A Thorn's Bloom

[Rosalinde]

He could be proud of how her plans had begun to come to fruition, if he thought he could trust them. Even then as he stood before the refurbished edifice of the Asylum, doubts as to her loyalty crept through his mind. She had it in her to betray him, if it suited her purpose, and she had it in her to kill. And yet even now she remained true to the culture and history of their people, observing their most honored practices and even--in both the subtle intricacies of the Villa's architecture and the methodology by which it was constructed--a nod to the spiritual traditions that had lingered even through the Long Night. Deadly, intelligent, educated, culturally pure. He was so proud.

The purpose of the Asylum of course, as it was to be stated to the public, was inscribed upon the plaque below the leftmost of the two manticore statues that now flanked the great double doors. 'For the Study and Treatment of Mental Oddities and Ailments' and upon the other plaque, beneath the right statue, 'Thornsbloom Asylum and Convalescencehouse'. Such prosaic intentions at once both stated and masked the true purpose of the Asylum, at least so much of it as the necromancer was able to glean.

He was, for instance, well aware of the procurement of the writings of a certain Physic and Chirurgeon Darrius Amadeus Soulwrite. Formerly his own physician, the fellow had gone quite mad while studying certain cults whose beleifs pertained to the nature of the divide between the Homeland and the rest of the myriad realms of existance. Brilliant but unrepentantly twisted, his works had contained a variety of insights on strange and unusual (and most certainly unnecessary) surgical procedures especially many sorts of vivisection. Also among his studies had been an intense interest into the workings of the mind, both the health thereof and the more peculiar preternatural abilities of some people, including himself.

It was this last, no doubt, that had attracted the magi's daughter to Soulwrite's works, a suspicion which was doubly confirmed when one was to take into accounting the whole of the subterranean constructions beneath the building. There would be people helped, indeed. There would be studies made and perhaps even advances in the knowledge of the human condition. But there would also be terrifying things done, and probes made into psychic and ancestral memories that would likely best be left untouched. Screams and chains would complement peace and healing. And before the end fears would be made to walk and wander, he had no doubt of it.

A twig was let loose from his hand to drop upon the white gravel path, and upon one dragonskin bootheel he turned. The black clad magi wandered away then, leaving his daughter's little project behind him, out of sight, but not out of mind. He would definitely keep a watch on this development.

[Aeri`]

Agrippinilla had dragged the fellow back to the asylum during the dead of night, tied and shackled across the back of her nightmare. He'd no doubt get a bit singed before they are trotting up toward the manticore statues that flank the doors.

The lord was paralized and slung over the beast like a sack of potatoes. He moved not, sav his dark eyes showed much emotion. He plotted to kill the elf and the others once he was free.

Agrippinilla dismounts, spurs ringing. She reaches to grab him and haul him off the nightmare, her form strong enough for a woman. She heaves him over her shoulders, and moves to carry him inside, nudging the doors open. She would carry him through the darkened halls toward those ominous stairs down.

His long dark locks unbound and drags along the ground as she carrys him over her shoulders. Again only his eyes stare off and attempts to figure out where he was. Soon enough his son and the others would find him, then revenge would be theres.

Agrippinilla walks down the corridor, the hall is lined with dark cell doors, each one barred and reinforced to keep whatever is inside... in. She carries him past them all, into an especially large cell, where she moves to fasten his wrists and ankles spread to a wall.

His form still paralized for the moment. Every muscle felt like stone. Dark eyes peered through long dark tossed locks at her. If he was able, he would scream out at her. Wrists and ankles would flex as well if able. A rumbling growl seemed to be heard but nothing more.

Agrippinilla only removes her mask once she's got him secured, revealing her youthful, not altogether unattractive freckled features. She then tucks the mask away and moves to the wall, where a hook is set high near the cell door. She hangs her duster from the hook, as well as her swords, before drawing a pouch of gold powder out with her gloved hands. She walks back to him then, reaching to sprinkle the gold powder over him, it would in effect unparalyze him by soaking the magick from his limbs.

His arms and legs flexed and a low growl made. He eyes her for a moment and attempts to shake the long locks out of his vision. Hands form into fists. You would be well to let me go.

Agrippinilla smiles darkly "Oh? Why? I don't believe we have even met hmm? Is that a proper way to introduce yourself to a lady?" Her voice is a sultry ruin, exposed to long hours of smoke and fume. She crosses her arms under her chest, watching his eyes.

Lord Travilere chuckled darkly. "My appologizes m'lady. I am Lord Stephan Travilere. The lord of Travilere Estates and manor. Surely you heard of me? Now be a good girl and release me, hrm? I've got business to attend to." One elf came to mind.

Agrippinilla smirks "I've not heard of you, as you have likely not heard of me... I am Agrippinilla Aelera Anterrica-Tivaurus, Daughter to the former Imperator Ravynetti Tivaurd of the Imperial Republic of Laspas on Sueth, and the late Imperatrix Aelera Anterrica, Witch of the North Wood. Now, we are going to have some discussions here, I will ask you questions, and you will answer them. Does that sound good?"

His brows furrow and give her a dark look. "Wench! You will listen and now! Release me at once. I don't care who you are. You will die like the rest!"

Agrippinilla sighs and shakes her head, walking back to where her leather duster hangs, hips swaying exaggeratedly with each step. She hums to herself as she goes, some sort of barroom song. She draws some items from the duster's pockets, a set of six iron spikes, some knives, a pair of clamps, and sets them all aside. Finally she comes up with a sledgehammer, and hefts it from palm to palm.

He was busy struggling against the shackles and attempting to free himself. Dark eyes would look up and an arrogant brow raised. "Well, wench..what do you think you are going to do with that?"

Agrippinilla turns to walk back to him and smiles sweetly. She leans close, such that her curvy form is less than a handwidth from his. "Let us go over some.. basic concepts here. You are only alive by my mercy. If I wish to I can dispose of you without question. You may not call me wench, only a select few are allowed to and you are not one of them. Now, I need you to understand that it isn't important to me whether you answer my questions or not. I Enjoy this either way."

He lofts an arrogant brow again, then bursts out laughing. She amuzed him. "Very well m'lady. Release me so I may bow properly?" He took her for a fool and a dark smirk was made. Her words not heeded.

Agrippinilla shakes her head. "I don't think so. Now, our first question. Why are you so interested in my father's elf...? Is it just her looks? Or is it something deeper?"

A grin curls upon his lips. "And why do you wish to know? Jealous are we?" His humor retured as he bursts out laughing. Fists clench again as he attempts to free himself from the shackles.

Agrippinilla shakes her hand and brings the hammer down in a double handed swing, toward his let wrist, just short of the shackle that binds it.

Dark eyes widen as the pain registers and he bellows out with a scream. You *****! His teeth clench and screams again from the pain. Spittle forming around his lips and he snarls at her.

Agrippinilla dangles the hammer before his face. "Do you know how many bones are in the human body?" She asks with a sweet smile.

He heaves as nostrols flair. Dark gaze peers at her through tossed locks. His good hand attempting to slip out of the shackle with no chance of doing so. A low growl made. "Yes. I know and why don't you put that done like a good girl? Hrm..I'll forgive you for this. The elf is nothing more than a slave to me. She'll be passed on to my son and the others once I'm done with her." He knew she had the advantage upon him for now, but once free....oh the girl would pay.

Agrippinilla shakes her head and sighs, "Tell me about your son, I am certain he's more... interesting than you anyway." she tosses the hammer up, and catches it on the downswing.

He eyes her for a moment and looks over her form. A malice grin seen dispite the pain his wrist was giving him. A teasing look made. "Well m'lady, if you wished to bed with Lucius, then you should of said such. I'm sure he would be most accomidating." He gave her a wide grin.

Agrippinilla sighs wearily, as if talking to a dull young child, "Just... tell me about him. Where he can be found, what he does... that sort of thing." She carefully begins to select a pair of spikes.

He does not notice the spikes at first and dark laughter heard. "My..my..you do lust after him, don't you? He's a hard one to catch m'lady. He has a whore in ever town that I know of. Perhaps try me instead..hrm? I am more..selective." Again he gives her a wicked grin and a wink to boot. His hand numb from the pain.

Agrippinilla looks over her shoulder and smiles, keeping the spikes hidden. She shakes her hips and rear at him as she speaks. "Think he'd like me? Tell me who else is in your organization, that might come after the elf..."

His eyes would widen and then he peered at her, wondering what kind of game the girl was playing. He heard of ones like her. A grin slowling curls upon his lips. I am sure he would, for I think I would have you first. Her other questions ignored.

Agrippinilla turns to walk back to him, holding the spikes. "Answer my other questions and you might get a taste."

The smirk upon his lips changed to a frown quickly. He eyes the spikes then rises dark hues to hers. A slight smirk made. He cared not to test this one, but perhaps she wanted to play? Why not just release me and we can discuss this further. My son is not as experianced as I am.

The smirk upon his lips changed to a frown quickly. He eyes the spikes then rises dark hues to hers. A slight smirk made. He cared not to test this one, but perhaps she wanted to play? "Why not just release me and we can discuss this further. My son is not as experianced as I am."

Agrippinilla looks to his eyes. "Answer my question or I will hurt you some more." And that's all she says, simply standing there.

He was unsure if she was bluffing or not. Tongue tip slipped out to lick dry cracked lips. Ease up lass, my son is unimportant right now. I think you and I however can make a deal, hrm?

Agrippinilla eyes him. "Name it..." She holds the spikes in one hand, stroking the hand that she hadn't broken the wrist to with her other, as if picking a spot to spike.

He lips twitch slightly, yet eyes the spike and the hammer. Spittle was swallowed. "Let me go like a good girl, and we forget this ever happened? You give me the elf and I'll be out of your hair..unless you wish to join us? Brows waggle at her.

Agrippinilla smiles. "she is lucious isn't she.." And then she raises the spike, putting the slightly dulled point against his palm. She raises the hammer. "wonder if you will be able to use your sword right without palms..."

His eyes widen and he struggles in the shackles. A sneer made. "You drive a hard bargain, m'lady. His sword was his life and he could not allow her to take that away from him, or anything. Again he eyes her. What do you want from me?"

"The name and location that your son operates from, and the names and locations of your associates. If you tell me these I may be good and let you live."

------------------{Continued}------------------------

[Aeri`]

A brow lofts and he chuckles weakly. Her game getting old but far too dangerous for him. Best to fool the witch and get out while he could. "My son will obey me, however the rest I am not sure of. Those you can have. Let me deal with my son in my own way?" His son a disappointment in everyway. A soft sigh given. "He's an only child and rather spoiled. Twas him that really wanted the elf, till I seen her..."

Agrippinilla raises the hammer again. "That's not what my terms are. I fail to understand how you can be so hard of hearing, really..." Her leathers creak as she brings the hammer down toward the head of the spike, ready to stop at the first sign that he flinches.

Panic felt and he was not ready for more pain. Teeth clench and screams out. "NO!" He whimpers and lips curl into a frown. "Not the hand..I'll tell you what you wish..just not the hand."

Agrippinilla stops JUST as the hammer contacts the head, her well built form moving the hammer away smoothly. "Talk then..." She smiles sweetly, drawing hammer and spike away.

Dark eyes glare at her and his mouth twists into a snarl. "The ten that are within the Order have no names. You will find them however with the same tatoo as I wear." He unfolds his good clenched hand to reveal a five pointed star in green ink placed upon his palm.

Agrippinilla smiles "are they local, do they have a meeting place?"

He clenches his jaw.

"They are..business associates... What they do on their free time is not my control..however they meet at the Estate at times."

Agrippinilla places her hand on his chest, leaning to whisper to his ear, "At set times? Tell me more?"

He did not lie, but did not reveal all either.
Cleaver wench she was. He did not trust her however. She reminded him of his first wife. Coniving witch, that one. A curl upon his lips made however. "They meet..at the stroke of 12..daily." Ha, he told the truth, but not. It was more like the stroke of 12..midnight.

Agrippinilla smiles sweetly and nods, "Good boy, And where is your estate?" She looks to him with a wetting of her lips, spinning those spikes around her free hand.

Again the tip of his tongue licks dry, cracked lips. Dark eyes look into hers. Planing on joining me for dinner then, m'lady?* Agrippinilla teases the nails of her right hand down his chest "Yes, maybe... tell me where it is, I think it is in your best interest, now we understand one another."

He looks down at the long and perhaps lethal looking nails. A grin made as dark eyes look back into hers. "Promise to have dinner with me first?" Oh now perhaps he would have the winning hand? No pun inteneded of course.

Agrippinilla nods as she looks up to him "I promise. You tell me where it is and I shall."

A soft chuckle made. "You caught my interest m'lady. I'll be waiting then for our ..dinner...hopefully? The estate is not hard to miss. Follow the path past the forest and go due south. It's near the mountians edge. The estate is the largest around here." She would either enjoy a dinner with him, or she might become one of his play things. Perhaps a toss in the cell the elf shared would do this wench some good. Cocky little miss she was. His mind working overtime. He would do or say anything, to get away. Promise her the damn moon if that is what it took.

Agrippinilla smiles, then leans up to brush her lips against his cheek. "thank you."

A smirk made. "I suppose our deal is sealed them, hrm? Now be a good girl and release me?"

Agrippinilla steps away, and moves back across the cell to where her coat hangs. She begins to put the items she'd taken out away.

He blinks and eyes her. Shackles rattle and his good hand clenches again. "You are going to release, me...right?"

Agrippinilla glances back to him. "Whoever said anything about releasing you. I'll be back either tomorrow or the next day for our dinner. Rose will help you with this... fixation thing you seem to have, and I think that you might get a chance to see father's elf again, she'll most likely be the one to set that broken wrist."
Agrippinilla then turns to face him, "Anything you would prefer I wear for our dinner?"

A look of disbelief seen upon his features.
"You..promised...."

Agrippinilla smiles "And I did promise didn't I?" She shrugs the duster on, walking back toward him. "what did I promise? I promised dinner... and I promised you a taste of me, aren't you looking forward to it?"

He eyes her again and furrows his brows. Something however hits his mind and he laughs, laughs like a madman. "Oh, yes..i'm looking forward to it......"

Agrippinilla blows him a kiss, then turns to slip out, locking and barring the door behind her.