Edema Rue

Rayvyn stood up and started walking back to the portal.

The wraith ghost man thing looked at Rayvyn in the snow. "You are a fool, little bird, squandering opportunities with emotion. I will be back." Then he disappears. Rayvyn sits up, but doesn't move. What have I done?

He walks through Fadran. Rayvyn falls, and doesn't get back up.

He ignores the flames and walks outside. Rayvyn grabs Tacien from Cufre. "I'm sorry," she whispers, running back to the man.

"My name is of little importance. I am her employer, and I will be taking her and the child with me." Then the Tacien is gone, stolen away by Marilyn. The man frowns. "That was...displeasing to me. Go get him, little bird." He waves his hand, and Klave is shoved away. Rayvyn runs outside, finding Cufre. "I need Tacien."

The man picks up Tacien, then looks at Rayvyn. "Come on," he says. She follows, looking back apologetically.

Suddenly, Rayvyn can control herself again. She drops the knives and runs to the farthest corner, gasping. "I"m so sorry, I couldn't--" Then the man walked in, tall with dark hair. He was young, maybe 18, and smiled at Klave. "I'm here for the boy, and her." He gestured at Rayvyn.

Rayvyn grabs a pair of knives, turning back to Tacien.

Her cloak flew off, and several knives tore threw her boots. A couple tore threw the back of her shirt, and the one in her hand flew away. A pile of dozens of knives in every shape and size sat before him. "Thank you," she said, then lunged towards him.

The knife flips away, and Rayvyn sighs in relief. But again, her own reflexes work against her. Another knife is there in seconds. "Someone take him away!" She shouts, even while reaching for him.

Rayvyn tries to let her pull it, but her own muscles are working against her. "Take the knife," she gasps desperately.

Rayvyn is also at his side, and she pulls her knife out. Her hand trembles, and she squeezes her eyes shut, putting all her energy into resisting.

Rayvyn found that she could glare. "Can we destroy it?" Please, you have to let me help! Kill him. No! You will kill him. It needs to be done. Rayvyn started walking towards Tacien, a knive hidden in her hand.

"No murder!" @Enter a username

Rayvyn looks at Fadran, eyes still blank. "Can you use magic to get it off?" You're a monster, she thinks. Who, me? You're the murderer. I bring people release. You force us to live, and kill the few who find joy in this life. Now, little bird. That isn't the proper way to speak to me, is it? Rayvyn glares inwardly. How are you doing this? You've never been able to do it before, not unless...realization dawns. Not unless you're close by.

"The plan was to get in, get Tacien, and get out before anything bad could happen. So shouldn't we take him and go?" She tries to make her voice sound off, tries to convey something with her eyes, but he's in control. I would kill anyone else for you. Why this boy? Asking questions is not your job. You should have known better than to get attached.

She coughs, hands shaking. He's never made her do anything before. She should have stayed away from him when she had the chance. "Don't--you have to--" No no, my sweet. You can't just let them stop you. Make them believe all is well. She straightens, the light leaving her eyes. "Everything's fine. What are we wasting time for?"

Rayvyn squeezes her eyes shut. She can feel her oath working, pulling at her. She won't be able to resist much longer. She starts pulling out her knives, dozens of them, dropping them on the floor. "Someone pick those up. Don't..." She gasps as the voice returns. Keep your daggers, my bird. You should know not to resist by now. How does he know what she's doing? She starts picking the daggers back up.

Hello, little bird, says a familiar voice in her head. Rayvyn stiffens. I have instructions for you. Master. I got roped into a quest. Can— I know where you are, the voice said. You need to kill the boy. Gone? No. The other one. Tacien. But— You swore an oath, little bird. Do it, or there will be consequences. Then the voice is gone. Rayvyn falls to the floor, shaking.

Rayvyn nods to the others, but doesn’t move her knives. “Why did you take him?”

No one steals Rayvyn’s knives. She has them back before Enter knows what happened. “What does that mean?” Rayvyn asked, a dangerous gleam in her eyes. She pressed her knives a little harder. “My…friends…may want you to live, but I have no such limitations.”

Rayvyn stepped forward, placing a knife by her throat and another near her hands. “How much do you value your fingers?”