Post by The Legion on Sept 9, 2012 21:04:20 GMT -6
Deni looks over the room one more time. Bed was cleaned and made with fresh linen. Fireplace was cleared and swept out, chairs freshly polished, and the coffee machine was made pristine inside and out. He nods, satisfied and closes the door behind him.
Downstairs, in the tailorshop, he had straightened and cleaned everything as well as he could , even the last of his custom orders hung on a rack, wrapped in paper and tagged with their recipients. There was nothing left to do... except the last thing.
The marten looked around and picked up the duffel he'd packed, and set it just outside the door of the tailor's. He turned and headed for the apartments. Acid built in his throat and stones settled in his stomach. He didn't want to do this, but as long as he'd be able to return, a part of him would always drag him back. He needed to do this, to insure he could never come back.
He shifted down and slipped under the door, looking into the room. Two occupants... the two he was looking for. He'd been watching, these two were the best candidates. It had to be two, one they might wonder if it was somehow warranted.
He slipped over to the hammock, where the blonde lay sleeping. Like an insect he scaled the wall, and down the support line to near her head. He reached out with his tiny hand, and touched her. Into her mind he slipped, looking through her memories, and finding one. One with her rabbit, that would do.
Mentally, he swallowed. This was his last chance to turn back.
"I'm sorry..." He whispered, and then he blew the memory open, letting it engulf her senses. The woman twitched, but nothing more. She fell into the memory, and Deni wormed his was out, back to reality before her mind clamped down like a vise, taking the bait, and never turning to the outside world again. She'd live in the memory, until she died of thirst or hunger. Her emotions flared, joy and happiness cast from her like a constant wind. It filled him, slaking his hunger, and more. He hopped down and approached the other on the floor, with her head wrapped in a web of white hair.
The small shadow felt so sick, like one would feel after ten plates at a buffet. He had to move fast, she was coming out of her trance. He crawled up, and grabbed her ear. There was no sound anyone could hear on the island, the frequency was too low. The power behind it was anything but, the pressure wave that whipped through her skull left her brain with the consistency of overcooked oatmeal. She toppled over in a heap.
The shadow got to its feet and staggered, then fell to its knees. Sobbing heaves overtook the seven inch creature, and finally a small jet of black fluid sprayed out onto the floor. It evaporated quickly, smelling of rose and sandalwood. The little monster struggles to its feet and runs.
Outside, the marten's old suit was left behind, and near the tailorshop, the shadow that was the marten shifted up, into the unnerving appearance of the three story tall dragonbug. He scoops up the duffel in one great claw, then turns to a presence he sensed.
"I'm sorry. But I had to do this. I cannot give myself an opportunity to come back." The large draconid whispers, "Don't tell anyone where I've gone... except the Admiral, but only if she understands."
Deni lifts off into the air, and doesn't look back. He'd gone to far now, he knew he couldn't look back. Maybe one day he could watch the archipelago drift past, but he would never set foot there again. His home of 56 years now. The part that stung the most wasn't giving up his place, it was that he'd not even be missed. Secretly a part of him was glad this form couldn't cry...
Downstairs, in the tailorshop, he had straightened and cleaned everything as well as he could , even the last of his custom orders hung on a rack, wrapped in paper and tagged with their recipients. There was nothing left to do... except the last thing.
The marten looked around and picked up the duffel he'd packed, and set it just outside the door of the tailor's. He turned and headed for the apartments. Acid built in his throat and stones settled in his stomach. He didn't want to do this, but as long as he'd be able to return, a part of him would always drag him back. He needed to do this, to insure he could never come back.
He shifted down and slipped under the door, looking into the room. Two occupants... the two he was looking for. He'd been watching, these two were the best candidates. It had to be two, one they might wonder if it was somehow warranted.
He slipped over to the hammock, where the blonde lay sleeping. Like an insect he scaled the wall, and down the support line to near her head. He reached out with his tiny hand, and touched her. Into her mind he slipped, looking through her memories, and finding one. One with her rabbit, that would do.
Mentally, he swallowed. This was his last chance to turn back.
"I'm sorry..." He whispered, and then he blew the memory open, letting it engulf her senses. The woman twitched, but nothing more. She fell into the memory, and Deni wormed his was out, back to reality before her mind clamped down like a vise, taking the bait, and never turning to the outside world again. She'd live in the memory, until she died of thirst or hunger. Her emotions flared, joy and happiness cast from her like a constant wind. It filled him, slaking his hunger, and more. He hopped down and approached the other on the floor, with her head wrapped in a web of white hair.
The small shadow felt so sick, like one would feel after ten plates at a buffet. He had to move fast, she was coming out of her trance. He crawled up, and grabbed her ear. There was no sound anyone could hear on the island, the frequency was too low. The power behind it was anything but, the pressure wave that whipped through her skull left her brain with the consistency of overcooked oatmeal. She toppled over in a heap.
The shadow got to its feet and staggered, then fell to its knees. Sobbing heaves overtook the seven inch creature, and finally a small jet of black fluid sprayed out onto the floor. It evaporated quickly, smelling of rose and sandalwood. The little monster struggles to its feet and runs.
Outside, the marten's old suit was left behind, and near the tailorshop, the shadow that was the marten shifted up, into the unnerving appearance of the three story tall dragonbug. He scoops up the duffel in one great claw, then turns to a presence he sensed.
"I'm sorry. But I had to do this. I cannot give myself an opportunity to come back." The large draconid whispers, "Don't tell anyone where I've gone... except the Admiral, but only if she understands."
Deni lifts off into the air, and doesn't look back. He'd gone to far now, he knew he couldn't look back. Maybe one day he could watch the archipelago drift past, but he would never set foot there again. His home of 56 years now. The part that stung the most wasn't giving up his place, it was that he'd not even be missed. Secretly a part of him was glad this form couldn't cry...