The story related... - September, 1997
Blood Red Rose, Azariel, Azrael Rai, Guido
Subject: The story related...
From: bloodrdrse@aol.com (BloodRdRse)
Date: 30 Sep 1997 12:19:32 EDT
So... who wants to hear a story? ::the question directed at the general
assemblage, while her eyes are only for Azrael, as she stands with her arms
wrapped around his waist::
::it is just the second night out since her return, and she finds herself
surrounded by friends, enjoying the "comforts" and the guttering torchlight
of Club Dead Nicholas with Azrael Rai, and Azariel, and of course, Nicholas
himself… ::
::Azariel hums quietly from his position at the bar, beginning to pour
drinks, hiding his own chuckles at a joke made some moments earlier::
A story doesn't sound like a bad idea… ::Azrael pipes up::
Well... I'll tell you what I can remember... bear in mind, though, that most
of what I know is second-hand from Baghiira... ::lowering her arms from the
embrace at last, she takes Azrael's hand and leads him towards a chair… he
curls his fingers around hers and follows closely, sliding around to drop
into the chair::
::a visitor, the only patron in the room with whom Rose is not familiar,
suddenly cocks his head at some distantly-heard sound, and then turns back::
Sorry, folks, but I have to be moving on. Enjoy the night.
<m> We always do… ::is Azariel’s reply, accompanied by a low chuckle::
It's the only time there is... ::Rose adds, with a wistful smile::
Even if, on occasion, I miss the dawn, it really is the only time… ::Azariel
returns, glancing up from behind the bar:: He'll be back. They always are.
How... very curious... ::shaking her head as she watches the door, Rose
slipping into one of the plush chairs, beside Azrael:: Well... ::lifting a
gloved fingertip:: ... funny that you should mention the dawn, because that's
where my story begins...
::Azariel carries the drinks around to them, taking a seat on the opposite
side of the table from them, giving them their space as he sets out glasses
filled with the purest crimson::
You see... ::clapping her hands together:: It all started...
::and suddenly, the room's light fades and whirls, and harp music begins to
play, as they are all magically transported back to that morning::
::Azariel smiles quietly at the perfect effect, resting a chin in his hand,
utterly still, waiting to be absorbed::
::suddenly, Dahlgen appears in an eruption of darke mist beside Azrael Rai::
Evening, m'lord... ::glances around, nodding respectfully to all::
::Azrael looks up quickly, nodding to Dahl:: Evenin', Dahl.
It had been a busy night... I was rushing about all over RhyDin... business
meetings, slaves to attend to... ::with a polite nod to Dahlgen, as she
motions him towards a seat, and then with another brief glance towards the
door:: Guido! ::her smile brightening:: Please... join us... So, as I was
saying... I got in rather late that morning... I was sure the dawn would do
me in...
::as Guido casually steps in, Azariel sips, inclining his head in greeting::
Wow.. we have a regular little party going here... ::Rose glances towards
their host with an impish grin::
::Azariel grins:: About time, really. Now everyone wave to Nicholas..
::gesturing towards where the coffin containing the previous owner should
be::
::Guido chuckles, and grins:: I'm at a loss. I know yous fellas? ::the
herculean man wading towards the few patrons::
::Azrael glances up at Guido:: Az.
Guido… ::extending a large scarred hand::
Hello Nicholas... ::blowing kisses towards the coffin, Rose glances towards
the door once more, and her smile grows ever broader, as another of the
Consortium slavers, one whom she has not yet had the pleasure of meeting
firsthand, strolls in:: Please... come in...
Nicholas, you look like death warmed over.. ::chuckles Azariel, inspiring
titters of laughter all over the room::
::on Azrael’s order, Dahlgen nods, taking a seat beside him, and Guido, with
a shrug of his massive shoulders, casually reaches around, grasping a nearby
empty chair, and sets it down, taking an easy seat::
::Rose inclines her head in greeting to everyone, that smile never missing a
beat:: I was just telling the story of my disappearance, and the daring
rescue, executed by our own intrepid Baghiira...
::Guido absently folds his massive arms over his chest, listening quietly, as
Ali arches a dark brow:: Ye don't say... I'm glad I came along...
::Azariel resumes his utter stillness, watching, and Azrael scoots a little
closer to Rose as she begins to unfold her story::
It was a very late morning... ::Rose continues, her features taking on an
expression of pure melodrama:: I was sure the dawn would catch me... I
returned to my chambers at the Consortium estate just as the sun was reaching
the front foyer... Not a rare event for me... ::reaching over to wind her
hand through Azrael's:: ...but disconcerting, nonetheless.. It was a close
call.. My usual bodyguard wasn't at the door, but I hardly had time to
question it... I simply retired to my room and made a mental note to take the fellow
to task the next evening...
::Azrael smiles as his fingers snake through Rose's, her words dancing in his
mind as he pictures, and Guido leans back in the chair, as it creaks
protestingly, getting settled for a long story::
But the next evening didn't come for me... ::an ominous shiver of harpsichord
notes travels through the room:: I dropped to sleep almost immediately that
morning... My head felt as though it were weighted with lead... Well, I
couldn't have been asleep for more than a few minutes, when I heard a
stirring from somewhere in the back of the room... But, sleep-addled as I
was, I didn't rise to investigate, just dismissed it as one of the normal
noises of the cavern... that room is full of drafts... ::with a dismissive wave of
her free hand::
And the next thing I knew, I was being lifted... I was startled awake, and I
could open my eyes, but only for a few seconds, before every muscle in my
body froze... solid... as though I were made of stone...
::Azariel mutters softly:: Dawn.
::in reply, Rose shakes her head, with a mournful smile:: Water.
::softly:: Of course.. I had forgotten.
From what Baghiira could piece together, the men who tunneled their way into
the room lifted me out on a mattress filled with the simplest of elements...
water... A clever plan, I must admit... ::shuddering with the thought:: I
could see myself being carried from the room... I could see the ceiling
overhead... But it was perplexing... They seemed to be carrying me directly
through the wall, at the back of Traevyn's old room...
::Azariel’s brows draw together in a frown, mind set rapidly in motion::
At that point, everything went black, and the rest of the tale was told to me
by Baghiira... She, you see... ::lifting that gloved fingertip:: ...had the
presence of mind to go to the Emporium, and retrieve Rudolf and Gregor...
Those are my prize Dobermans, incidentally... ::turning towards Azariel::
Ah. ::with a murmur:: Rudolf?
I have no idea how long I was there, but I gather it was several weeks...
::her attention diverted once more, she turns to Azariel with a questioning
smile:: Rudolf, yes... You see.. .clever as these thieves were, they
couldn't have counted on the dogs picking up their scent and locating the
tunnel... and in all their
confidence, they had burrowed directly from beneath the estate grounds, to
the lower chambers of the estate under which I was held...
::the sweet, melancholy trill of violins accompanies the story at this point,
breaking into her reverie and wafting through the room on angels' wings, and
Azariel frowns, settling back in his chair, his angular chin resting in one
palm::
Baghiira tells me it was quite a lovely sight... a pool, some thirty feet
across... And there were chains, suspended from the ceiling, holding a wooden
platform... And there, atop the platform, was a glass sarcophagus, hanging
just inches above the water...
Cleverly constructed. ::Azariel nods::
I'm sure you can guess what was inside the coffin... ::with a wry grin… then
her gaze grows distant, her smile wistful:: I can't imagine all the trouble
she must have had getting me out of there... She tells me that the fellow-
::before sinking once more into thought, Azariel chimes in:: Something
disturbs me, however.
Yes?
Why? Why were you taken? Why would someone go through such obvious planning
and research to abduct you, yet show such colossal foolishness?
::brow furrowing with thought for a long moment, she sighs, offering the only
explanation that comes to mind at the moment:: Overconfidence?
Perhaps.. it is, very possible.
He must not have known about the dogs...
::at that point, Dahlgen chuckles:: Per'aps they wished to be caught...
Ah.. well.. ::with another sinister chuckle, turning to Dahlgen:: If that
was their wish, then it was granted... all three of the parties involved are
now dead, I believe, thanks to Baghiira and Kallystine...
Hm.. dead? Lovely. ::Azariel chuckles low:: Then they're, as the vernacular
has it, in my house now. However.. what if.. what if someone concocted the
scheme, but entrusted its execution to others?
That is a possibility.. ::tapping her chin, as she turns to Azariel:: ..but
let me finish describing the scene just as Baghiira described it to me...
Perhaps it will begin to make more sense then... You see... she called it a
"trophy room" of sorts... the chamber was very lavishly ornamented... a
crystal chandelier in the ceiling... rather expensive tiles encircling the
pool area... We're both of the opinion that it was someone with more money
than intellect, who only wished to keep me caged, as a trophy, of sorts...
::Azariel nods:: Then there is target remaining to be dealt with.
Perhaps... perhaps... we'll have to locate the tunnel once more, and I think
that Baghiira has plans to do just that... She was in such haste to return
me to the estate that she only stayed long enough to kill the man who was
swimming in the pool at the time, whom, we presume, was the owner... of
this... this... ::shudders:: Menagerie...
::Azariel nods:: I would dearly like to aid her, then. ::he reaches over,
squeezing her hand briefly::
::returning the squeeze, and reclaiming her smile, she continues, albeit a
bit nervously:: It was clever, the way she killed him... She wove air around
him... it's this thing she does... Embracing the power of Shaidar.. or
Saidar.. or something like that... At any rate, she wrapped him up like a
Christmas gift and drowned him in his own swimming pool... ::with a breezy
chuckle::
::Azariel nods slowly, contemplating his glass for a moment::
And so... here I am... a bit shaken, but none the worse for wear, as you can
see... ::flashing that million-dollar smile and shaking her curls over her
shoulders::
::Azariel chuckles quietly:: No.. as I said, you look wonderful… Then, you
always do.. but still...
::with another whorling of harpsichord notes, the scene rights itself, and
they are all back in the present day, safe and sound, where they should be,
and Azariel waves a sardonic little hello to Nicholas once more::
::Dahlgen looks to Azrael:: If'n they are all dead, there is nothing to worry
about, correct?
If I were in thier position, I would worry a great deal. ::adds Azariel::
::Dahlgen smirks:: If'n those three are nae the ones who masterminded this,
then the true genius 'as gained a distinct advantage...
::Azariel spreads his hands, tiny flames glimmering and leaping between his
fingers:: A great, great deal.
I would dearly love to know who was behind the whole thing... ::Rose
continues on, as though it were the most natural thing in the world:: …if not
for the location at which I was kept, I would have suspected that Tareth
Thorn concocted the whole thing... The whole affair reeks of his sort of
cunning...
Tareth Thorn, m'lady? ::Dahlgen arches an eyebrow, and Azariel raises a brow
as well::
::turning towards Dahlgen, Rose offers a sly grin:: Tareth Thorn.. the
scourge of slavers' dungeons all over RhyDin...
How very droll. ::drawls Azariel::
He kidnapped my darling Imoinda right from under my very nose, I'm ashamed to
admit... It was months before she returned, and even then, it was on her own
power, not for any offer of ransom or trade on his part...
::Dahlgen fingers the collar at his throat:: Then he thinks he is a
patriot...
From what I hear, he's blown up Brutin's office twice, broken into the
Consortium more times than I can count, and even infiltrated the ABYSS
lodgings...
Lovely. ::sighs Azariel:: Remind me to kill him and stretch his entrails
from a tall tree, would you?
::stretching at long last, Rose reaches forward and retrieves a drink from
the table top, not even bothering to stop and see what it is, as she downs
the first swallow eagerly::
::Dahlgen looks to Azrael:: 'Ave ye 'ad trouble with him, m'lord?
::at that, Azrael vaguely remembers being shot by him four times, blown up
twice, and stabbed with a wooden stick once:: Hmm.. a little.
::Rose giggles, nearly spitting out some of the wine:: Oh, dear, that's
right... Tareth did quite a number on you, didn't he Azrael?
::Dahlgen’s eyes narrow:: Then we shall see if'n I cannae stop him... After
all, ye say he steals slaves, correct?
Tune in next time...
@>--->--->---
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