Zephrun’s Imperium

"Oh, shush.These are the dungeons, child, screams are the norm." Riva pulled the girl closer to her, squeezing her neck in the crook of her arm while they walked down the stairs to the sub-basement.

Riva chuckled ominously. “No one will miss you,” she growled. It was true what the girl said, but Riva got too much pleasure from seeing her reaction.

“Yes, girl.” Riva led the girl down to the dungeons.

Riva smiled widely, her strikingly blue eyes shining through her mask. “I have a special job for you. Come with me.” Without waiting for a response, Riva grabbed the girl’s arm with cold thin fingers and sharp long nails, pulling her along.

*earlier that morning* Riva was up early; not an often-seen occurrence. She made her way to the maid’s headquarters and knocked on the door. The maids wouldn’t be up yet, but whoever answered would not soon forget this day.

There was a light. Despite the fact that he’d spent the last—oh, who knew how many?—hours in darkness, the harsh light was something he yearned to get away from. Darrin tried to jerk his head away from it, but found he couldn’t move. Closing his eyes didn’t do much to help him either. “Oh, good, you’re awake,” said a smooth voice. Darrin tried to find the source of it with his eyes, but when he opened them, they began to water in protest of the intense glow. He had no choice but to squeeze them shut again. “I’m truly sorry we couldn’t meet earlier,” the voice continued, “but I’ve found that with violent types such as yourself, it’s better for me to wait until you’re secure. Many a man would pay a great deal of money to see me dead. And over the next little while—or, little eternity for you—you’re going to experience firsthand just why that is. But first things first!” There was the sound of someone getting up from a chair and walking over in heels. “Let’s get to know each other, shall we?” A head obscured the light and Darrin blinked his eyes open once again to see… a rather disappointing face. The Raveness was far more gaunt than he had expected. She had sunken dark eyes and thin black hair tied back in a braid, her cheekbones so defined she looked rather skeletal. In short, she looked like a corpse; nothing like the frighteningly gorgeous woman he’d heard her described as. And yet… she was still mesmerizing in a demonic, otherworldly sort of way. In the light, her pale skin seemed to glow, the dark pools of her blue eyes glittering. “Since you’re understandably nervous, I’ll go first,” she said. “My name—my real name, that is—is Riva Thadel. I am ninety six years old and my hobbies include potion making and herbology. Oh, yes, and torturing, but you already know that. What about you?” Normally, Darrin would have responded with a quip, but his mind was fuzzy; the effects of whatever drug they’d used to knock him out had not completely worn off. “What?” he mumbled. The Raveness—Riva—smiled kindly. Yet, on her face, the kind expression looked ominous. “Your name, dear. We can start there.” Darrin paused. Then, he smiled back, finding his courage. “You don’t know my name?” he asked, as if the fact that she didn’t know meant she was painfully uninformed. “Of course I do,” she responded calmly. She sat down on the table beside him. “But I’d like to hear it from your own lips. I’ve shared my name with you, after all—a name no living man but the king is privy to—it’s only polite to return your own.” “Oh, I’m that special, am I? To know your name?” Her smile deepened. It was no longer a kind smile, but an evil one. “Indeed. The only patients of mine who get to know my name are those with the privilege of being slated for execution. And trust me when I say your death will be a privilege when it comes.” “I expect nothing less from the Raveness. Why, if I wasn’t begging for death by the time you’re done with me, I’d be rather disappointed that you didn’t live up to your reputation. Your face certainly doesn’t. I thought you were supposed to be positively ravishing. Though, if you are ninety six like you said, you’re most definitely ravishing for your age.” Surprisingly enough, that actually got a chuckle out of her. Her mirth seemed genuine, too, the cynicism in her face melting away. “Death isn’t supposed to be ravishing, child. In fact, I would venture to say most consider it to be quite ugly. But I’m not one to complain about what I am. That said, you still haven’t told me your name. Please, oblige me.” Darrin found himself grinning. The Raveness was quite a bit more witty than he’d been expecting. It was, quite frankly, rather charming. She’d earned his name. “I am called Darrin, lady Raven. Darrin Oakenwey.”

"Because, dear. It protects me. Now, off to bed, little one. I won't see you in the morning, but I'll send someone to take care of you. Alright?" Riva kissed the girl's forehead, then strode over to put out the lights.

"Well. I don't want you to be scared of me, 'bella. But it would be best if everyone else stayed that way. When you see your Wendy again, I don't want you to tell her about our interaction. Pretend I was scary. Can you do that for me?"

"I'm supposed to be a very scary woman. Do you think I'm scary, miss 'bella?"

"Oh, don't worry, love, there's more where that came from." Riva chuckled. "Now... may I ask a favor of you, 'bella?"

"Alright then. May I have the cookie tin back, please?"

Riva smiled. "Right then. You may sleep on the bed; the sofa is enough for me. I do have some potions that could help you sleep easier, but... by the looks of things you don't need any of that, do you, child?"

"You can sleep in here if you like. Probaby safest. We'll see about a more permanent place for you in the morning, hmm?" @Channelknight Fadran

Riva leaned forward. “Are you tired, little one?”

“In all honesty, love, I don’t know. I wasn’t even aware of her presence until I saw her just now. I can’t control her fate, but I guarantee I have a measure of pull on yours. You’ll be safe. With me.”

After waiting outside Eleanor's door for about a minute without a response, Nicolae decided to phone a friend. He flagged down a maid. "Ah... Mary, is it, miss?" The girl glared at him. "Monica," she growled. She stomped on Nicolae's foot with her heel as she passed and the tall manservant cried out, gritting his teeth. "Oi!" he hollered, shaking his fist at her. "I had a legitimate question, miss!" "Well, why don't you ask Allivia your legitimate question, since she's your favorite?" She shook her head and growled before going into a room to clean it. "Oh, by the Stars, wha'did I ever do to you...?" He sighed and looked about for anyone else he could ask. He was either at the wrong door or Eleanor was just a heavy sleeper. It's prob'ly the latter, and if it ain't, you can go check the register afterwards. With that thought - and a deep breath - he waltzed into the room quietly. And there she was. Peaceful and petite, brown curls cascading down the pillow. Well, Nicolae had to hand it to Ivian; he sure knew how to pick a bride. Why did that make him so angry? Nicolae Kimby threw open the curtains, light flooding the suite. "Rise and shine, Miss El'nor!" @Condensation

While Nicolae walked down the hallway, his happy mood slowly began to dissolve. The morning hallways had never made him feel very comfortable; despite all the maids bustling around, the quiet air made him feel painfully lonely and the threat of someone flirting with him made him jump anytime someone said hello. As long as he avoided Allivia he should be fine though. That woman scared him like no other. When he'd left Ivian's chambers, he'd felt hopeful. If the king trusted him, then surely he was doing something right. But... Ivian's faith in him was terribly misplaced. You really will end up a prostitute, he thought miserably. Just... please don't you screw this chance up. For both your sakes. Oh Stars, Kimby, pull yourself together. S'mthin's wrong with you, terr'bly so. The king trusts you, he does, don't you throw that away. He knocked loudly on the door to Eleanor's assigned quarters. She didn't ask for me, did she? Naw, Nico, don't kid yourself. Ivian trusts you. Ivian trusts you...

Nicolae nodded, a light smile on his lips. "I will, sir. Have a zu-bop of a day, sir." He bowed with a playful flourish and left the room, calling on messenger to get General Praetorium to Ivian's quarters.

Nicolae bowed his head, processing. "You... you doesn't know how much that means to me, sir," he said. When he looked back up, there was a resolve in his brown eyes. "I'll do you proud, sir. I promise."

"You... you really trusts me like that, sir?" Nicolae asked in awe.

Nicolae paled, his stomach dropping. He stood there with his eyes wide and mouth working worldlessly for far longer than he should have. "I... ah... sir, I.... I-I-I'm not sure... I..." He bit his lip, face now red. "Why? Sir?"

Nicolae nodded hastily, standing up. His breath came shakily, but he stood straight and tried his best to look his king in the eyes. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, sniffing. "Um... who did you assign me to, sir?"

"Oh, yes, sir, thank you, sir, I..." He started crying again, despite himself, and knelt. "I don't deserve it, you know that. But I... oh, thank you, thank you, sir."

Nicolae furrowed his brow, eyes still teary. "Y-you are, sir?"