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[NightShade]

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The boat creaked ominously with the ebbing and flowing tide. She had been in the hold for 24 hours now, the large rats scampering between dank puddles of sea water. Huddled her red hair tousled about her shoulders, Wisty rocked and sang softly.

Where are you going to Scarborough fair,
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme,
Remember me to one who lives there,
For once he was a true love of mine…..
For once he was a true love of mine….

The sun rose its brilliant gold and red streaks lighting up the sky and it cast a beam down into the hold. She sat waiting for the knock, for it would be at the door at any moment. Toren grasped the doors to the hold looking down the grate squinting to see the top of her red hair. He heard her voice drifting eerily up and found it hard to contain wild laughter. She heard him and scrambled to her feet upon the crate, he opened the gate and she looked up from the bottom of the ladder her violet eyes wide. She said nothing merely extended a hand and gathered up her gown as she climbed….

He watched in amusement as she ascended watching her smooth the dress that wasn’t there, the billowing dress of innocence. Is it time? He had begun to suspect but was not sure. Yes yes its time. Where is papa? He could not make it… Wistys face fell she had so hoped papa would be there to get her.

Stephen you should not see me like this, it dawned on her, and Toren began to grasp the twistings of her mind. Merely superstition my dear, come. He helped her alight from the ship and she looked at him her eyes filled with love. Stephen my love soon we are to be one, and she leaned forward kissing him passionately.

Yet there was something in his kiss, and it gave her pause, slowly her surroundings took shape and Wisty found herself standing on the beach Toren staring her down. Stephens image fading slowly from her mind. With the same ferocity of her sister her hand rang out across his cheek. Biting angry words wailed like a banshee into the wind. YOU LEFT ME THERE ALL NIGHT. Before there was a reply uttered she ran quickly her soft slippers sinking quietly into the sand. He tried to follow.

Sometime later he found her, sitting upon a log humming once more the same tune she had sung. Is this seat taken? She looked up her face blank and a smile lit it up once more. Of course my love, and she patted the spot next to her. He sat and she sighed leaning against him Stephen why did you run off? Perhaps you are not ready for marriage? Nay that couldn’t be further from the truth, come let us go now it is time. She smiled, and nodded, we are going by boat. He looked down at her the plan becoming so clear in his head. Yes we will away at once by boat and marry….

Tormented the girl had snapped, the cabal at last would achieve their goal, and it would be legally binding, no contest could be made…..
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Something is Wrong, I can still feel Existence...

[Toren Smythe]

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Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
And to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips. - Kahlil Gibran on Love


Surrounding them on all sides the columns stretched towards the heavens, a shining symbol of the Xornites’ omnipotence. She smiled brightly at him, her eyes empty, speaking a lie to her mind that none other could understand. Only a preacher accompanied them, paid heartily by Toren to play along, though now his confusion was becoming distinctly apparent. The ceremony began and shot like a bullet at the subtle commanding of Wisteria. They immediately said their vows, then held up rings, not actually being present, to be blessed (at this the preacher gave a long sigh and halted for a moment to scratch his head, before continuing) then they placed a ring on each other’s finger.

“I now pronounce you Man and Wife…” A broad grin crossed her face and he smiled seeing not her. “You may kiss the bride.”

Toren stared into Nightshade’s eyes as he dragged her sister into his arms, sealing their binding. His lie sunk in as deep as hers as they stood in the middle of the ring, Stephen and Nightshade, Toren and Wisteria, none the pairings that either of them wished.

“To the Honeymoon!” she said placing her hands on her hips, in a tone eager and all too “sisterly”, sending a chill down his spine. A doppelganger of his love stared him in the eyes, and he stood as the same transfixion to her. For one brief and monumentally glorious moment… all was right.

The sail was short and they arrived in Magincia not long after they left. The inn was quiet and empty, exactly as he ordered it be prepared, when they sat down for dinner. She ate heartily while he toyed with his fork, his other hand searching out the hair of his doll, and he stroked it gently. His mind wandered far away to Blackrock, and his eyes gazed at absolutely nothing. His stature, having not gone unnoticed, was easily explained as “Nerves.”

“Time to consummate this marriage.” she grinned coyly at him, looking to him very innocently.

Time passed and things happened as things normally do, occurring frequently in many bedrooms across many lands, especially among newly-weds. And all was brought to a crashing halt at the end as the words, so troublesomely contained before, passed his lips into hers: “Oh Shade!” And Wisteria immediately snapped too… and in a way, so did Toren.

He rolled off of her and onto the floor, burying his face into his knees, coddling the doll, and sobbing through laughter as he rocked slowly back and forth on the floor.

She took pity on him and crouched beside, resting a hand on his shoulder, a gesture from which he slunk. In pain, she turned away and crawled onto the bed, looking away from him. He sucked gently on the doll’s hair as his composure slowly re-solidified, and his views ceased to shake at his very foundation. Quickly gathering himself, and dressing he stood. He stared down at her for a time, his black, twisted, and revolving heart feeling pity, remorse, and almost regret, not only for her, but for himself. Why could it not be her…? the thought passed his mind.

“If you hate me so much… Why are you still here?” he walked over to her and knelt beside her, stroking her hair in a more than kind manner. They smiled weakly at each other before he spoke.

“You’re… my wife… And I will honor our vows… ‘To love, honor, and cherish… Until death do us part.’” he smirked slightly but felt only a twang of despair as she smiled happily in return, though he could sense the same in her.

“I understand if you have duties but please return. Don’t leave me alone here in the dark…” her voice broke out in a whisper, “with the rats.”

“Mmm.” His eyes shut tightly as he turned away, he dreaded seeing her, but he had too.

Blackrock was as cold and dark as its namesake. He walked to the roof on the Keep and acknowledged weakly, very uncharacteristically, Cear and Ronefaer. Though almost immediately, she walked in.

He screamed at the top of his lungs and fell backwards almost off the roof, upon seeing her. Scampering to his feet he ran out as fast as he could to the Library. Hiding behind a bookcase he sank to the ground and began giggling in his usual manner.

She walked in slowly and, sniffing him out, found him in the corner. Looking down at his quivering form, frowning slightly, the words broke her parted lips. “Are you alright Toren.”

His gaze met hers, and he stared into her eyes, befuddled and blankly. She rested her hand on his cheek and just then his face lit up.

“Marvelous!” was his only discourse. “I feel marvelous!” He stood up at this and stared at her, still lost in her eyes and in his mind. She met his gaze and stood slowly. “You don’t seem marvelous to me.”

“I did it Shade…” He smiled at her oddly, and altogether falsely. She looked almost upset but not in the way he expected.

“You don’t seem well Toren.”

“I feel as though I have to vomit…” he walked past her swiftly to the roof and bent over the side, retching and gagging, but producing nothing. She came up slowly behind him and looked to him with pity shining brightly in her eyes.

Her eyes sad, she spoke softly “This is going to kill you Toren, if you keep up this way… if it’s this upsetting.”

Staring at her blankly he spoke in a whisper, just loud enough for her to hear: “Why couldn’t it have been you?”

She gasped as he swung around retching again, the same old story there. “W-what do you mean Toren?”

His words were hollow, but there was an odd amount of real emotion to them. “I love you Nightshade, and no matter who carries this child, know that you’re the mother.” He brushed her cheek gently then turned towards the exit. “Come, I’m acting the oddity, the others will become suspicious. They departed the Library, one after the other… much said, but too much left without expression.
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[NightShade]

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The deed done Wisteria lay sleeping in her bridal bed. Bliss upon her face she dreamed of him, and held him once more in her arms. Stephen at last we are together...

The dead seed took hold, and like a corruptive force it spread thru Wisterias body giving it life and protecting its own enemy. Blackrock corrupted her and sickened her as she lay blissfully sleeping and the Child of the Cabal began to grown within her womb.

Yet the lie she told herself was so sweet, so great a love she had for Stephen that she would not be aware for some time, of the Dark Will of Xorinia as it brought forth the life and culmination of the Cabals efforts.

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Her words rang out angrily, bitingly and his realization was complete, she lay within the arms of another. Silence followed for a moment deadly in its intent, never had they fought so bitterly. He was surely cracking up and Nightshade regretted the vulgarity of her words the instant they left her lips. She couldnt help it though she was reckless and had trouble keeping herself in check at times. Willow's young eyes widened at her words and Toren strode purposefully with determination in his stride, from the room.

Like the sick mother that she was, she turned her wrath cruel and heartless upon willow, hissing at her hurtfully, This is all your fault Willow! She left the child standing there as she ran off after Toren uneasy with the look upon his face. What had she done.

She found him holding the dagger and she knew instantly what he held, What are you going to kill. His words were dark and unaturally not him..

A Wolf..
Nightshade nodded instantly conjuring up a wolf for him to slay. Here, here is one Toren, you may take your anger out on it desperation in her voice. Willow ran up her eyes growing rounder and more confused by the moment. She saw her father as he stood with the Wolf Slayer in his hands. What are you doing!

That is not the wolf I will slay tonight and you know it Shade...

So they found themselves in Umbra as Toren searched houses, he knew Myrddin could not possibly live far from the sepulcher, Willow trying to dissuade him of his rash insane state of mind.

At last he knew he had found it for there was Shade not ten paces from it her hands on hips her look determined. He isnt home please Toren think of the child... I dont want to see her fatherless!

At last he relented the anger wearing from him and then like a knife in his back, Myrddin arrived home to find the three standing in front of his keep. There was no more greater torment for Shade at that moment as she looked between the Father of her child and the man with whom she lay with and she shook her head in exasperation. Pushing Toren on, Willow dragging her father desperately away, please father I will make you a new window if you want! Shade standing watching as Myr slowly loosened his grip on his blade. They had all come so close...
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Something is Wrong, I can still feel Existence...