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Post by Tismri on Mar 29, 2012 0:23:29 GMT -5
Sonia listened silently as Dylan spoke, but she wasn't able to understand him. After everything that had happened, how could someone learn to forgive? She couldn't see how he could have endured torture for so long and just let that go. Her hate was what kept her going right now, causing her to relentlessly pursue the slavers, and eventually find her former master. They were all going to know the pain that they had caused her, before she killed them for it. She wouldn't be able to let go of her hatred until every last one of them had died a slow, painful death.
She took the stew Dylan offered her, eating it slowly. She was going to need the strength it provided her today. She had a feeling they were getting close to the slavers, and once they found them, she was going to take her time in dealing with them.
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Post by Max452 on Mar 29, 2012 23:56:24 GMT -5
Dylan noticed that they ate in silence after his reply, and half wondered if Sonia was mad at his opinion. He glanced at her. She didn't seem angry, more, determined. Dylan assumed she was thinking about their day and the anticipation of meeting those slavers. He glanced over to their predicted direction. Today would be the day that they would meet them. He glanced back at Sonia, hoping that she wouldn't live off of her hate for them. It would eat her inside. True, Dylan harbored some hate for what they did to her and to others they had encountered, but, it was somehow different. He didn't want revenge, but more like justice. However, he had a feeling that Sonia didn't want justice, but revenge. Was there a difference to their reason? It seemed, Dylan pondered, that a thin line divided them. He placed his finished bowl down, and began to clean everything up. "We better move soon. They're going to go faster now that they are in the Desert." He told her as he moved about, packing and sorting things.
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Post by Tismri on Mar 30, 2012 0:38:47 GMT -5
Sonia helped Dylan take down their camp, keeping her mind focused on the task at hand. She was going to take everything one step at a time today, until they reached her targets.
"True," she told him, "But we will be faster still. There's just the two of us, whereas there are dozens of them, plus any prisoners." She rolled her items into her pack and hoisted it, ready to head out. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we will catch them."
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Post by Max452 on Mar 30, 2012 0:45:35 GMT -5
Dylan nodded as he tied his pack to his back, securing it. He double checked his scimitar, making sure that it was maintained for the carnage that would soon come. He glanced again at Sonia, hoping that once this was all over, she would gain some measure of peace. "Let's go." He stated, after refilling their waterskins and walking into the hot, searing desert.
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Post by Tismri on Mar 30, 2012 23:35:18 GMT -5
Several hours passed, and they began to see more and more signs of the slavers' presence. It was obvious they were getting closer now, and Sonia was pushing herself to go faster. Finally, they were within sight.
She drew her bow and strung it, then reached for an arrow. She was ready and determined to get their attention. She wasn't the best shot in the world, but in this case it wasn't such a terrible thing. She was only wanting to maim, not kill. Not yet. It didn't matter so much where she hit so long as it caused injury.
Even from this distance, she could make out at least two prisoners. Both were female--one, a young woman of around thirteen, and the other a girl no older than six. The older one was practically being dragged along, and Sonia knew from experience what she must have suffered. A hate-filled scowl came to her face as she drew back her bow.
"They're dead men," she said as she released the shot. The arrow hit one man in the knee, causing him to stumble and fall. Sonia loosed another arrow that struck a man in the back as the others noticed what was happening. They threw down their prisoners and charged, drawing their weapons. Sonia fired two more arrows before unsheathing her father's sword. Then she met the slavers' charge head-on, carving a bloody path as she madly went in to slice through flesh and hack off limbs, causing as much pain as she could.
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Post by Max452 on Mar 31, 2012 0:04:30 GMT -5
Dylan followed Sonia faithfully as they drew closer to the slavers. He held his breath as he watched Sonia strike the first victim of her wrath. He concentrated his mind to what they were about to do, but not without giving another look at Sonia. hoping again that she may find peace. He slowly drew out his scimitar, readying himself as the pack of slavers charged them. Not missing a moment, Dylan began his own assault as he followed closely behind Sonia, making way to rescue the two young women.
Using the skills he aquired from the Ayati, Dylan's movements were swift and fluid as he sliced through his enemies, claiming the justice that was owed. However, his kills were quick and merciful; only dealing and taking what was needed for the justice that needed to be claimed. He briefly glanced over to Sonia, who, unlike him, seemed bent on causing the slavers' suffering to prolong. He became worried that her anger was dominating her life; a well of sympathy and protectiveness for her began to grow in his heart.
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Post by Tismri on Mar 31, 2012 0:59:12 GMT -5
Sonia continued her rage, moving around from one victim to the next. She would wound them each once and move on to another. Each yelp and groan of pain brought to her satisfaction as they echoed her own screams and cries and moans and pleas the had elicited from her all those years ago. Even as she moved from one man to the next, she could clearly remember how they had tossed her around among them in a similar fashion, molesting her and humiliating her. Now, she received a few wounds, but she caused more than she took. Finally, she started delivering killing blows.
"For Jace," she named one brother as she stabbed a man through the throat. She took down two more. "For Hadvar," she named the other as her blade went through a man's eye. She swung her sword and decapitated another. "For my father." Another fell. One more slaver was left. "For my mother." Viciously, she knocked the man to the ground and drove her blade through his arm, rendering him unable to move. She went and stood by his head and glared down at him.
"Please...no," the slaver sputtered weakly. He lifted up his other hand in an attempt to defend himself. Sonia's expression grew even darker as she lifted her foot, hovering it just above his neck.
"And this is for me," she told him, slamming her foot down as hard as possible, the sickening crunch audible as she felt his windpipe crush beneath her boot.
After a still moment, Sonia looked up. Her eyes met Dylan's, and her expression was cold. Her vengeance upon the slavers was complete. There was only one man left.
She relaxed slightly and took back her sword, wiping it against her already stained leggings before sheathing it again. "You should take the girls back to Gladia Celesti," she told him in a monotone voice. "The rest of their family is probably dead. There's no better place for them right now."
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Post by Max452 on Mar 31, 2012 17:54:38 GMT -5
Dylan stared at Sonia, the feeling of dread evident in the pit of his stomach. He had watched her ruthlessly kill those slavers. The image of her foot crushing the man's neck would stain his memories now; the eyes of hate evident in her eyes. Oh, Sonia... Dylan thought as he stared at her. He sheathed his sword and gently introduced himself to the two girls. The eldest a bit frightened, perhaps because he was male. "I won't harm you. I promise." He told them gently. "I'm going to take you somewhere safe, okay? It won't be home, but I hope you will like it." He told them, being as gently as welcomnig as possible. The girls hesitantly agreed and surprised him when they attacked his waist in a firm embrace, crying. "There, there." He patted their heads. "Itll be okay." He took their hands and glanced back up at Sonia, fearing what she was thinking, and worried that she was separating from him. "You will not come with us." It wasn't a question, but a confirmation. His eyes watched her, as if calculating something. He knew he had to get the girls back to Gladia Celesti, but he did not want to leave Sonia either...and based on what happened, he had a guess of where she was heading.
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Post by Tismri on Apr 1, 2012 0:58:35 GMT -5
Sonia turned away from Dylan, not wanting to look at him. He had been a good friend to her, but she couldn't have him with her anymore. She was afraid that in her quest for vengeance, he would somehow get hurt. She could still hear Colin's words as he lay, arrows pinning him to the ground. He knew he was going to die. She didn't want Dylan to have to suffer the same fate. She was going to part ways with him now.
"Just get them to Celesti, Dylan," she told him. She gazed out at the carnage she had caused, feeling some satisfaction. At the same time, though, she could not stop the rising bloodlust as she focused her attention on finding the worst of them all. She stared at the dead men, and thought, Rest in peace, my family. I have avenged you. Now...now it is my turn.
She turned away from Dylan and the girls and headed off in a different direction. One that would bring her to her next target: the man who formerly owned her. The man who had tormented her for years with the vision of freedom that was beyond her grasp. The man who had shown her off like a prized beast, and used her to satisfy his desires. That man would pay dearly for what he had done to her. She hoped to drag out his death for days if possible.
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Post by Max452 on Apr 1, 2012 2:57:56 GMT -5
Dylan hid disappointment from his face as Sonia turned away from him. He didn't want her to face this alone; no one deserved to be alone or in pain. His mind was contemplating when he heard her voice speak to him. "I will, Sonia." He nodded to her, wishing she would look him in the eye, wishing that he could somehow help her find the peace she rightly deserved. "I'll make sure they're safe." He watched her as she made the final turn that would separate them. "Be safe, Sonia." His soft and caring voice seemed to whisper out as she left. He watched her diminishing back for a moment longer before escorting the girls back to Celesti. "Let's take you home." He told the girls with a small smile, his eyes drifted back to the direction that Sonia had run off to.
"Where is she going?" The younger girl timidly asked.
To get her revenge...but will that satisfy you, Sonia? Revenge is a lonely road. And I don't care how the saying goes, revenge is nothing but bitter. Dylan thought as he began his journey home, feeling a bit forlorn for the woman that was consumed with her vengence.
***
It took Dylan almost two days to find evidence of Gladia Celesti. Finally though, they had met some of the members in a nearby town. They were gathering some supplies for the tribe. However, Dylan wasted no time as he packed more supplies to chase after Sonia. He had two days to contemplate things, and he knew, that he could not let her go through with her revenge. Leaving the two girls with the members of the tribe in the town, who took to the girls quite nicely, as they did them, Dylan headed back out toward the estate that he and the rescue team had first freed Sonia. He only hoped she hadn't killed him yet, that he would make it in time before she made a move that may crush the goodness he had sensed in her.
***
A day and a half had passed. Dylan had pushed himself to his limit in reaching the large estate. Hiding himself in a tree, the young man waited for a sign of Sonia or disturbance in the large mansion before him.
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Post by Tismri on Apr 2, 2012 0:35:45 GMT -5
Sonia spent most of the next two days walking to the estate. Thanks to her time with Gladia Celesti, she was able to make out directions and knew exactly where she needed to go. It was late evening by the time she arrived, and she sneaked quietly around, making her way to an empty cellar. There, she slept out the night.
Early the next morning, she set about her work, putting together the most painful setup she could think of with her limited supplies. The effect, if it worked, would cause severe injury and lingering pain for extended periods of time without inducing anything life-threatening. It took her most of that third day to put it all together, and all the while she knew the man she desired to kill was so very close. It was nearly driving her mad with impatience. Still, it was worth it.
Early on the morning of the fourth day since seperating from Dylan, she got up and sneaked into the estate. The guards who were still in his employ were lazy, many half asleep. Sonia swiftly and silently dealt with them. She hated having to kill them, as they were not the ones she was directing her hatred toward, but she couldn't afford to have them raising an alarm anytime soon. She needed a long time free of interuptions.
Finally, she made her way into her former master's bedroom, staring down at his sickening figure. Even as she walked in, he seemed to sense her presence and woke up.
"Sonia!" Jerome exclaimed as soon as he saw her. Several emotions passed his face: shock, hope, curiousity, and finally fear. She smiled down at him, wickedly.
"Hello, Master," she told him. She drove the hilt of her sword hard into his skull, rendering him unconscious. Once she had done that, she replaced her sword and picked the man up, carrying him down to the cellar that was now his torture chamber.
When Jerome awoke, he found his arms bound behind his back, the rope which he them suspended to the ceiling. His ankles were secured to a heavy weight on the floor. Sonia sat before him, staring for several long moments. He struggled against his bonds for a moment, but she had tied them well.
"Sonia...what are--?" he began to ask. Her eyes took on a fiery anger at the sound of his voice.
"Do you know what I was before I was sold to you?" she asked him. She could tell he had never even thought of it. His dumbfounded expression told her everything. "I was the daughter of traveling merchants. I had two older brothers. We had a very peaceful life. Then the slavers came. They murdered my father and brothers, and they violated my mother until she died. They very nearly did the same to me. I've recently made them pay for these sins." She drew her sword and gazed at it for several moments. "This was my father's. It's the only piece of my family I have left."
"I'm sorry for y--" Jerome started to say. Sonia stood before he could finish talking and walked over to a wheel on the wall. She turned it several times, and Jerome could feel his arms raising behind him, stretching unnaturally.
"Don't tell me you're sorry," she snapped as she stopped rotating the wheel. His whole body was raised a few inches from the floor. She continued standing by the wheel. "I hid this blade from you all those long years. I knew you would have it taken from me. Because it's dangerous for slaves to have weapons. Besides, it's not as if they need anything of sentimental value." Her voice was bitter and angry. "And then for all my attempts to escape, you decided punishment was in order. You had me chained outside the house for three long years. I could clearly see the freedom I so desired, if I could but reach it. It would be like if I left a knife right in front of your eyes in this room and left, but kept it out of your reach. Your only hope for escape so close and yet so unreachable." Jerome seemed to comprehend what she was saying. At least he understood the terms she had put them in for his understanding.
"You further humiliated me by showing me off to the other nobles like a pet. You let me know that I was less than human. And now, of course, you are paying the price for making me this way." She gave the wheel a quick jerk, raising his body higher. Jerome could feel the strain on his shoulders, and his legs were begining to stretch uncomfortably as well.
"Even as we were leaving, you couldn't stop yourself from delivering one last blow," she said angrily. "You had your guards kill your blacksmith, Colin. He was a peace-loving man who simply longed for freedom. You couldn't allow that. You deprived him of his chance. He was a friend of mine, one of the few I really had, and you stole him from me." She pulled again, and Jerome began to whimper.
"What do you want, Sonia?" he asked. Sonia laughed manically at the question.
"What do I want? I want my family and friends back. I want my humanity back. But since I can't have any of that, I'm settling for the next best thing." She turned the wheel all the way. Jerome's arms finally gave way, unable to support the weight of his body. His shoulders broke with a audible crack, and his scream could be heard through the entire estate, despite their being underground.
"I want you to suffer," she told him in a deadly calm voice.
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Post by Max452 on Apr 2, 2012 0:50:17 GMT -5
Dylan jerked himself awake. He blinked, regaining his bearings. The sun was up now and it took the young man a moment to realize that he had fallen asleep from exhaustion. He sighed, rubbed his face of sleep and peered out into the estate. It was calm...almost too calm. He had an eerie feeling that something wasn't right. He wondered if he had missed Sonia while he was asleep. Which, made him wonder how long he was asleep for. As he was peering, he heard a blood curling scream. The scream sounded male. "Oh, no, Sonia!" He knew that she was in there now. "Stupid, stupid!" He muttered to himself for falling asleep for so long as he hopped down the tree and quickly raced across the estate. "Please, don't kill him!" He mumbled to himself as his tired and drained body skidded into a side door.
Dylan raced into the mansion, finding the trail of dead guards. He wondered where the rest of the household were or at least the servants. But it then occurred to him that they might not had had time to replace the slaves they had lost from his last time here. He frantically searched for Sonia, but could find her no where. The trail of death seemed to end, but Dylan was sure that the Master of the house was not here, and that meant Sonia had him. But where? Don't kill him! Dylan pleaded again in his mind as he hurried about the house, looking for clues.
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Post by Tismri on Apr 3, 2012 0:49:09 GMT -5
Jerome continued to groan long after Sonia lowered him back to the ground. His arms were limp and useless, unable to move from his broken, disjointed shoulders. Sonia continued to stare at him, her hatred evident.
"Just kill me, Sonia," Jerome pleaded. Sonia shook her head, amazed at how pathetic he was. Just that one act and he was already pleading for death. He never would have survived as a slave.
"That would be a mercy you don't deserve," she told him coldly. "After the way you treated me, and all your other slaves, you deserve much more pain that what I've already given you." She walked over to a torch she had lit on the wall and took it down, staring at the flames. She considered it for several moments.
"Well, if you wish to die so soon..." she said, turning. She pointed the fire at him and slowly stepped closer. She could see the terror in his eyes. He knew he was at her mercy, and she would kill him however she deemed fit.
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Post by Max452 on Apr 3, 2012 1:07:35 GMT -5
In his search, Dylan discovered a door that lead to the cellars. He thought he heard voices, and spotted some twisting lights, which he later discovered was a torch. A torch that was being held by Sonia as she approached a terrified man. This must be her master.
"Sonia! Stop!" Dylan ran down the stairs, pleading with her. "Stop this madness! Please! Don't do this!" He ran to her, skidding to a stop as he glanced at Jerome and his grotesque shoulders. What is becoming of her? How could she do this? He glanced back at Sonia. "Don't go down this path, Sonia. Don't be like him."
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Post by Tismri on Apr 12, 2012 23:25:03 GMT -5
Sonia was startled when she hear Dylan's voice. She had not expected him to be here so soon. She had not intended for him to be here. This was her path and her vengeance. She didn't want him to see.
"Why?" she asked him flatly. "After everything he has done, he deserves this. Anything I might have held dear to myself after I became a slave, he has stolen from me. He has taken my body, my friends, even my very humanity. I can't forgive him for the things he has done." She turned her eyes back to Jerome, her grip on the torch tightening. "He must pay for what he has done."
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