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Post by Grimm on Sept 24, 2019 12:46:22 GMT
Victor was holding his hand to his face trying to ignore that his mouth was utterly watering when Lucien drew the second circle. All he could keep thinking was how utterly weak he was for his new hunger, how nothing tasted so perfect as his guests blood. God, he felt ashamed.
Barnaby stewed in his bitterness acting like he hadn’t noticed the new circle that Lucien was constructing. Being around people again made him realize how lonely he had been and it pulled at the wounds the death of his former master left behind.
Even though it looked as if the cat demon was snubbing his nose at the magic circle that would remove the curse on him, Barnaby couldn’t wait to jump in. And when he landed in the middle of the circle the air around him began to pop and the familiar gave Lucien patronizing glare. “You better be strong enough for this.” Barnaby warned, unsure if he was ready himself.
Barnaby closed his eyes and focused on his form and no sooner had he managed to transform then Walters curse activated within Lucien’s magic circle. The restraints that had kept him in his cat form engulfed him and Barnaby fought against them as Lucien’s spell chiseled away at the familiar’s prison. It was hard for him to resist the curse and he strained against the fierce punishment trying to force him back into his lower form.
In his human form he stood 5’7”, scantly clad in deep purple fabrics with golden inlay, long black cat ears blended seemlessly in with his short unruly black waves and a thick powerful tail that nearly reached the floor. His silver horns and eyes stood in contrast to the Egyptian gold that adorned every bronze curve of his short but muscular frame.
Finally the restraints shattered and Barnaby was left standing as he had been when Walter had cursed him. His fine clothing in tatters, ripped and torn from the aftermath of the battle, a deep scar ran down his chest from the near fatal wound Walter had dealt him. His naked shoulder bore a menacing bite mark where Walter had drained what was left in his veins before cursing him. His once flawless skin was covered in tiny scars from 50 years being trapped as a powerless cat. Barnaby had always been particularly fussy about his appearance, even going as far as to obsess over a mark a paper cut left behind once; now his hands and feet were caked with dirt.
“I still hate you.” Barnaby tried to hide the tears in his eyes with the thick black locks of hair over his face. It was grief and fear he would be abandoned again that fueled his resentment toward his new master.
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Post by Behax on Oct 19, 2019 13:01:01 GMT
"Only one way to find out." Lucien replied to Barnaby's challenge.
When Barnaby resisted the curse, it tried to rebound on Lucien. A second magic circle appeared under Lucien's feet and from it sprung chains. They wrapped around Lucien's wrist and neck. Tightening around and burning his skin, and dragging him down to his knees as the curse attempted to attach itself to him instead.
"Master!" Eleri practically screamed.
"No closer!" Lucien commanded, making Eleri come to a sudden stop just at the edge of the circle Lucien stood upon. She looked from Lucien to Barnaby. "My lord you must release the spell!"
"No!" Lucien's word cut through Eleri's panic like a blade. "I refuse. I wont run a second time, I refuse to lose anyone else!" He made eye contact with Barnaby as he spoke, crimson bleeding into his purple eyes as he struggled against Walter's power. Eventually he was able to stand again, and throw off the chains. Walter's spell shattering, though it left a deep scorch in the wood of the floor. Lucien's hand went to his throat where the chains had left a deep burn. After a moment it began to heal slowly, and even after a few moments was still faintly visible. Similar burns were on his wrists, and his clothes had been damaged as well. He had to take a couple of deep settling breaths.
"I would expect no less. But. I will not abandon you Barnaby," Lucien's tone was resolute. Then a soft frown took over his features. "But Walter really did do a number on you.......And now he knows for certain that I'm awake...." He looked down at the spell burnt into Victor's library floor. There was no way Walter wouldn't have felt that curse break.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 4, 2019 21:45:38 GMT
“He gutted me like a fish and you can bet your ass he knows.” Barnaby hid his grief with his anger. “You better hope he takes his time playing whatever sick game he wants with you, because you are playing right into his hands with his little angel hussy over there,” the cat demon pointed to Victor who was holding his hand over his mouth, looking panicked and ill. “And we are in no shape to stop him when he comes.” He berated his masters condition and that of Elarie and Erol. Barnaby didn’t realized just how scared he was, at least he was happy that he was free of Walters curse.
“I’m going to take a bath…and if that shit turns out to be Holy Water I’m going to skin you like the piggy you are.” He announced and threatened Victor with a pain worse than death. Barnaby turned his nose up and stalked out of the room. “I intend to have a relaxing bath before Walter comes to kill us all!” He shouted his cynicism eager to have a warm bath with soap.
Victor seemed unfazed by the threat and more focused on trying to remind himself that he need not breathe, but his body still wanted to do the things it remembered doing as a human. “I’m sorry…but I need some air….The smell of your blood is…still too intense.” Victor apologized picking himself up off the floor. It was however more than just that. Events had been placed into motion and Victor had grown to recognize them like the receding tide before the arrival of a tidal wave. “I need some air.” He repeated and gave a manufactured smile as he began to wander out of the library.
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Post by Behax on Nov 4, 2019 22:23:23 GMT
Lucien just let Barnaby rant. He didn't get angry at the flagrant lack of respect, and offered no rebuttal. Not even when Barnaby rounded on Victor instead. Didn't stop him when he left either, and made no move to give chase. Space was probably a good thing to give the demon right now. Let him enjoy a real bath for a while. Maybe Garrett had let him get away with a bit too much, spoilt him. Not that Barnaby wasn't already spoiled beyond belief.
Lucien blinked as Victor spoke up. "Oh...Yeah sure....It's your house do what you need."
He watched the newling leave. And it was only once He was alone with just Eleri and an injured Errol that Lucien stopped putting on his show of strength. He stumbled and fell. Eleri going immediately to catch him.
"Master!"
"That....Admittedly took more out of me than I was expecting. Poor Barnaby. That curse was truly....awful."
He should have waited longer before trying to crack that curse. He had not been ready for it. It would have taken a lot of energy even if he'd been at his strongest. In his current weakened state Lucien was lucky to still be conscious.
"Sorry Errol.....You'll have to wait a little longer."
The injured Raven made a small noise as he watched his sister help Lucien to his feet.
"I think a bath of my own might not be a bad idea.....Swing by the kitchen to grab one of those blood wine bottles perhaps?" He suggested as Eleri began to help him walk. He had to diret her though of course, she was not remotely familiar with this house.
"Errol....Keep an eye on Victor please." Lucien didn't want to mistrust Victor, he was certain the poor boy was as much a victim in this as anyone, but that didn't stop him from being potentially dangerous.
Following after one weak newling wasn't beyond Errol's capabilities in his current state. He took to flight. It was a bit unstable but he managed it, following the direction he'd seen Victor wader off in and making little noise as he did.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 10, 2019 12:59:19 GMT
Barnaby was shameless with his returned powers, using his powers to prepare his bath, so he didn’t have to cross the room to operate the plumbing, or find a towel or even clean up the mess that had been left. He settled into the warm water, practically purring as the warm liquid enveloped him.
-
Victor on the other hand had found his way outside through the sun room, drinking the fresh air in free from the lingering flavor of Lucien’s delicious blood. No…he swore he could still taste it; maybe he needed to go further. Or was that just an excuse. So the newling began to walk away from his home, through the clearing and down a well marked path into the forest - his stride becoming more hesitant the closer he got to his destination. There was a stone depicting the start of the Dardariel graveyard hidden under the tall old trees. There were large headstones in the front - full names with the titles they carried, only the best of craftsmanship would do for these Hero’s of the family. But Victor passed these by, further and further into the back were the headstones grew smaller and barely carried the names and dates of the those buried there. He finally stopped at the foot of three headstones. The first had his mother and sisters name and had been filled within the last months, the third grave had been dug but laid empty for now had Victor’s name on the stone. He had intended to join them shortly after his sister’s funeral but then Walter had come to visit.
Thinking he was alone he sunk to his knees and allowed himself to cry, confessing to his mother and sister the terrible things that had happened to him and the sinful things he had just done with their new guest. Victor felt lost without his family’s guidance and he was still mourning their loss. “Help me see…I beg you for guidance.” Whether he was talking to his Mother, or to God or the Devil - whoever it was that would send him these visions.
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Post by Behax on Nov 13, 2019 23:58:01 GMT
It took a little time for Errol to catch up to Victor, flying from tree branch to branch as he wasn't strong enough for sustained flight. Silently he followed the young vampire. He perched on a grave stone a few rows away, watching Victor curiously as he pleaded to anyone who would listen for guidance.
The guidance he received was probably not what he bargained for.
A child with horns and halo, a long tail with a tuft at the end, fluffy ears like some kind of animal and a messy mop of dark violet hair covering mismatched eyes of solid gold and blue. Hidden away in a church. The priest and nuns that raised him slaughtered on charges of heresy. A man dressed in a knights armour from centuries ago,the Dardariel coat of arms on his breast plate, reaching down and pulling the cowering child roughly by the arm out of the corner he hid in. There is blood splattered across the floor.
With a scheming smile this man promises the child salvation in exchange for serving the Dardariel family. Generations pass before the child realises the promise was false. Its too late now, he is bound to this family until their last. He is abused and taken advantage of in almost every sense of the word, forced to help the Dardariels hunt down those of his own kin divine and damned. He is a powerful tool.
Centuries pass and eventually a pious Dardariel wants to hide everything sordid the family has done. Bury their sins so deep none would even know they existed. The child now looking like a young man no older than his mid twenties but centuries old is locked up and hidden away. Blind folded and gagged, arms chained to to opposite walls, feet changed to the floor forcing him to kneel inside a magic circle that keeps him from using his powers to escape. Dressed in only a pair of tight leggings and a long loin cloth.
There he was kept and there he was forgotten when the family faced massive upheaval.
Victor would know that the man was still there. He would know where to find him and how. He would know that his name was Laurent Castermear. An abomination born between the Divine and the Damned.
-----
It was slow going to get Lucien to the guest room he stayed in. Eleri placed him in a chair, before going into the bathroom to begin preparing a bath for her master. While she worked he uncorked another bottle of blood wine he'd prepared. He tried not to think about how many this made in less than 24 hours. Perhaps Barnaby had good cause to be concerned and short with him. This was a lot of blood for any vampire let alone a dhampire to get through in such a short space of time. No that Lucien didn't have cause....Or so he'd tell himself.
It wasn't long before Eleri was helping Lucien back to his feet, and helping him undress before assisting him into the hot bath. He sighed with pleasure as the warmth seeped into his muscles. He laid in the bath, his arms over the sides to stop him slipping, eyes closed.
"Rest Master," she said softly before deciding to busy herself for the time being by tidying her surroundings. Everything was so dusty, it was clear this house had not been properly kept in a long time. That just wouldn't do. She couldn't allow her master to reside in a place that was slowly going to rot. So as to not disturb her master she started in his bed room. Opening the windows to get rid of the smell of the musty smell, then dusting, and cleaning the carpet. She changed to bed covers once discovering where the spare linens were kept.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 14, 2019 18:58:29 GMT
Barnaby relished in his warm bath, while a squad of cat minions worked on giving him the spa treatment. Barnaby’s cat minions were comical in nature; about the size of an average house cat but most of the time they lumbered around on their hind legs doing chores that Barnaby was really to lazy to handle himself. Lowly demons that Barnaby had somehow acquired through contracts and favors over the thousands of years. A few of them had special items adorning various small heads- they were favored minions and the items Barnaby had been given in jest, were worn with honor by his minions.
Inspecting his newly manicured nails, he frowned and sunk into the water shooing away the minions who had been doing a pedicure. This didn’t give him the joy he thought it would.
“Find me everything you can about Dardariel. And keep an ear out for that bastard Walter.” Barnaby dismissed his minions and they disappeared with a poof and he was left alone in the bathroom. He couldn’t relax knowing that disgusting half angel might be sinking his teeth into Lucien again. Feeling he was clean enough he got out of the bath and began to dry off.
——
Victor gasped as the vision over took him. As he was on his knees every muscle in his body tightened, the jade green of his eyes glowed watching everything play out as it did. He wanted to cry out but he couldn’t, although the tears gathered in his eyes.
It was if the dead were giving up their secrets. Centuries played out in such a short time and Victor felt and had seen everything. When he was finally able to move again he found himself laying on his side, muscles still clinched and the newling was well aware of the cold surrounding him. Hugging his arms to himself he slowly rose and started his journey back to the house but this time he took a moment to stop at the unmarked graves. He had always wondered about them when he was a child and now he had a definitive answer and it made him sick to his stomach. It wasn’t as if Victor was ignorant of his families history but he had always contributed that to the made up stories of religious zealous.
With a heavy foot he returned to the house, it’s warmth against his cold cheeks reminding him he actually felt warm for once. He wandered his own house as if he was searching for something he couldn’t put his finger on. He’d go into a room walk it’s perimeter and exit. The more he walked the more it felt like he was in a fog.
Once again he found himself in the library, by this time he was in a trance like state feeling as if something was starting to guide him. Through the door and down the stairs, steady easy steps toward a destination that was familiar yet new. Past his paintings to the altar and the wings above them. With his hand outstretched his ivory fingers grasped one chain of many draped among the sculpture. He began to pull on it, somewhere in the dark rigging above was a series of pulleys. The more he pulled the lower the wings came and the altar pivoted to the side revealing a set of stairs that had not see the light of day in a very long time.
It was now that Victor was starting to come back to his senses, out of the fog that possessed him since he returned to home. Down the stairs the candles lit by themselves as Victor descended even further down until a room began to open up. The candles along the walls spontaneously lit revealing the being imprisioned by his family.
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Post by Behax on Nov 14, 2019 21:14:36 GMT
It didn't take long for the warm water to lull Lucien to sleep, something that might not have happened so easily had he not been so liberal with his blood. His body was still weak from a century of slumber,and he was not being kind to it. Though faded the marks from the curse trying to rebound onto him were still visible and would likely remain so for a little while.
It took a while for Eleri to get the room into a condition she considered satisfactory. Once she was done she checked on her master, she smiled weakly and with worry at seeing him asleep in the bath. Checking the water was still hot she decided that for now there was little issue with leaving him there to rest. While he did she took his clothes, and found a place where she could wash them. She'd need to see about getting him more. It took a little time but she eventually found where the manor's laundry would have been taken care of, getting to work cleaning Lucien's clothes and the sheets she'd removed from his bed. She found a suitable place to hang it all to dry before then deciding to clean the laundry room of dust and neglect.
Once she was done there she went back to check on her master.
------
Errol watched Victor with interest. He was about to hop down from his perch to gently peck at the poor boy, when he roused himself from his vision. He watched Victor get up, and then after a moment followed him back into the house. It was curious. He'd only ever seen vampires behave in such a way when enthralled or charmed by another. He silently followed Victor down the stairs, perched on one of the paintings as he watched him open a secret passage. A little hesitant Errol lifted off his perch and followed Victor down the stairs.
As the room illuminated, Laurent was revealed. Still there. Arms still spread, chained to the walls. Still blind folded and gagged. Kneeling on the dusty floor. Forgotten and neglected he was thinner than in Victor's vision, but not a day older. His hair had grown long in the centuries of his abandonment, now reaching the floor, where previously it had simply covered his eyes. He breathed so shallow it was difficult to tell he was breathing at all. His posture was as limp as his restraints would allow.
With a caw Errol took off back up the stairs feeling that someone else should be aware of this. Whoever he crossed paths with first out of his sister, Lucien or Barnaby would do.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 16, 2019 3:55:45 GMT
Victor approached like a timid deer, keeping his distance yet approaching just the same. It was the man from his visions and Victor let out the unneeded breath that he had been holding. The stale unshifting air now disturbed by each step that Victor took sent layers of dust flow across the floor like a fog.
The magic circle was visible on the ground and Victor dared to go no further. His brief education on magic made him hesitant to cross over the line.
“Laurent…Castermear?” Victor timidly asked to the perfectly still man chained in the forgotten place.
—
Errol wouldn’t have to fly far, Barnaby had entered the library after following his nose through the house on Victor’s path. The Cat Demon was still in his human form, his clothing mended back to their luxurious and fine details. He didn’t trust anything that had to do with Walter and he was going to prove to Lucien that Victor wasn’t the innocent little thing he was turning out to be.
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Post by Behax on Nov 16, 2019 18:38:50 GMT
There was no immediate response to Victor's question, the still body didn't so much as stir. A moment passed and the circle below Laurent pulsed, and similar markings began to glow on his skin. The way he twitched and the brief sound he made, it was almost as if it had burned him. Punished him for his lack of response. The marks faded, and Laurent was breathing a little faster. Shakily he lifted his head. If Victor wanted to free him, he'd have to do so himself. There was no way for Laurent to break free of his own volition.
----
Given Barnaby's currently level of hostility Errol was a little hesitant to go to him, however he already had a feeling the cat demon was prowling for Victor. He landed on a bookshelf close to Barnaby, he let out a soft caw to get the demon's attention, before fluttering down, and then swooping back down into the stairwell that led to the underground alter, he waited for Barnaby to catch up before swooping back down the now revealed stairs.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 23, 2019 21:51:42 GMT
Victor startled when the man was forced to respond as the seal on the floor and the markings on the man’s body began to glow. His frail lips pulled back into a frown knowing what had happened. There was so much he had seen in the vision that his head was swimming. There was so much pity and guilt in Victor he carried on, determined to free the man who had been held for so long. Swallowing his fear, Victor stepped over the markings and approached, kneeling in front of Laurent, trembling hands first to remove the blindfold before touching both sides of Laurent’s face. Guilt, pity, fear, and kindness were mixed in the twisted responsibility he felt in Laurent’s predicament. The first words out of his mouth were “I’m sorry.”
—
Barnaby was at first pleasantly surprised to see Errol, flashing a bit of a flirty smile before he realized that he was being told to follow and in the direction of Victor’s scent no less. The cat demon gave pause when he saw the new staircase, but following Errol down it revealed Victor and a stranger imprisioned within the secret chamber. “Warn Master.” He told Errol, the irritation dead on his face. Barnaby was itching for revenge and he was feeling justified now. This was all a plot.
“Caught you red handed Victor…” Barnaby said approaching Victor from behind.
Victor however said nothing, his eyes dimly lit caught between the massive recollection of family events searching for a way to free the captive man. His non-reply only irritated Barnaby further and the cat demon reached out grabbing Victor by the hair and dragging him backwards from Laurent in his restraints. Victor reacted the only way he knew how when he was manhandled, he allowed the abuse, cowering protectively as Barnaby kicked and hit him a few times before slamming the newling down into the dusty floor.
“Your Master Walter put you up to this? HUH?” Barnaby had his knee in Victor’s back, freshly manicured fingers laced through the Dardariels’s ravenous black hair yanking his head backwards. “You wait until Lucien is vulnerable and then you come in here and wake up this abomination?” The cat demon growled while Victor stumbled over his explanation. There were too many emotions and imaging playing out, nothing much of that came out was cohesive other than apologies.
“I should go ahead and grant you that death you’ve been wanting. At least it might irritate that sick fuck you call Master and I’d be happy with that.” Barnaby had gotten himself worked up especially after being freed from Walters curse, he had access to his powers again - he could do more than just scratch now.
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Post by Behax on Nov 27, 2019 17:49:16 GMT
This magic circle was perfectly safe for Victor to step into, after all it had been set by his ancestors. The only person it was a threat to was Laurent, and he was already trapped in it. Laurent tensed when he felt Victor close in on him, he didn't know what to expect. He was a little surprised when Victor removed the blindfold. Eyes unused for centuries blinked back into use. They were mismatched, one a solid blue the other a solid gold. A look of surprise froze on his features as Victor apologised to him, no one had ever done that before.
His gaze shifted from Victor to the shadow that appeared at the base of the stairs and as the figure approached and began to talk Laurent tried to warn Victor. He could feel the Malice that Barnaby was giving off. A shout was muffled by the gag still in his mouth when Barnaby suddenly yanked Victor back. He pulled at his restraints as he watched the cat demon began to hurt Victor. No one had to tell Laurent that Victor was his master, he knew it with every fibre of his being. It had been hundreds of years since anyone in the Dardariel line had come down here, Laurent believed himself forgotten and thought he would remain so even when the family finally died out.
He watched as Victor took the abuse levelled at him. Laurent continued to strain against his chains, the stone holding them taut began to crack. Until Laurent finally pulled himself free, and once free he moved at incredible speed. Moving from where he was forced to kneel to behind Barnaby in the blink of an eye. Laurent seized Barnaby by his own hair and pulled him backwards so harshly that the demon was thrown back against the floor. He took a fighting stance in front of Victor, a spear manifesting in his hands. A golden halo appearing between his horns. Judging Barnaby to still be a threat, he lunged at him with the spear.
It was blocked at the last moment by a a familiar sword, one of a pair. Lucien was breathing heavily, still damp from his bath. He'd clearly rushed down here and only stopped long enough to put on pant and grab his dual blades.
Errol had been hesitant to leave Barnaby with Victor, but had no strength to keep the cat demon in line so had gone to get Lucien, though not for the reason Barnaby probably wanted.
"What the fuck is going on?" Lucien's question was levelled at anyone in the room to start explaining.
Laurent made no move, he didn't pull back but he didn't press his attack either. He might have still been trying to judge Lucien as a threat, or waiting for Victor to give a command.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 30, 2019 19:42:27 GMT
So focused on his righteousness of suspicion and so out of practice that Barnaby hadn’t even had time to react from the time he heard the restrains pop before Laurent was on him. Barnaby rolled and was almost instantly on his feet, but that wouldn’t have been fast enough to save him. Laurent’s spear had been stopped by Lucien’s blade and Barnaby hadn’t even been able to manifest his and that fear had only made him angrier.
“He’s plotting to kill you Lucien! Why can’t you see he’s Walter’s little puppet?!” Barnady shouted in his excitement.
“No. I didn’t. I’m not-“ Victor was picking himself off the floor from the abuse he had just been dealt.
“Bullshit!” Barnaby silenced him. “You drain Lucien until he can’t spare another drop and then you wake up this Monster to kill my Master!” He accused and manifested his weapon, a pair of long silver bladed claws.
“I didn’t even know he was down here!” Victor yelled at Barnaby, there was guilt etched across all his features. “I won’t kill Lucien, He won’t kill Lucien. I promised you Barnaby-“ Victor tried to persuade the cat demon.
“Shut up! He’s lying Lucien.” Barnaby yelled back at him. It might have been clear to Lucien that Barnaby was about to press an attack if someone didn’t stop him.
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Post by Behax on Nov 30, 2019 20:24:05 GMT
Lucien would have rolled his eyes if the situation wasn't so dire. It was like being stuck between two children. It wasn't even as if he could entirely fault Barnaby for his reasoning. Walter was Victor's sire after all. Though he doubted any bidding of Walter's Victor was doing was not done knowingly or intentionally. He huffed, blocking that spear had taken a lot of effort, he wasn't sure he'd be able to do it again, the creature in front of him was much stronger than he was.
When Barnaby readied himself to make an attack, Laurent did the same. Prepared to block and fight the demon to protect Victor.
"Enough!" Lucien shouted when he'd had enough of the two bickering.
"Victor, explain." It wasn't quite a demand, but there was a stern edge to Lucien's voice. The dhampire shifted his stance, one sword was still pointed at Laurent, his other arm was out to the side to block and crowd Barnaby and keep the demon behind him, though he doubted he'd be fast enough in his current condition. It had taken practically everything to block Laurent, and he was sure he'd only managed that because the creature hadn't been expecting it.
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Post by Grimm on Nov 30, 2019 21:34:50 GMT
Victor startled when Lucien yelled at him, he tried explaining as clearly as he could. “I went for a walk to clear my head. I stopped in the graveyard and I experienced another vision..of the past, my families past, Laurent Castermear’s past. He’s bound to my family and since I’m the last Dardariel then,” he stumbled over the grief of his mother and sister, “he should be at least free of this place when his oath is fulfilled.”
“Liar!” Barnaby shouted at him. He was very much acting like a wild child, he had for the past 50 years been essentially without a Master acting and behaving how he wanted even if he just limited to being in his lower form. “How can you listen to this drivel?” Barnaby turned his attention to Lucien, his anger turn towards his new Master. “I wish Garret had listened to me when I warned him about you. He should have killed you and he’d still be here! I refuse to acknowledge you!” Barnaby yelled at him turning his attention past Laurent to Victor, his anger making him blind to the danger they were all in.
“And if turning you to dust is going to make me feel better, I would do it a thousand times over.” Barnaby growled and attempted to lunge past Lucien and Laurent toward Victor.
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