingers against them to pull them apart. She cried and pulled her hands away from him, Taris' grasp holding her still. “Coming from her, it doesn't make any sense.” He told the Shadow Elf, pulling her clasped hand apart with his sturdy hands. It had been something Ruli had always said to him. Coming from Aera it made no sense. 

In the palm of her bloody hand was a clump of wheat colored hair. 

He grimaced, taking the strands from her shaking hand. “That's how they did it.” he whispered. “Ruli had a good amount of skill in mind manipulation. He'd been inside her head once before, and their …. connection... she wouldn't intentionally harm him.” He took Aera's head in his hands and looked into her unfocused eyes. She was looking around, still dazed and confused. “They used him to break her.” 

Aera whimpered and struggled against the two of them, her head falling backward as she cried. “I'm so sorry...” She looked down at her hand, Ruli's blood dried on her skin. Her dark gaze went to Taris, her eyes swimming in and out of focus as she came in and out of recognition. Her eyelids flickered and her head fell back as she dipped back into unconsciousness. “...I'm sorry...”

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Envy stared, glancing at the two elves before him. With a sigh, he waved at Taris. “Help me with him.” He told the two behind him. “Don't touch her.” 
He limped over to the Shadow Elf and bent, hooking his hands under his shoulders while the other two each grabbed a foot. They lifted the unconscious elf and carried him off, laying him on the first empty bed they could find. He mumbled to Russel about finding another room for Aera, and he hurried off, muttering about large houses being mazes. Envy went back to stare at Aera, wondering what to do with her. Taris had fixed her most major physical hazards. Her wrist didn't look broken, but it was still a bit swollen and red. Both of her wrists were, the manacles had rubbed the skin raw as she struggled. A good portion of her skin was still black and blue with bruising. But she wasn't bleeding. Apprehensive, he bent and put his fingers to her neck feeling her pulse. It was still slow, but not as much as before. 
“Theres a big one up the stairs.” Russel told him, jogging into the room. “Probably the master. Its bigger than the kitchen in the tunnels.” 
Envy nodded. “One more thing for me, please. I doubt there will be much, but look for womens clothing. A dress, a ...gown. Anything.” Russel frowned and nodded before leaving again. Envy continued to stare down at Aera. To be honest, that look she'd given him, that look of pure hatred... it had frightened him. It wasn't Aera, he tried to tell himself. That was … someone else. Something else.

“Envy?”
The Kartaian turned around to find an antsy looking Hadhen. He raised his eyebrows. “Are we safe?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Are they safe?”
The tunnels. Envy sighed. “They'll be hunting us. Everyone else should be fine.” Though it gave him a reminder. Carefully, he picked up Aera, her arms hanging limply over her sides, and took her to find whatever bedroom Russel had found. He lay her down, covering her in the thick blankets, still wondering about her hands. Her ability couldn't be contained anymore. Keeping her hands wrapped in those filthy bandages would do no good. He bent to unwrap them as Russel came in, shrugging. “I got nothing for a woman, but he's got these shirts.” 
Envy shook his head. She wouldn't un-clench her right hand. “A dress would have been better. We need to be able to keep an eye on her.” He was still afraid to touch her. “Actually, bring me the shirt. Might be of use.” The elf cautiously folded her left hand over her clenched right hand and wrapped the shirt around them, knotting it tight enough to hold her, but gently enough not to hurt her. With her hands restrained, Envy crouched over her, working on his inspection. 

After an hour, Envy went to his young men and pulled out a blade, shrugging, holding out a paper with an odd mark on it. Automatically, they both held out their hands, and Envy pricked their thumbs, squeezing the blood on a piece of paper. He pricked Taris' thumb and Aera's heel, as her hands were bound, and smeared the paper. Then he pricked himself and tore the paper into four piece, handing them to the boys. “Four corners.” he ordered, and they ran off to put up the wards. 
The Kartaian sighed. That should keep them protected, next to whatever else protected this place.

Another hour later he sat, sighing tiredly, next to Taris, rubbing his face. Leaning against the headboard, his eyes scanned the room. Assassins made a nice living. There was no doubt about that. Envy's red eyes landed on the black skinned elf. Not worth it.
Hadhen walked in, holding in his hands a jar, tilted so he could read the label. “I found this.” he informed Envy. “Its the stuff he had me get from his safe-house in Pareigh.” 
Envy took another glance at the unconcious elf beside him. “Do you want to undress him?”
Hadhen's eyes got wide. “Not particularly.”
Envy grunted with a shrug. “Get Russel.”
After much effort with the odd armor, Envy and the thieves had Taris down to the minimum. Envy sprinkled the powder on what wounds he could see. He told one of the boys to go sleep, the other to go keep watch in the master bedroom. Then he sat back down beside the elf, folding his legs and lighting a cigarette. Time to wait for the assassin to wake.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Cradling the small, limp form of Aera, Envy ran, the other two in tow, through the shadow. He could feel it, ahead, the shadow into his chamber in the tunnels. He ushered the two to move as they clung to his armor. When suddenly he felt a shift and, in a blink, they were out of the shadows, standing in another large chamber, the dark black rock walls of the cavern absorbing sound. Envy frowned, confused. “What?” he muttered. With Aera in his arms, he wasn't sure how to open the shadows again, so that wasn't an option. But, if he remembered right, up the incline on the other side of the cavern was the exit, into the daylight. But … Taris... He couldn't go out in the daylight. 
Shaking his head, he barked at the others to start running. The Shadow Elf could find them, and all he had to do was open the shadow again and they'd be back out of the sunlight. He didn't make it five paces and he shouted and fell to his knees, Aera crashing to the floor as he went down. “Envy!” The boys shouted, spinning around. Still cradling her head, Envy turned and pulled the small blade from his calf, glaring at Vier'na, who stood some few feet behind him, a venomous glare in her dark red eyes. 
“You came earlier than I thought you would, brother.” She said icily. “Did you enjoy the show?”
Envy snarled at his sister in response, trying to pull himself to his feet. He left Aera staring absently up at his feet, unable to defend himself while holding her. Hadhen stepped forward and covered her with a blanket. The female Kartaian leered. “Do you like our work?” She glared down at the lifeless form of Aera. “She really did put up a good fight. You should be proud.”
Before Envy could launch at her, there was a strange sound and Taris appeared. Or, mostly Taris, The Wolf's head still flickered over his face, his exposed black skin rippling. He appeared just behind Vier'na and quickly shot out an arm, his hidden blade catching her in the back. She gasped and collapsed. Uncertain about his control, Envy moved between the assassin and Aera. Taris stopped and waited, glaring, as he slowly reigned the Wolf. 
“Is she....” He asked weakly, his eyes on the pale woman.
“She's holding on. But we need to get her-” Envy paused and turned, noticing Vier'na get back to her feet. He bared his teeth. Taris, bleeding from multiple wounds and still fighting for control, didn't look like he was up for taking down this stubborn bitch. Envy moved, putting himself between Aera and his bloodkin, glaring back at the face that glared at him. Taris made a noise.

Behind Envy, Aera's head rolled and, almost mechanically, she sat up, slowly and awkwardly, with her hands bound before her, and stood, unstable and naked, but oddly controlled. “Aera?” Russel asked, and Envy turned. Aera's purple eyes were almost black as she focused on Vier'na and she inhaled, taking a few steps toward the Kartaian woman. Taris made to stop her, but Envy held up his hand.
Viern'a grinned. “Our little project comes up to fight back, huh?”
The look in Aera's face made Envy step back. He'd known Aera for years, seen the look when she got when she was after killing someone, most recently against Taris, but this.... this was different. She moved forward, every movement different than normal, and Vier'na drew her blade and held it out calmly. Aera stopped when her face was a few inches from the point. Vier'na looked the Raielwen up and down. Her hands were covered, she was chained, and her wrist was swollen in her break. There wasn't a danger here. Aera stood, staring like poison, waiting. Vier'na pressed the blade forward and set it in the hallow of her neck. “Down.” she commanded. 
But the moment Aera felt the pressure of the blade, her hands shot up, grasping the blade and yanking it up, the point slicing up her throat. Her hands squeezed and, with a look that frightened Envy more than the new wound on her neck, Aera growled. The blade seemed to quiver in both of their hands, Aera's hands beginning to bleed. Vier'na screamed as the whole blade grew white hot and sparked. In a flash, the Kartaian went down, parts of her blue flesh steaming.

Envy gaped, petrified. Aera had killed, without direct contact. Through the cloth on her hands and through a blade. They'd done it. They'd broken her. She was now what they'd wanted her to be. He took another step back as she turned to glare at him, absolutely no recognition in her eyes. All she saw was a Kartaian. All she wanted was to kill it.
She started to walk toward Envy and, as much as he didn't want to, he backed away in fear. Taris moved in between them. “Aera!”
Her venom black eyes lowered to him and, after a second, something flashed across her face. Her expression grew soft and her eyes lightened slightly. Then she closed her eyes, grabbed her head and, gasping in pain, before her body relaxed again and she collapsed, Taris shooting forward to catch her.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Envy and the others went straight for Aera. He went to his knees and carefully pulled the blanket away, hissing at what he saw. “God...” Hadhen muttered behind him, sounding nauseous.
Every part of her was beaten and bruised. Cuts and welts were all over her, some old, some new. She lay, still and naked, her arms held above her head by chains cuffed at her wrist, her hands wrapped in blood soaked fabric. And her lifeless eyes stared into nothing. Envy bent and inspected her, trying to keep his own heart calm. So still was she that he couldn't tell if she was breathing, even when he put his ear to her chest. But, very faintly, he could hear the incredibly slow heartbeat.
“She's barely alive.” The elf whispered to the two standing beside him. “Hadhen, look around for anything to clothe her in. Russel, you're my lockpick. Get at the chains on her wrists.” As they moved to obey, Envy cupped her face in his hands, pressing his forehead to hers. “Wake up, baby girl. Come back to me. Follow my voice.”
Russel grunted. “The one wrist is broken pretty bad.” Envy glanced up and saw that he was right, her left wrist was swollen and red against the cuff.
“Get her free.” he demanded. He glanced up to watch the fight between Taris and Drugan, glaring death at his kinsman. 
There was a click and Russel sighed. “The one against the wall is all I can get, I can't see enough for the other two on her arms.” 
With a nod, Envy lowered her arms to lay them across her stomach. He lifted her carefully in his arms, cradling her head against his shoulder. But when he tried to walk through the shadow Taris had opened, he was stopped, Aera growing heavy and forcing him still. A ward. He lay her back down. How? She had nothing on her. He glanced over her skin, looking for anything. Then his eyes landed on a small symbol, etched into the skin of her inner thigh in black ink. He growled and pulled out a knife.
Then, listening to Drugan and Taris, he shot his head up. “Taris!” He shouted. But the assassin ignored him or didn't hear him. He flew into a gruesome transformation and both the boys went to their knees, covering their ears as the howl ripped through the chamber. Envy covered Aera's ears with his hands and ducked his head between his arms, his heart racing. 

Admittedly shaken by the new form of Taris, Envy bent to work on Aera. “I'm sorry....” he mumbled remorsefully as he pressed the sharp tip of the blade against her skin, cutting out the tattoo. It pained him immensely to see that she didn't flinch, didn't move, made no sign that she even felt it. The blood trickled slowly from her, her heartbeat was so slow.

Love is a Noose [ Kru & Cara ]

Envy took a breath, his red eyes watching his kin fall, his thoughts unsurprisingly apathetic. They deserved it. He glanced around, glad to see they'd come out where he thought they would. “This way.” He pointed and Taris took off, leading the small group of invaders. “Kill quick.” he hissed at the assassin and the boys behind him, hoping it was pointless to tell them. Kartaians could communicate quickly, and the last thing they needed was the whole mass of them coming after them. They wouldn't stand a chance, then. 

They ran, catching and swiftly killing three more Kartaians, one who nearly managed to sink a blade into Russel before Hadhen jumped in and buried his dagger his skull. “Tss.” Envy hissed, and the all stopped. Panting, he thought for a minute. He pointed to Taris and held up two fingers and motioned around the corner. Taris vanished and a few seconds later the other three heard two bodies drop and they ran forward. Taris stood over his newest kills, glaring daggers at Envy, who pointed to the door the two Kartaians had been guarding. 

They stepped inside. There was something odd about the room, the air felt like it was quivering. Felt thick and … almost living. “She's got to be here.” Envy whispered softly, and immediately, Taris moved to search, but Envy shot a hand out and grabbed the assassin's shoulders and, when Taris looked like he wanted to slice Envy open, held a finger to his ear. Something was moving.
Toward the back end of the room, hard to make out, at least for the two human thieves, was an eight foot tall, thickly built giant. “Enlor`Lei?” It chuckled in its deep voice, the air in the room seemed to absorb its sound.
Envy bristled. “Drugan.” 
The monster stood mother naked before them, his dark red eyes on the rogue Kartaian, a horrid grin on his face. “We weren't expecting you so soon.” His eyes shifted to the Shadow Elf. “That makes you Taris.” Envy sensed Taris tense, almost radiating fury. He glanced at his ally, hoping the assassin would heed his warning about keeping a level head. “She screamed for you, you know. We put an end to that.” He stepped back and leaned to nudge something with his foot. A blanket shifted and a limp, pale foot emerged. Drugan glanced at the group at the other end of the chamber, a vicious smile on his face. He leered at Taris. “Have you had her, yet?” His hand fell and he scratched at his groin. “She's so … delicious. Quite stubborn. And she tastes so sweet. So memorable. Like... lemons.”

“....Taris....” Envy said cautiously, feeling the pure hatred coming from the elf beside him. He put a hand on the elf's back and pushed him gently. “We'll get to her.” he told him as he urged the assassin toward Drugan.