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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Oct 5, 2013 17:35:13 GMT -6
Relieved, Argoth exhaled. Feelings he had never quite experienced before flooded him and when Rii leaned in to kiss his neck and rest her head Argoth placed his own on the top of hers. The second kiss she had given him was just as good as the first, and he wished it didn't have to end, but he knew there would be more. Rii then left his lap and looked up at him, telling him that he sould go to sleep. "I'm not the only one who needs some rest," he proclaimed, giving Rii a hinting smile. "Max should be alright by himself tonight. I was thinking maybe you might want to sleep here tonight..with me. Besides, that lucky bastard already got his chance. I think its only fair that he share you." Argoth joked.
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Post by Rii/Thell on Oct 5, 2013 20:52:23 GMT -6
Rii, having also stitched up Maximus' shirt that came from his side wound, knew she was truly done with her work for the night, though in the morning she'd have two sets of bandages to rewrap and several stitches to inspect."If Maximus was born to a woman that was not his father's wife, then some may view that as unlucky," Rii remarked, not aware of how loosely the term was used outside of its strict definition. Despite the fact that she'd been surrounded by many people who used it freely like soldiers and ruffians and bitter folk, she'd always let the usage slip away from her, as they were usually not talking to her. "But if my presence is as lucky as you say it is, then maybe that will heal faster with me here," she continued, smiling as she gestured to his chest while heading for the door. "Let me give Maximus his shirt and I'll be back. Haven't shared a bed much at all, especially with a Hylian before. Another unfamiliar experience for me." And with a delighted grin, Rii was off, depositing Maximus' mended tunic beside his bed before leaning forward to kiss him on the forehead with a whispered wish of good dreams. Argoth was right. He was safe for tonight. Tomorrow Rii hoped when Lahnea returned they could assure that he'd be safe - at least from her past - for the rest of his nights. Him and Argoth.
Then, with a soft click of the door shutting behind her, she danced back into Argoth's room.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Oct 5, 2013 23:14:53 GMT -6
"Well you're the luckiest thing to ever happen to me," Argoth murmured as Rii exited his room. He wasn't sure if she had heard it or not because he said it so low but it really didn't matter to him. He was sure Rii knew anyway. And even if she didn't, she would soon.
While she was away he laid down in the bed, getting the blankets all situated for himself and Rii. A few moments later Rii came back into the room and joined him under the covers. He wrapped an arm around her as he snuggled up close and whispered, "Goodnight." A smile remained on his face even as he began to doze off.
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Post by Rii/Thell on Oct 5, 2013 23:40:49 GMT -6
"Good night," she murmured in return, casting a look over at him as he drifted off to sleep, a smile still on his face. She'd been in this situation before, but with certain variables vastly changed. This time, she wasn't frozen where she was, forced to stay there out of fear of what would happen if she didn't. No, Rii found herself there because she wanted to be there, warm and safe. She, of course, had felt very safe with Maximus, but it was completely different this way. "This is very unfamiliar," Rii noted happily as she closed her own eyes.
It was later in the night when they arrived, footsteps soft like shadows. The kingdom could only afford the cheaper mercenaries, but rumor of why the mercenaries were needed had won the interest of the council. What business would a kingdom have with a dull zora such as the one who slept by the assassin in the small inn of market town? How could the business be worthy of mercenaries and two sorcerers? Rumor had it she had great magic hidden within her. They didn't know rumor also claimed it was that of the rare Twili, but great magic was enough to pique their interest. And so, when word reached the council in a tavern not too far from the inn that the lower mercenaries had failed in capturing her, they knew it was their chance. Clearly she had been overestimated, perhaps because of the magic she carried, and so they would have to go about things differently.
The ones with shadow-like steps glanced into the room, spying the two sleeping figures. The report had said a small child had been the one to do the most damage, and that originally he had been the one in charge of protecting the zora. It occurred to the council that perhaps they needed Rii to give them the magic she hid, not simply steal it from her. What they needed, then, was someone under their control, someone they could use as leverage. But if the small one with almost demon-like strength remained with her when they attempted their bargaining, surely he would simply fight and free the older man that they might have taken as hostage.
No, it had to be the boy. Rii had originally been with him, and he was the strongest out of all three from what they could tell. Besides, if Rii's current position said anything, it said that the man beside her might refrain from attempting to free the boy if Rii felt either him or the boy were truly in danger. Any man with the sense to keep a woman, in the scouts' opinions, would do the same.
And so, one brought up a flute, one to keep the boy trapped in a deep slumber. They didn't want him waking up. No, if the report had revealed anything, it was that the boy had potential to be extremely dangerous. He needed to stay asleep until Rii's magic was in hand. Soft, magicked flute notes floated through the air and the remaining scouts retrieved the boy before climbing out of the inn. Closed, the door had been, but for a retired thief gone mercenary, it proved no problem to pick.
Rii awoke when she felt faint gold fingers of light on her shoulder. The sun was finally appearing. She also felt extremely warm, almost unbearably so. If she had been sleeping with Argoth in a bed at the zora's domain and was dressed as a zora was, it wouldn't have been a problem, but Rii had not desired to go so far when her abdominals had obviously distracted her new lover.
The thought brought a smile to her face as she slowly sat up and pulled the sheets aside just a bit to see how his chest had survived the night. It was lightly bloodied, but nothing to serious. AFter she changed it, she could lightly wait a far longer period of time before doing so again. He still looked peacefully asleep, though with his assassin skills she was sure her leaving would wake him up. But it was unavoidable. She needed to change Maximus' bandages for sure and point out he now had a mended tunic at his disposal. Still, before she went, Rii gave in to temptation and leaned forward to ghost her lips over his own before leaving.
Upon reaching Maximus' door, Rii paused. What if he was asleep? He deserved a good night's rest for sure. Realizing her dilemma, she decided she'd ask her voices to check. They would tell her if he was in an unconscious state.
But when she reached out with her voices, she found her head silent. No. What was wrong? Why weren't her voices saying anything? Was she ill? With widened eyes Rii opened the door in a hurry, finding it unlocked. Oh no.
When she entered the room, she found the bed empty. Green eyes opening further, Rii stepped backwards and then hurried back to their room. "Argoth! Argoth, wake up!"
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Oct 6, 2013 0:00:27 GMT -6
When Rii had begun to climb out of bed Argoth's brain knew what was happening, so he felt no need to fully awaken. He felt her lips lightly brush his as she went to check on his apprentice and a slight smile curled the corner of her mouth. Life was good, he thought. Well, for the moment anyway. Seconds later Rii came barreling back into the room screaming for him to wake up. His brain instantly booted back up and his eyes snapped open.
Oh shit, something happened to Max, his mind raced with every bad thought that existed.
Argoth rushed into Max's room as fast as he could to find that it was empty. He let out a slight sigh. At least he isn't dead. The least scary scenario that had run through his mind was what had happened to Max. Plenty of times had he been captured before, however, it was by Syrus. Syrus knew how to control Max's demon so it wouldn't get out of control when he was a captive, but whomever had taken him now had no idea what lay dormant inside the small boy. They better hope they have Max sedated or unconscious, otherwise things could get messy and quick. Even if they had Max unconscious, that wouldn't stop the demon. It was separate from his body, so all it needed to do was take over Max while he was out and the demon would have complete control. Normally Max could keep this at bay himself while he was sleeping willingly. He hoped they didn't wake him when they took him, or he might have already killed them all by now.
Argoth looked at Rii with concern but it was not for Max. "We need to find and quick."
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Post by Rii/Thell on Oct 6, 2013 0:21:02 GMT -6
Rii felt her heartbeat quicken as she nodded at his sentiment before rushing to the bed, searching for some sort of clue. Why take Maximus? If they were the same people as before, they would have just come for her, surely. Unless... Maybe Argoth's presence had deterred them? Maybe they went for Maximus in hopes of using him as... as a hostage? Rii's green eyes narrowed at the thought. "But if he was a hostage... they'd leave their terms or a location. A clue, a hint, a clue, a hint," she whispered under her breath as she tore away the bed sheets before ripping open the drawers of the dresser. Empty, empty, all of them empty.
And then she saw that Maximus' shirt was still there. It was bloodied from the fight, though she'd been hoping to wash it once she'd shown it to the young assassin. If a guard had come to search the place for them, they would have simply burned the tunic without a second glance. But whoever had taken Maximus, they weren't hoping for a guard to inspect the place.
They'd want her. Rii would pick up the tunic. So, she unfolded the shirt, and sure enough, a piece of parchment rested inside, with a map sketched out in ink. An amphitheater had been circled, one that would be holding a performance later that day for the Festival of Time, but no terms were expressed, no time indicated. "Have you dealt with this sort of thing before, Argoth?" she asked, returning to reveal her find to him with her brow furrowed in concern. Would Maximus be okay? That was all she wanted to know. Whatever these people wanted from her she wanted just as much to give.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Oct 6, 2013 0:35:18 GMT -6
As Rii searched the room Argoth began to think.
Okay, so somebody has Max and they are probably using him to get to Rii. We're going to need a plan to get him back. That is if he hasn't already broken himself out. But if that has happened everyone in Market Town is in danger. I need to find a way to diffuse this situation, and fast. I need more information though. If only I knew who took him it would be easier to figure out. Sigh..I'm not going to solve anything standing here I need...
And then Rii asked him a question. At first he didn't register it, but moments later his brain had caught up. "Yes, his only other captor has been Syrus. And believe me, if he had taken Max, we would have known about it. Although trust me when I say that if Syrus wasn't the one who has taken him, then it's not Max we should be worried about. If that demon blows its top, everyone in Market Town is in danger." Argoth explained in a very serious tone.
Then Rii handed him the map with the location of the amphitheater circled on it.
"I know exactly where this is. Let's go."
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Post by Rii/Thell on Oct 6, 2013 0:52:53 GMT -6
Rii nodded, slinging her pack over her shoulder and tucking Maximus' shirt inside of it as they exited the inn. With Argoth leading to the amphitheater, they could go, negotiate, and get Maximus back in no time. Well, in overly simplistic and extremely positive words. Rii knew it wouldn't be that easy, not if they were working with the people from before.
But it already was different from what she expected, because the moment they left the inn they encountered a familiar face.
"It's you! From before!"
Ozzy appeared, hair disheveled and out of its braid as she rushed forward to stand in front of the pair.
"The fiddler!" Rii responded in realization.
Ozzy nodded hurriedly, obviously distraught and possibly... furious? Was that the proper word? The way she gritted her teeth made Rii think it was in fact the most appropriate word. "I'm so sorry for whatever happened last night. I want to ask what's- Look, please understand normally it's not an apology and run sort of deal but they told me you were the only hope for my uncle and I-"
"They? Your uncle?"
Another nod. "I woke up in the middle of the night because of a bar fight and when I went to see what was happening, I realized my uncle, the goron who was with me, was gone. Some cloaked figure approached me and told me that if I wanted him alive I needed to seek out my volunteers because they would know where he was. Well, that's you."
Rii's heart clenched. She was truly causing everyone trouble if they had stolen this girl's family away as well. Why did other people have to get involved? Why couldn't she simply walk into a room and talk everything out with... well, whoever was doing this. "A child was taken, his apprentice. I... I'm afraid this is all my fault. But we're going to fix this. Come with us," Rii insisted, and Ozzy gave a firm nod as the three headed off again. Ozzy had looked resolved when they'd started off, but as they neared the amphitheater her face paled.
"Are you sure it's... that they're... here?" she finally asked in confusion, stopping as they came to stand before the front doors. It looked rather empty on the outside.
"Yes... why?"
"Because I was supposed to come here this morning for a rehearsal. The big Festival of Time performance is happening here tonight and all the performers, myself included, were told to come here to rehearse the whole thing for the entire day. They're already supposed to be in there. Why would they tell you to come here to retrieve your kid?"
Rii narrowed her eyes, shaking her head slowly as she looked over at Argoth. "I know crowds are sometimes used as the hostage, but they already have Maximus and her uncle so... why the extra people if they already have leverage?"
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Oct 6, 2013 1:10:28 GMT -6
Argoth's game face became more extreme when the fiddler had told them of her uncles capture. This was not good. Max could take care of himself in this situation, even without the assistance of his demon. But now that there was a civilian involved he knew that whoever had taken them meant serious business. They were professionals. If that was indeed the case, this was going to be a hell of a lot more difficult.
"They are using the crowd as camouflage. If there is more than just two of them then they would have the first two do the deal while the rest hide in the crowd, ready to strike if the deal goes south. Its a great ambushing technique if you know how to use it. We don't know how many could be in there or who could be on their side. We need to approach this with extreme caution. If I'm lucky I might be able to spot a few in the crowd but the chances are slim. They could also be using the crowd to control any fight that might break out in case of the deal going bad. Nobody would dare start killing each other in the amphitheater during the Festival of time, the guards would be all over it in seconds. It allows for them to cut their losses quickly and get out before any attention is drawn to them."
As Argoth explained all this he realized it was very likely that he could be wrong. "Or I could be wrong, and I have no idea what we are walking into. Let's hope I'm right." He said with a sigh. And then he pushed open the door and headed inside.
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Post by Rii/Thell on Oct 6, 2013 11:05:08 GMT -6
Upon entering they were greeted by an entrance hall, currently empty for the most part with booths meant to sell tickets and empty tents where food and souvenir vendors would likely set up shop once the event was underway. Staff members dressed in blue and white striped tunics and matching white trousers tucked into black boots were hurrying about in clumps as senior workers taught the newbies the ropes of serving the guests who had come for the festival. One woman with a pinched nose was tracing something on a piece of parchment with her finger. In purple, she was one of four people in the room wearing the color, and appeared more important than the ten people in blue that were rushing through the hall.
Spying the fiddle in Ozzy's hand, the woman appeared. "Ozristes, you are late," she greeted sternly.
Ozzy narrowed her eyes. "Well excuse me, Madame Weslow, but my uncle is-"
"Oh one of the workers already told me about your uncle. He's being taken to a medic in the east end of town. If he's not fixed and back by the performance we're decreasing your stage time. No drummer, no extra minutes," the woman informed her. Ozzy's eyes were slits by this point. So that's how they're covering his disappearance. Then Madame Weslow turned to Rii and Argoth. "As for you two, I know you're here as guests of our flute player but he has asked that you wait with his sister in the back near the entrance to the kitchens while he runs an errand before his rehearsal. The arena is that way. I expect you'll make up for your tardiness, Ozristes."
Ozzy was quick to turn on her heel and head for the arena, fuming as she lead Argoth and Rii into the actual theater area. Families of the performers were scattered throughout the rows of seats inclining upward. Jugglers and magicians and fire breathers dominated the large arena and numerous stages set up throughout with assistants running around carrying props and costumes.
"How can you not be angry?" Ozzy asked after glancing over at Rii, who had rather empty eyes as she directed them to the kitchens.
Rii didn't say anything as they kept walking.
"How can you be so-"
"I'm not calm, miss musician, if that is what you were wondering. Misguided these people are, but they should not have touched Maximus." Rii's voice was cool, regretful, but obviously displeased.
Ozzy furrowed her brows at the zora before turning to look where she was going. She froze then at the sight of a woman with a colorful mask covering her eyes and nose, in a white dress and pale gold corset near the kitchens.
"Don't you have a tune to play in the ensemble section?" the woman asked, pointing to a corner in the opposite of the arena.
"You have my-"
"Of course, but you do not have what we want."
With a huff Ozzy turned on her heel, continuously casting a glance over her shoulder as she stomped off to a corner of the room and halfheartedly put her fiddle on her shoulder. Rii watched her go before turning to the woman. "Maximus," she asked in an almost dreamy voice.
"Asleep under lock in key, a key which I'll give you if you meet our terms," the woman explained, tapping the ground beneath her. Several areas in the arena floor had random square shaped barred windows where you could see a dungeon below that held exotic animals for performances and competitions. Rii realized Maximus was likely kept there, and as she strained to listen carefully, a faint melodic flute song floated up through the bars.
"What terms?" she asked as she straightened.
The woman smiled, peering at Rii through her mask as she stood with a flourish. "Just one, really. You have something inside you that we want. Now we won't be as barbaric as the lower mercs we hired out to that old kingdom of your's. We don't want to kidnap you, simply exchange. Extracting the magic should be easy done correctly," she explained. "Does this sound fair and simple?" The woman glanced over at Argoth as well, checking to make sure she had the attention of both of them.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Oct 7, 2013 21:24:19 GMT -6
Argoth glared at the woman. She had no idea what she had in that cage. Not only was Max a ticking time bomb, but he meant more to Argoth than anything in the world. If anything had happened to him, unlikely though it was, he would not hesitate to destroy this woman. They were in a bind, however. There was no way to rescue Max or the fiddler's drummer without conceding to their terms. If Argoth tried to fight, the guards would be all over him. He may be able to use his status as a member of AoH to deter any punishment that would befall him, as the Assassins of Hyrule are on great terms with the king and queen, but even then there may be other members of this mercenary group out there. If he tried to take them, he would risk not only his own life, but Rii's and the fiddler's.
There has to be something I can do.. he thought furiously.
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Post by Rii/Thell on Oct 8, 2013 19:27:32 GMT -6
The woman appeared to be rather pleased at Argoth's frustrated silence and offered a toothy grin. "Wonderful. I'm glad we all agree. Now, please do watch the performance. I'm sure you'll find it... entertaining. You, my scaled lovely, come with me. All my tools are set up in a a nearby room. I'm sure you'll feel exhausted afterwards so Leon, do have a key ready to give to Handsome here once Scales returns. Then they can go find their young one," the woman explained with extravagant waves of her hands. Whoever this 'Leon' was, at first glance it appeared to be no one in particular. But perhaps if one was looking he or she might have spotted a fire breather who's hazel eyes flickered over to the masked woman. Then again, the same could be said of his acrobatic male partner who was balancing on a tight rope by his hands, as well as the man juggling several machetes.
Rii glanced over at Argoth then back at the woman. "Another term?" she muttered warily.
"You're catching on. Now don't worry, the terms don't matter because you'll be doing the same thing either way. I'll be quick," the woman assured her happily before wrapping an arm around Rii's waist and guiding her away. They just needed to ensure that a threat to their plan was kept confined. If it was under the title 'another term' so be it. "And please don't try to leave this room, sir. Leon gets nervous when his charges are out of his sight." And then the woman was escorting Rii out of the large room into a narrow stone hallway, eying doors as she shoved Rii forward to walk in front of her. Door with the carving of the moblin face, sweetheart."
"Oh he looks quite fearsome," Rii admired.
"You're very calm about this."
"Similar things have happened. I regret that this time people I love are in danger as well, but as you want this magic that I don't wish to possess, there's no reason for me to concerned," Rii explained as she opened the door and pranced inside.
Beneath the arena, two guards eyed a cage warily. "We're not giving him back, are we?" one asked.
"Depends. If the magic from the zora will allow us to control whatever is inside him, of course not. If not, Revel plays his flute, we slit his throat, and they can have the corpse," the second explained, twirling his sword while glancing over at Revel, a frail young man in the corner leaning against a cage with a magicked flute pressed to his lips. Occasionally his notes became airy, as if he was about to fall asleep. Since the night before he'd been playing nonstop to keep the child within the cage asleep. But how long could he last? There was no other flute player.
Back in Rii's room, the woman hummed as she pranced in after her and shut the door. "Wonderful. Then this won't take long. Now, I only have enough ingredients to make this potion once, and it expires in exactly one minute. It's a lot of work to draw out all the magic in the body," the masked girl explained as she danced happily throughout the room, grabbing herbs and what not to mix the drink.
Rii eyed each thing carefully. What sort of drink was this? The voices in her head had heard of very few potions that could draw out magic, but all of it? Entirely?
It occurred to her that, along with the Twili magic she supposedly had within her, this potion could potentially take something else away from her.
Zast. Female. Hylian. 34.
What of the voices in her head?
"Ah, here it is! Quick, quick, quick, drink, drink, drink." But as the goblet was thrust into her webbed hands, Rii was suddenly dreading this trade. She was going to give it up. If her voices had to go, they would go, because Maximus and Argoth were on the line. But she simply wanted to know, know if she needed to say good-bye to them. "Fish woman, seconds remain for your drink and your friends."
There was no time, she realized before she recklessly swallowed the rich purple liquid. She did not fear the unfamiliar. Why should she start now? For a moment she waited, eyes closed and lips parted against the empty goblet. It was silent except for the beginnings of the woman, Zast's, cheers of approval. "Wonderful. We were worried about leaving this raw source of magic here. After all, the lower mercs and that northern kingdom are after you. Magic works in strange ways. What if more formed after we took what you already had? Ah, but you drank the potion. Problem solved." Now what? How did it feel to have the magic leav-
Suddenly she arched her back, collapsing to the floor and convulsing as the goblet fell to the floor with a clatter. The room began to spin, and she inhaled sharply, sounding almost possessed as she threw her head against the cold stone ground. More pain. She was definitely bleeding. Zast's words were fading into the background. She caught bits and pieces, but she was still trying to process what the woman had said.
She was going to die. That's what Zast meant. For fear of more magic appearing that the kingdom could get their hands on, Zast was going to kill her. The magic could be gathered afterwards, never to appear again without a living body to fuel it. And Rii would be dead.
Daggers seemed to force their way up her spine and it felt as if fire was eating away at her fins and her dolphin tail. Lightning was springing from her head. She screamed, trying to scream a name. Argoth. But whether or not the name came out was a mystery to her.
The zora's heartbeat stopped.
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Oct 9, 2013 19:50:55 GMT -6
Argoth surveyed Leon and the other potential threats that were in the room. He had caught on to what Rii had, noticing the acrobat and juggler. An intense feeling in the pit of his stomach began to tell him that something was very wrong with this "simple" exchange. As the woman began to take Rii, Argoth moved forward, "Rii, wait." But Leon moved in front of him to cut him off, and by that time his new found lover was already gone. Anxiety like he had never experienced before began to manifest in his chest. He didn't like this. Not one bit. Argoth grabbed Leon forcefully grabbed Leon by the collar and drew him in close. Their noses were practically touching. There was no fear in Leon's eyes when Argoth latched onto him and the assassin took note.
"If any harm should befall that girl," His tone was so resolute that he didn't even need to finish his threat. His face said it all, and for a split second Argoth could see fear in Leon's eyes. And in that split second Leon knew just how dangerous Argoth really was. The passion behind Argoth's eyes was undeniable. He cared for Rii enough to die for her, and Leon caught a glimpse of just how horrifying things could turn out for him if anything should happen to her. It was gone within a fraction of a second, however, and Leon immediately retorted.
"You'll what? Kill me?"
Argoth let go of him and noticed that behind him the acrobat and juggler had stopped practicing. They were both facing the confrontation Argoth had started with Leon, ready to jump in if the situation escalated.
"Exactly."
Leon backed away from the assassin and stood in front of the doorway. He crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall while staring at Argoth with a disgusted look.
Argoth sucked in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds. If he didn't know if Rii was going to be alright then the anxiety might kill him before the performers did. He exhaled while closing his eyes, trying to stifle the macabre thoughts that were swirling around in his head.
And then he heard it. His name was being called out by Rii but not in any way he would have like to hear it. That cry told of pain, suffering, and fear. The horrible feeling in his gut was now confirmed and Argoth wanted than to be immediately at her side. His mind instantaneously shifted into overdrive, focusing so hard it was almost an out of body experience. Heart rate now doubled, motor skills and reflexes at their peak, and all pain from previously sustained injuries blocked, Argoth was ready for his fight with Leon and the others.
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Max's eyes snapped open--pure white and menacing. An inhuman chuckle of the lowest decibel escaped the boys lungs and he began to slowly move to his feet. As he reached them his maniacal laugh became noticeably louder, and Demon Max could easily smell the fear that started to permeate the room. He inhaled sharply and then held it for a second. As he exhaled he began to speak.
"Ahhhh, it's good to be back."
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Argoth rushed Leon so fast not even the wind had time to move out of his way. The fire breather tried to react as best he could with his high end professional skills but they were not ready for such an abrupt assault. Argoth slammed a knee into Leon's gut forcing him to double over it. Just as quick as he had hit Leon with his knee, Argoth beamed a fist for the side of his face. It was a direct hit and Leon tumbled off to the right, directly in front of the doorway to Rii.
Argoth whipped around in time to dodge two machetes that were aimed for his chest, but not in time to dodge the flying kick directed at his face from the acrobat. He took it full force and stumbled off to the side a bit. Afterward he felt the acrobat continue to beat on him. A two punches to the ribs nearly cracked a few and several more landed in the area of where he was stabbed earlier. Pain tried to overload his brain but Argoth would not let his resolve weaken. Adrenaline pumping through his system instantly worked to curb the pain that flared up from the attack, relieving him of trying to fight it off mentally.
He retaliated with brutal force and the acrobat was dead before he knew it. Argoth caught a fist intended for his cheek and swatted the other away that was aimed for his gut. He could see the machete juggler sprinting for him behind the acrobat and the fire breather was beginning to recuperate from his beating. I have to make this quick, he thought. Argoth twisted the acrobats arm so it was out of his way and unleashed a fist onto his opponents face. The acrobat was seeing stars after how hard the assassin had struck him. Blood spurted from the acrobat's mouth and for a moment Argoth felt as if time had slowed. While his opponent was temporarily dazed he twisted his arm again, but this time so the elbow joint was facing upward. With his left forearm Argoth snapped the acrobat's arm at the joint. A cry attempted to escape the acrobat's lips but Argoth immediately silenced him by smashing his right fist into his jaw, effectively dislocating it, and his left fist into his trachea, effectively collapsing it. Suffocating and in immense pain the performer had no time to defend against his impending death, which was a knife to the chest. After Argoth slammed his last knife into the acrobat's sternum he drove a foot into the exact spot; both sending the acrobat flying into juggler and sending the knife so far into his chest that the blade protruded out his spine.
The juggler evaded his now dead companion and barreled into Argoth; shoulder to chest. The two of them collided with the wall behind Argoth, his back taking the full force of the collision. All the air purged itself from his lungs and Argoth struggled for breath as he witnessed the juggler whirl his last machete around to a downward grip and send it straight for his heart. Rii's face flashed before Argoth's eyes and the focus he had maintained thus far flared once again. He raised an arm to catch the falling blade but the juggler countered by pressing his other hand to Argoth's throat. Now he was being choked before he even had the chance to catch his breath. Argoth's strength began to fade and the blade slowly descended into his chest. Luckily Argoth was able to divert its course and it began to enter his upper left shoulder. Gritting his teeth and fighting off the pain, Argoth kneed the juggler in the groin so hard his testicles entered the back of his throat. Before he could even keel over Argoth struck him in the face repeatedly with his unoccupied hand. One after the other after the other slammed into the juggler's face until he had backed up enough to where Argoth was no longer against the wall. With a face now hardly recognizable the juggler's grip on the machete faded as consciousness began to leave him. Argoth instantly capitalized on this and smacked the machete from the juggler's grasp. Dazed but not out, the juggler attempted to fight back, whirling a fist at Argoth's face. Argoth blocked the juggler's weak punch and answered with an uppercut. The juggler reeled backward and Argoth moved in for the kill.
However, before Argoth could obtain the satisfaction a magnificent whooshing sound followed by the ignition of flame resonated through the air. The fire breather, Argoth thought, and as he charged the juggler he adjusted his plan of death. Instead of crushing his windpipe and forcing him to suffocate as was originally planned, Argoth drew his left arm in to his body and wrapped his right arm around the semi-conscious juggler's neck; as if in a friendly hug. Using his forward momentum, Argoth swung the juggler around so that his back was to the massive fireball. Argoth had effectively used the juggler as a human shield, however, his exposed right arm was heavily burned.
He tossed away the burning juggler and faced Leon; his last opponent before reaching Rii. Or at least he thought so. There was a big black bruise on Leon's right cheekbone and by the look of it he seemed not the least bit fazed by his companion's deaths. Argoth did not care about the composure Leon had kept, all he wanted was to reach Rii. And all he saw Leon as was an obstacle. The smell of burnt hair and flesh wafted from Argoth's scorched arm but he felt no pain. The burn was so severe that it had damaged his nerves, rendering his entire forearm completely numb. Argoth wasted no time taking on Leon. All that was on his mind was the zora he had fallen for and if she was alive or dead. And that was the driving force behind Leon's death. It was quicker than the other's but not without a price. When Argoth rushed in to finish Leon he sent another wave of fire blitzing through the air at him. But what Leon did not expect was for his opponent to roll right through it. The assassin rolled fast enough through the flames to avoid any more major burns, but a rather large minor scald would appear on almost his entire back. And this time Argoth would feel it. When he finished rolling through Leon's fire he popped up and delivered a jaw breaking uppercut to the fire breather. However, Leon was cunning and no amateur. He adjusted his plan of attack when Argoth rolled through the flames and while he took the full force of the uppercut he jammed a small dagger in between Argoth's lower ribs. Intense pain was what Argoth would have been feeling had he not blocked it from his mind to finish Leon. While Leon stumbled backward from the first blow Argoth bounded forward. One more punch sent Leon twirling and Argoth caught him in a headlock while his back faced him. Without so much as a second thought the assassin snapped Leon's neck in half. The sound was so loud and forceful that it resounded throughout the entire amphitheater, which, by this time, was in utter pandemonium. Leon's body now lifeless body went completely limp and Argoth let it drop to the floor with a thud.
Wasting no time, Argoth sprinted for the door. When he rounded the corner he saw two mediocre looking guards standing by what he presumed was the door Rii had entered. He removed the dagger from his ribs and whipped it as hard as he could at the first guard. Neither of them had noticed his existence until it was too late. The dagger caught the poor bastard in the forehead just as he turned to see Argoth running straight at them. He collapsed instantly and the second guard had a bewildered look in his face before Argoth smashed it in. Now that both men were down Argoth kicked the door in with so much force it burst off its hinges.
A panic like no other had taken hold of Argoth when he saw....Rii?
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Post by Rii/Thell on Oct 9, 2013 22:34:01 GMT -6
Perhaps Argoth had expected to see a dying Rii when he broke down the door. But instead there was a human girl splayed across the cool floor. Her golden hair was wavy and shoulder length, similar to Rii’s fins, and she was shaped and sized almost exactly like the zora, minus the fins and the dolphin tail that once came out of the back of her skull. Rii’s clothes were on the girl, though too loose on her slightly slimmer, scale-less frame. The mystery human shifted slightly, the sound of a deep inhale escaping her as she rolled to face away from Argoth. The back of her hair was slightly bloody and her golden locks matted and pressed to the back of her skull. Rii wavered on the brink of consciousness. She wanted to wake up. More importantly, she had to wake up, if she could.
Agonizingly slow in the motion, her eyelids fluttered, revealing her green eyes as she rolled to her opposite side to face the doorway. She was greeted with blurred shapes and an overwhelming amount of colors. Was she truly alive? Things went in and out of focus for a moment before she realized she was staring at Argoth’s silhouette in the doorway. The sudden strengthening of her heartbeat pounding against her chest when she saw him was enough proof for her. It had only been seconds and she had missed Argoth. Whatever she had swallowed, it wasn’t meant to kill her.
“Argoth,” she whispered.
Then she felt the dull ache of warm blood against the back of her head. It was likely from when she hit her head after drinking the liquid. But wait… her dolphin fin should’ve hurt, not her actual head… and her blood was most certainly not supposed to be warm. I'm human.
It wasn’t a question. She hadn’t even looked at any part of herself and she knew it was true, knew it in the way her blood swelled from the wound in her head, warm and slick, in the way the back of her skull pressed against the cold cave floor and the golden tresses of her hair caressed her face just outside the corners of her vision.
But she had to hope her head injury was just a scrape, for Argoth's sake, as her green eyes took him in. "Argoth," she said louder this time, hurriedly pushing herself off the ground. A sharp ache started in her arms and spread throughout her limbs, so familiar and yet so wrong. Her body had yet to comprehend what her brain had. She wasn't quite herself. Not anymore. But she wouldn't be herself for certain if Argoth stayed the way he did, and with that in mind Rii shot up to her feet, her mind noting she was slightly taller now, if only by an inch or two. "Argoth." Rii repeated his name in hopes of keeping him on his feet until she got there to catch his fall. She could see him wavering on his feet. The Leon Zast had spoken must have been true to Zast's word, as had the other performers she'd noted to be different from the rest. Argoth had obviously left the arena, and his body had paid the price. "Argoth." She ached all over as her muscles flexed against the weird, warm flesh that she was now composed of, her voice didn't quite understand this new throat, and her lungs were panicking because there were no more gills. Just one way of intaking oxygen. That was it. But she had to talk anyway, just so that Argoth didn't collapse against the cold stone. If she put her mind to it she could catch him without crumbling herself, and so Rii made her way to him in a matter of seconds, gingerly wrapping her arms around his torso and waiting for the moment when he went limp.
The guards stiffened as the boy awoke. "Flute boy," one attempted to growl, though his voice was shaky as the small child began to maniacally laugh. "Your magical stick is having an issue."
And then the second guard realized the true problem. The flutist had fallen asleep, though the laughter woke him up instantly, and his bloodshot eyes widened in terror as he scrambled and whirled to face whatever demon had awoken in its cage.
Lacking any sort of magical presence to wake him, Ozzy's uncle slept on without the assistance of the magicked flute in his cage further down, in the shadows of the dungeons below the arena.
"Shit. Is this the dark magic... from before?" the second guard finally asked as he nervously glanced at the boy who was now talking.
"It's fine. He's a kid. We'll slit his throat," the first assured him.
"Back. Good to be back, he said. Like he's some sort of... monster."
"Monsters die just like humans, kid," the first guard insisted with an adjustment of his sword in his hand.
The flutist was trembling as he stood up and promptly fell over, scrabbling backwards on the ground away from the cage. "But Zast said not to kill him," he finally stammered.
"If you're so worried about Zast, you get your flute to work again, boy. Otherwise I'm gonna kill him."
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Post by Argoth/Maximus on Oct 9, 2013 23:05:10 GMT -6
Demon Max looked over at the second guard.
"Hm hm, you wish it was dark magic." His voice was a low growl that dripped of evil. Just like the smile that had appeared on his face while he spoke to the second guard.
Then the first guard spoke of slitting his throat. Demon Max laughed yet again, harder this time.
"Well then go right ahead," he taunted the first guard, tilting his head to the side to expose his throat.
At first Argoth was utterly perplexed at who he was looking at. "Rii?" He questioned aloud to himself. This could not be Rii, she was a zora. There was no possible way for her to turn human...was there? Then she said his name. It is Rii..
She said his name several more times while she got to her feet. "Is that blood?" Argoth was about to protest her attending to him before herself but all of a sudden his vision began to blur. His muscles started felt weak and the most unfathomable pain flared up all across his body. Dizziness and nausea set in next and it was all he could do to stand. When Rii, whom he had barely a chance to notice yet, wrapped her arms around him he attempted to return it but just couldn't. The pain was just too great. He had blocked it out for so long that it was now catching up to him, and worse than it would have been had he not done so. "Thank the goddesses you're alright." Was the last thing he said before he began to convulse. All of his muscles seemed to be contracting and relaxing at once. It appeared to be a seizure but a healer of Rii's skill would know better. His body was going into shock from the beating he had taken. It was too much for his body to handle. Argoth knew Rii was holding him but that was about all he knew. His mind was beginning to drift into the unconscious. He fell to one knee and then the floor.
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