Pining

[Kahlan Amnell]

Light flared in front of the Other. Deep violet, ebbing, pulsing light. But there was very little power in it. It wasn't a shield, or a barrier. It was just light. A flare - not even a warning, just an announcement.

Sneaking did not become the Other, anymore than the elf-form became the demon. For now, the Other was focused away from her, and that suited her fine. She would watch, wait, assess, and listen.

But she would not be idly ignored. The demon knew she was there.

Now the Other did too.

[Marius Deshoulières]

He ignored her and her light, he was to focused on the demon. A look of wild glee flashed on his face as he leaped upon the boulder. A line appeared along his abdoman, blood oozed forth as it opened up revealing a jig saw puzzle of razor sharp teeth. Almost as quickly as he lept upon the rock the "mouth" opened and engulfed the demon's head, tearing it freely from his neck, a gyser of black blood shot forth as the twitching form fell to the ground.

The line slowly faded away as Marius lept upon the demon's body. As the light faded away he set to work on the carcass and stood as it was quickly consumed. It had happened in a heartbeat, the demon was his, his power was now one with his own. He could feel the energy surge through out his body as his eyes blazed.

Quietly they stood in the dark.

[Kahlan Amnell]

Kahlan watched impassively as the demon was destroyed.

She was still sitting on the altar, drawing the energy that kept creeping into the place. Her eyes shone in the dark, ice blue. The white boots seemed to glow in the reflected light, and the deep violet dress absorbed it, making her seem epheremal.

Eyes, Hair, Boots, and a ripple sat patiently, waiting.

When the Other finished, she was still watching impassively.

When she spoke, it was in an eerie voice that echoed off the trees, the grass - the very air. The sound seemed to be coming from everywhere. And in it, was a hint of feral, uncontrolled power - like, but not like, Chaos itself.

So quickly you end your hunt. What, praytell, would you seek now?

[Marius Deshoulières]

His eyes went out, once again as black as the emptyness that consumed him, a swirling mass ever yerning to be full and is never satisfied.

He smiled as she spoke to him, circling around, his body making absolutly no sound what so ever. He eyed her fully now, his view unobstructed as it was before.

What do I seek now? What makes you think I would reveal that to one such as yourself? What concern is it of yours what i will do once I devour your very essence?

He continued to circle

Does that idea frighten you or excite you? The thought of another being taking your body for their own, your power for thier own, exploiting every breath you have ever taken.

[Kahlan Amnell]

Kahlan remained sitting on the altar, never changing where her gaze lay, or her focus. Though her perception of the Other followed his moves closely. She would not be caught offguard - she was, after all, in her element. And this was just another battle. And this Other could not beat Him for power, control, or cruelty.

Her voice echoed against the non-existant barrier once more.

The idea does neither. You won't devour anything. If that had been your plan, you would have attempted the deed already.

With those words, Kahlan sat, impassively, unafraid. She had already taken the half-step towards away - elsewhere. And, she seemed content.

[Marius Deshoulières]

His smile faded as he stopped, his temper rising slowly.

The idea does neither. You won't devour anything. If that had been your plan, you would have attempted the deed already


What made her think she had an idea of how he worked, what hidden secret did she poses that would allow to remain so calm after what had happened to the demon. His eyes blazed once more, the trees around him starting to smoke before he regained his composure and his smile.

Would have done it already? Haha, so bold. Tell me what makes you think you have any inkling on how this works woman? Tch..the ignorant are always so annoying.

[Kahlan Amnell]

A tinkly laugh echoed across the grass, haunting, mocking.

The ice blue glow increased in intensity, as Kahlan continued drawing power that kept trickling back into the area.

You already echo with the demon's power. You absorbed the farmer and his wife within mere moments of each other. You absorb power from things that aren't life.

If you were going to devour, or absorb, you would have. What is it, that stops you? Certainly you're not...threatened.

As she spoke the last words, the glow darkened, no less intense, but turning quickly into a darker violet. She was tiring of this dance. What did this Other want with her?

[Marius Deshoulières]

What is it, that stops you? Certainly you're not...threatened.


True laughter escaped his split lips this time, echoing throught the forest, it almost sounded like some twisted chorus with the voices of his victims mingling with his own.

Threatened? By you?!

He snorted as he looked her over. He noticed what she was doing, drawing what little power to her that she could. Heh if she kept drawing power to herself that meant she could not sustaine power on her own, therefore was no intrest to himself. He turned to leave but stopped.

Tell me, what type of creature draws energy from others and doesn't sustain it? What drains you so?

damn curiosity, he should be out growing stronger himself but it was a question he wanted answered.

[Kahlan Amnell]

Instead of answering the Other's question, Kahlan stood, ever maintaining connection to the stone altar. She was many things - but stupid wasn't one of them.

But, she was getting impatient for the next move. Dancing was all well and good, but she wanted a more complicated step. And hiding her impatience was getting harder, and harder.

The wind picked up, and seemed to blow through her, shifting her form from solid ebony, to other. Dust went through her, not around, and the light, still changing to a darker color, continued to grow in power.

[Marius Deshoulières]

His brow furrowed when she failed to respond, aggrivated he levitated a rock and sent it flying though her head. He snorted when it appeared to go right through her without any result, Perhaps he should consume her to end his annoyance. In the end Marius is extremly impatient and this woman was getting on his nerves. Why the hell was she with the demon? Why didn't she speak when addressed by someone supieror. Perhaps she needed to learn her place...no.....It would be better if she was gone...no sense in taking the chance that she might attempt to avenge Nether. Yes he would consume her and go about his usual goals.


Stepping forward he levitated off the ground as a beam of light seemed to originate from his navel and shone through her form. White at first the light changed colors several times cycling through the colors of a the rainbow before turning black and widening. He had always enjoyed times like these, enjoyed the foolish attempts at a bluff, in the end he would get what he wanted, it was only a matter of time.

[Kahlan Amnell]

She ignored, completely, the rock.

When his multicolored beam of light hit her form, she laughed.

Idiot. You produce light. You bluff. And you use power to do it. You cannot become a being of real power until you learn to use it.

She took a half step, away from the altar. She finished the step behind the Other - and spun to face him. Immediately apparent was the increase in power that she held to one who could sense it.

Left where she had been standing was another of the plants - a blue lily, with purple fresia. Life where once no life could have grown.

If you intend to act, do it. My time is precious, and I tire of wasting it.

[Marius Deshoulières]

Laughter, like before mingle with countless voices echoed from somewhere as the form before her slowly faded from view. The wind picked up slightly as the branches of the trees scratched noislely against one another suddenly roots erupted from the dry earth attempting to curl about her ankles, wrists and throat. He watched from atop the tree, lets see how she handled these.

[Kahlan Amnell]

The roots reached her, and she stumbled. And then, they closed in on nothing, and she stood silently, as if she had never faltered.

Regal, calm, composed. But this Other - he was solid, as she was not.

Kahlan's smile turned feral - but she did not attack, yet.

Is that the best you've to offer? Become more than you are, or perish, in the attempt.

You've devoured the power of a demon. Does he fight you still?

[Marius Deshoulières]

His face contorted in anger, for one speaking of weakness he had yet to witness her do anything at all. She wanted more, fine. A nearby tree suddenly uprooted and landed on top of her blocking her, not taking and chances he lifted silently out of the tree as a large ball of raw energy formed in the palm of his hand. Blue in color is pulsed with power as stray bolts sheared off and flew into the surrounding trees engulfing them in flames. After allowing it to grow to his satisfaction he launched it towards the ground causing the entire forest floor to dent then explode in flames. Silently he hovered in the air awaiting to see the outcome.

[Kahlan Amnell]

She swirled up on a gust of air from under the tree, her laughter mocking her. Quite simply, she was drunk on the power she had drawn. It had been some time since she had drawn so much.

As he formed the energy, she watched, entranced at its color, and strength. The first stray bolt caught her in the arm, searing the recently healed flesh. She snarled, and the others that went her way hit a shield, where they sizzled, and extinguished.

Levitated as she was, she watched the energy ball dent the floor, and then she laughed again as she pulled the Power from the flames into her Self - replenishing and growing again what little she had used.

Floating at tree height, Kahlan didn't laugh. Rather, she stayed silent, Power warring against Power on her seared flesh, attempting to heal it again.

She did not attack back.

[Marius Deshoulières]

He floated silently as well, and watched her, a smile upon his face. He wanted her to absorb as much as she could. What could satisfy his hunger more than a being searing with his own strength, the thought of tasting his own power excited him to no end. However, his display was over. He had acted and she did nothing. He would wait until she acted, he had time. She talked a good game and mocked freely, lets see what the hell she could do.

[Kahlan Amnell]

When it became apparent that the Other was done with its show and tell, Kahlan smiled. Feral, and otherworldly.

Ebony flame seared around the circle they inhabited, hidden in the dark. It left the tang of acrid smoke in the air. But its goal was not to harm, and, in fact, it never went near the Other. It framed the pair, not allowing any inside its circle.

Cackling, babbling voices, some frightend, some angry, others mystified filled the air with noise, all talking about freedom. And, when she spoke, her voice rose above them all.

Submit. You have proven you cannot dominate.

[Marius Deshoulières]

A sneer smeared his face as he listened to her words.


Cannot dominate.

Hahaha


The other voices joined him once more as he glared at her

Hahahahahahahahahah

He soared towards the flames his eyes still on her, he gradually rolled up his sleeve, revealing a gaping hole. quietly it began to suck in the flames.

[Kahlan Amnell]

Her power, though created from this world, was based, formed, and channeled through another.

It did not form again. She seemed not to react, to the voices laughter - it was as though she couldn't hear them to begin with.

As the flames were pulled out of their circle, the voices died. She heard His voice speak to her again - left from a time long past. Do not strike. You give tell of your strength. Just as one can tell the difference between a strong, but diluted poison and a weaker one, so can one tell the difference between power held back, and the true limit of strength.

And so, she waited. Listened to the mentor that she had once held. If this Other would neither leave, nor strike to kill, it wanted something.

You laugh. But laughter does not turn truth to falsehood. Submit.

[Marius Deshoulières]

You laugh. But laughter does not turn truth to falsehood. Submit.


SHHHHHH!!!!!!

He held a dark green finger to his lips and shushed her, his dull silver teeth reflecting the flames about them. He had grown tired of the sound of her voice.

After a few moments he rolled down his sleeve, a look of grim satisfaction on his face. Ripping off his shirt he revealed his skinny form. His ribs protruted greatly as did his hips. Yet the distance between the two seemed unnatural, even wrong in proportion to the rest of his body. His skin rippled like the surface of a pond after a stone was tossed in. Then it rippled again, and again. Then a body shot out, seemingly out of his navel. The corpse was coated with a thick green slime. Its eyes were wipe open with a sick grayish hue. Its mouth was agape showing rows of dulled broken teeth. Its boney head was mostly bald save for a few strands of long black hair.

The corpse's boney arms flapped lifelessly at its sides as a ball of the same energy as before formed in its mouth, then shot out at her. Then another formed as he grew closer and shot yet another ball of energy. As the corpse got closer and closer it shot more and more rounds at her. Five more corpses then flew from his form, all the same as the first, all shooting at her.

[Kahlan Amnell]

The energy bounced from her shield, showering the area with slivers and sparks. Inside her shield in the grass, small blue forgetmenots bloomed, and died, and bloomed again.

The physical corpses were another matter. She pulled the dagger from the flesh of her upper arm and drew her hand along the blade. The hand leaving revealed, not a blade, but a coil of black flame.

Seven times the whip flashed through her shield. Seven corpses fell, and disinigrated. But still, she didn't strike the Other.

The truth lies before you. Submit.

[Marius Deshoulières]

He lounged lazily on his back circling around like he was floating on water. His arms swayed in the emptyness as his feet slowly kicked.

The truth lies before you. Submit.

He yawned, a whisp of somthing escaping his mouth like a gassy vapor

Make me

He continued to circle as if he had lost all intrest in her, hell it was like he forgot she was there.

[Kahlan Amnell]

She laughed.

You've already lost. You admit to being threatened, either from within or without. Submit.

The shield faded from view, though not existance. The coil of flame curled and uncurled lazily, still connected to the dagger handle.

As moments passed, she drew it through her fingers slowly, almost a caress.

Those you devour haven't submitted to you. They fight you still. Your control is not complete. They will win, given time.

[Marius Deshoulières]

He chuckled loudly as she spoke, surely by now she realized her words were falling on deaf ears. He continued to circle on his back as he exposed his stomach again. With a hand on each side of his navel he pierced his flesh with his long fingers and pulled it apart. From the wound a small boney figure popped up, a crazed look upon it much covered face. It was identical to the forms he had launched at her earlier yet was smaller. Shakily it looked out at her with a sneer spread accross its face. After several moments it winked, gave her the finger then disappeared back into Marius' abdoman, the wound sealing itself with a hiss as once again the air was filled with Marius' laughter.

[Kahlan Amnell]

A being couldn't not hear her words. They could be ignored, but, like Truth, they still existed.

With all the air of a noble and a high superior, Kahlan turned her back on the Other, and began to walk away. A phrase came floating back out of the darkness, of which not single word was understandable.

Twi'lek. Azi, e Quien.

A slight breeze picked up, just enough to lift her lavendar hair from her back.