Choosing a New Path (Kasheem, closed)

[Jotari]

Darkness

A painful cough wracked her slim frame as Black Star lay quietly in the dirty straw. Her dark clothes were caked in grime, sweat, and most of all dried blood. The starving body was covered in bruises, deep cuts, welts, and other clear marks of torture. After six months of imprisonment, Black Star was alive, though just barely. Her eyes had not changed from a dull grey except when a certain visitor appeared. The dagger with the sky gem in it was not far, in fact it was mounted within reach next to her cell door. But the former outlaw queen was much to weak in body and spirit to attempt and succeed in an escape.

Her spirit was shattered, no longer was she a bold and cheeky minx. Instead she was a wild animal, snarling at anyone that came near her door and always willing to attack given a chance. But her attacks were feeble. Black Star had little strength left physically, but yet her mind had never stopped. It had been in a continuous turmoil, blaming the Ellsinorian royalty for all of this. In fact, nearly everyone she had trusted had turned their back on her. So, perhaps she would turn her back on them. Perhaps for the first time since the world's beginning, it would be seen what happened when the sky gem was used for darkness instead of light. It would be a darkness greater then any Araxes would ever create, for it was the darkness of a betrayed and scorned heart.

Hearing familiar footsteps, the femme perked up a bit but remained still. The cell door opened and the Dread Lord Siarles was ushered in. His pose remained cruel and cold until the cell door locked shut again. The guard asked no questions, he knew better. He merely thought that the dark master was playing a cruel game with the prisoner. Not dreaming that in reality, Siarles was plotting her escape. He removed his strange black helmet and gloves, placing them on the damp stone floor. Scarlet eyes took in the sad scene before him. Siarles had seen many such prisoners and felt no pity. But this woman had stolen the dark master's heart. It seemed that even the Dread Lord, had a chink in his armor after all. Picking up the cracked clay bowl, he pressed it to her pale lips, forcing her to drink some water. Her beutiful eyes carried a shade of blue like the night sky. Black Star trust him, though she knew more then anyone what he plotted for the future.

"You must stay alive, at least try. Magrej and Abigail have been married today, I managed to sneak away during the feasting. Tonight, you will perform the greatest disappearing act ever known. Go to Celeste Falls and wait for me there. When you are strong again, then we will be together. "

His words soothed her as he stroked her cheek. Black Star said nothing, tired and sick, and quickly drifted off to sleep. Standing, the dark master exited the room and walked down the hall. Tonight, his love would be taken from this castle and they had arranged a meeting place in Celeste. Hopefully, none of the cursed fairies would interfere. Siarles knew that Titania was immortal, but the other fairies? Not so much. It had take six months for this chance to arise and nothing would stop him. He knew that his precious prisoner would not last much longer. Even feeding steadily on the sky gem's power, Black Star was still treading closer to that edge between life and death. Siarles would not permit that to happen, not now.

In the dungeon, Black Star awoke and sat up slowly. Standing on shaky and weak limbs, she edged to lean on the door and fed off of the sky gem's power. She was drawing strength, as much as she could, and the gem started glowing brightly. Eyes brightened slightly as the power surged into her weak frame. If she could only reach the dagger, perhaps she could actually get some real power. But no, that was not possible. But Black Star would have her revenge.

Slowly her mind drifted to Kai and her happy childhood. Once maybe she had loved Kasheem. But now her heart belonged to another. Kasheem was dead, was he not? No need to remain heartbroken for a dead man. He would have wanted her happy. Of course, she knew Kasheem probably would not have wanted her to be running with a man who was plotting to make Magrej look like a child. But this was her choice. Slowly, her mind drifted off again as she sank against the bars and began to sleep.

[Deidra]

Kasheem entered within the walls of the once beautiful but now crumbling castle of Ellsinora. His leather jacket and pants rubbing together as he walked giving the undead dead dude some allusion that he were in fact still alive and he did not have a rather unnerving fiery floating head, that was until he walked passed a mirror. The skeleton man was never far from that realization that he was not alive though he couldn’t remember why he ever died, in fact he couldn’t remember a thing except that face. It was a pretty face with pale sky blue eyes framed by raven black hair. All he knew about that face was she was called by the name Black Star and he was meant to kill her.

So this is what brought him within Ellsinora’s castle walls for he knew what was being kept within the dungeons now, the very woman he sought. The five foot eleven skeleton marched through the many halls of the castle and was glad that no one approached him for he wasn’t letting anyone get in his way from doing just what he was brought back to do. But he was going to at least get some answers before the pretty woman died. All this time he wondered and thought and wondered some more as to why he was brought to kill this woman and why her face stood out so clearly in his skull yet he could never remember.

Kasheem made his way down into the chambers past rows of empty cells and then further still into the bowls of the dungeons in search of the raven haired woman. Several guards tried to stop him as he got farther down the rows but he just made a growling sound of sorts and they stepped out of his way, no doubt scared of the fiery headed man. He chuckled a deep hollow laugh as he walked the remainder of the way down to the cell he knew would hold the person whom he sought. Stopping in front of the cell Kasheem was amused at the sight in front of him but he didn’t have the time to look it over long. He took the bars in his bony ands and shook them before speaking to the cells pitiful occupant.

“Wake up little woman, answer my questions and I’ll wait a little longer to kill you.” Was all he said as his eye sockets gazed down at the woman.

[Jotari]

Black Star awoke and lurched away from the bars clumsily. She stared for a few silent moments at this hideous monster that offended her eyes. What was this? He was tall, clad in leather, a skeleton body, and that startling head that floated in greenish flame. It was a skull; with hallow eyes and an always grinning mouth. Snarling she fled to the corner of her small cell, but that was probably not far enough. Black Star could feel that this creature was some undead minion; its energy was strongly connected to Magrej and Araxes. She had felt it before and knew that it meant trouble for her. Not to mention he said he was going to kill her, always a sure sign that things would be painful. Using a bit of her weak energy, Black Star silently called to Siarles, telepathically.

“There is a skeleton here, wanting my blood.”

“I am coming.”

Siarles had been bored. A Muratian lady, daughter of one of Magrej’s various lords, was trying to flirt with the Dread Lord. She was pretty perhaps, but her voice was grating against his nerves. Gaudy little peacock had been fluttering about him and so when his darling sent her distress call, he was half-relieved. “Oh my lord, you are so very grand I hear….” On and on, did she never shut up? Siarles began to stalk away silently, attempting to remain calm in order to escape to protect Black Star. He knew that either Araxes had suddenly gotten ambitious and sent another undead man, or Kasheem had finally found her. A surge of jealousy stole over him, he knew exactly who Kasheem had been and Siarles did not like Kasheem to be anywhere near Black Star. But this stupid twit followed and suddenly fastened herself on his arm. Frowning in more, he shook her off. Stubbornly, she reattached herself to his arm. In rage, he raised the arm that she had chosen to anchor onto, and flung her off him. The woman screeched as she landed in some rose bushes. Siarles stormed away, stalking out of the gardens and off away to his target. If Kasheem touched her, Siarles would send him back to death’s abyss.

Black Star stood silently after she sent her plea to her protector and was careful to remain just out of reach. Her voiced rasped, “Pray tell, what questions you have? I know that you are some creation of Araxes, some undead monster. Tell me, what more do you need to know? You are simply supposed to destroy me, after which they will send you back to your sleep.” The former queen of thieves was weak, but her eyes were blazing and her stance as strong as possible. She was not going to just roll over and die for Kasheem. No, that would not be it. She would die, yes. But she was not going to go alone.

[Deidra]

Kasheem gave another of his hollow chuckles at the woman’s obvious distaste in his appearance. He had found it amusing at times to see how people reacted to him though he hated the lack of communication his appearance caused. He was still no closer to finding his answers no matter how hard he had tried and now here the woman was that could possibly answer them. Had he had real eyes they would have shone in quiet delight and mystery as he stared upon her now in her wild animal-like state. He found it rather amusing that for quite a small space of time he simply watched her as she spoke and straightened in front of him, keeping a good distance from him. Another haunting laugh escaped him and he let go of the bars taking a step away from the cell but his hollow sockets never moving their gaze from Black Star.

“I wish to know why it is that Araxes would awaken me from the dead to come after you, a woman. I have no remembrance of my former life except my name and your face in my head and the knowledge that I was brought back to kill you. The reasons have remained unknown to me though I wonder what I, Kasheem, am doing in search of killing a beautiful woman such as yourself? I certainly have no qualms about doing my task, I would just rather be informed of the reason of my task.” Kasheem said his voice hollow and dry of any emotions as he looked at this raven haired woman before him. She was pretty but that did not matter to him now for all he wanted were answers. “I believe you would know these answers for the hunted usually know why they are being hunted.” He added a little thoughtfully now as his hollow eyes gazed upon her still.

[Jotari]

Dark colored eyes observed him warily. Listening with silence, she simply watched his movements. But then his words suddenly sank in. His name was Kasheem. Her stance straightened and she stepped forward to the bar. If her already sickly white skin could have paled anymore, it did so now. Eye went from dark to a strange shade of yellowish-orange then they flickered red with anger. Her tones were almost pleading. “Kasheem? Kasheem don’t you remember me? Jahanarwa?” Her eyes searched his face in quiet desperation. “Back away from her brute.” The male voice came soft and dangerous as Siarles stepped forward, his bladed gauntlet in hand. To the dark one’s surprise, his darling suddenly turned on him in a fury. “Back off Siarles! You knew about him, you knew that this thing was Kasheem yet you “neglected” to tell me. If you two start fighting, I swear that I will use what power I have left and incinerate you both!” Her face and stance were something that even made the seasoned warrior think twice.

Scarlet eyes widened slightly in surprise, but Siarles did back away a few steps. He clearly longed to take out Kasheem, to destroy this threat to Black Star and possibly to his own schemes. Black Star ignored her dark prince charming and looked at Kasheem with strange mournful eyes. She had put it all together. This creature in front of her, this monster, was her former fiancée and nearly her husband. Yet Araxes had dragged him back simply to kill her. Black Star was pained that the dark god would think it funny to play with the Guardian, his sister’s pet, in such a way. “Kasheem, you were the eldest Prince of Kai, heir to the throne. You saved my life when we were young, Magrej had burned down my home with my parents locked inside. You see, my family was the Guardian of the Sky Gem. Your father took pity on me and took me as his own. We grew up together, eventually we loved each other. Do you not remember anything? The day we were to wed, Magrej attacked Kai. He sank your small island kingdom beneath Dirya Sea. We had been betrayed by your own brother Rashok. Oh can you not remember?!” In anger and frustration, she slammed the water cup she was holding in her hand against the wall. It bounced off and rolled across the floor. Black Star knew better, she knew very well that Araxes’s hold on Kasheem’s mind would not be broken by mere words.

Her head bowed and hands clenched the bars tightly. Siarles kept his distance, though keeping a wary eye on Kasheem. If Kasheem made the wrong move, Siarles would at least knock him away. But the dark master was a little unsure now. He had made the mistake of keeping this from her and she may see it as yet another betrayal. But what he next saw really made his black heart stop, as a single tear came down the former queen’s face.

The Guardian was silently crying.

[Deidra]

Kasheem watched as the female seemed to recognize something within his words. He gave another hollow chuckle as she stepped forward to the bars and his fiery green head never moved from her face except when Siarles addressed him and even then he only turned to gaze at him with his hollow sockets for mere moment before Black Star was speaking to him once more. He did not understand her words, knew who he was? Well duh they had been under the same castle roof for months why would the man not know who he was, and why was this of any relevance to his questions? Kasheem almost let out a growl as she threatened to kill him! A skeleton man, death was not much of a fear to him for he had no fears at all, he was dead what could any human do to him. The name she had spoken didn’t really mean much to Kasheem, just another name in the world to him.

Kasheem glanced between the two humans his hollow sockets trying to make since of what was being told to him for he did not believe words the pretty woman spoke for he had no remembrance of even ever having a brother though the name she spoke did have some familiarity with him he still looked upon her doubtfully though emotion was not easy to find within the fiery depths of his skull. Kasheem shook his head with a slight laugh and said “Now pretty woman you words seem filled with deceit, how could any of what you just said be a cause for me to kill you, hmm? Where is proof of what you speak, for I see none to me you have just been a pretty face in my head, I don’t know you and yet I remember you face. But I do not believe your words.” His voice was low and slightly guttural and hollow sounding as he spoke there was some confusion mixed into his words, it was slight, but there. The skeleton stood glaring at the woman as if demanding straight answer from her and he now ignored the male and simply watched as Black Star let a tear slide down her face.

[Jotari]

Siarles shifted again, receiving a teary but angry glare from his fiancée. Black Star focused up at Kasheem again, “Araxes, of course you idiot!” She snarled, angry again. This woman was on the pinnacle of death and this going back and forth between despair and fury was stressed her out. All that the outlaw wanted to do was escape and get strong again, but now she had her former fiancée and her current fiancée and a giant mess. Araxes, do you not remember being tortured after you died? He removed your memories.” Black Star paced like a furious wild animal, wracking her mind to try and figure out a solution to these problems. To her great surprise, it was Siarles who really saved the day.

Something about her tears had made his cold heart suddenly turn hot in anger. It was true, they as a couple would become a darkness that even Magrej would fear. But Siarles was fiercely protective and loving to his one and only weakness of the heart and feelings, the young Guardian. Moving forward with long sudden stride, he raised his bladed gauntlet and brought it hissing against the metal bands that held the dagger. The dagger held the sky gem, it held Black Star’s life. It took three strikes to break the bands, but the dagger did drop into his outstretched palm. Silently, he flicked it into the air and it was skillfully caught by the Guardian. Her eyes suddenly turned a very vibrant color of sky blue. After six months, the sky gem and the Guardian had finally come back together. Both had been barely surviving, just kept alive. But now, the cards were dealt in a new game. The outlaw queen’s eyes reopened, staring directly into the harsh glaring hollow holes of Kasheem’s skull. ” No longer will I hide in the shadows; instead I will be the thing that nightmares have nightmares about. But this much at least I will do, because of the love I had for you.”

She stepped back a bit, her eyes flickering to white flames. The dagger held between two slim hands, and then let go. Instead of falling to the ground, it stayed suspended in the air. For the second time within a year, a phoenix appeared in phantom form around Black Star. It was pale and white, but huge and powerful. It filled the cell easily with its immense size. When she spoke, it was her voice, but it was joined. Joined by a thousand echoes, voices of past Guardians, “Be released from Araxes’s hold, Prince of Kai.” The phoenix attacked Kasheem and for a few moments, there seemed to be a fight. But eventually, the phoenix won and a dark cloud escaped Kasheem’s form. He was still a skeleton, but no longer was he some monster of Araxes.

Black Star crumpled, exhausted, on the cell floor. Siarles had observed everything in silence. He now moved forward, raising his weapon on more to break the cell door’s lock. He crouched beside her, supporting her. His scarlet eyes flashed dangerously, warning Kasheem to stand off, as he gently stroked her face. She sighed and relaxed against him.

[Deidra]

Kasheem’s fiery head looked back and forth between the two before focusing back on Black Star as she spoke. She spoke of Araxes and of being tortured and of course he remembered the torture but everything she had spoken of still did not ring a bell to him. Him, an ugly skeleton..once a prince? It just did not seem possible to him. Kasheem watched the two carefully as Black Star paced inside her cell and then as Siarles moved past him and hacked away at the metal bindings holding the outlaw queens weapon of choice. He could have reached out, attacked the male, done something but he was decidedly too curious about what Black Star was talking about to take such an action at the current time and watched as the dagger was thrown and caught by Black Star. He knew he probably should have taken his chance just then to do what his mind still told him to do, even now as his confusion and curiosity pushed the thought away, he should have taken his chance to kill Black Star but now he was suck watching what her next move might be. He watched as her eyes changed from the dull gray to the familiar sky blue and he couldn’t help but take a step closer towards her, curiosity reigning throughout his fiery skull.

Her next words took Kasheem by surprise…’things nightmares have nightmares about’? That did not sound like any sane persons words to him, nor were they very womanly. His sockets were seemingly riveted on her now as she stepped back and her eyes changed yet again. He watched her closely as the dagger hung suspended in the air and for once the undead skeleton jumped as the bright bird enveloped Black Star. “What the…” Kasheem started to say but was shut up as Black Star’s voice reached him once more. The skeleton man had no time to react as the phoenix engulfed him instead, and try as he might he could not throw it from himself. And then it was like someone had blown up a damn holding back a lake as his past memories flooded into his skull and surely had he been alive the speed of their return would have brought any man to unconsciousness. But instead they merely made him stagger back in surprise as he stared down at Black Star now, seemingly dumbfounded.

[Jotari]

Breathing, in and out, slowly and steadily, quietly gathering strength. Black Star leaned against Siarles, her fragile body limp, but her mind working steadily to gather her power. Siarles support her gently, glaring at Kasheem. Siarles would die before Kasheem got to Black Star. “It is time for us to leave.” He spoke firmly and simply. The Dread Lord had only one weakness, Black Star. She was the only thing that would make him crumble. He loved her. But now he waited with silent dread, even some fear. Would she choose to return with Kasheem? But Black Star remained against him, where she belonged. He would overthrow Magrej, she would be his beautiful and dangerous queen. It was perfect.

Black Star slowly pushed herself to her feet, Siarles still supporting her. Siarles’ scarlet eyes still flashed dangerously at Kasheem. “She gave you back your mind, now leave us.” But once again Black Star chose her own path. She stepped forward, Siarles stepped back, still ready to catch her if needed. “I know you remember now Kasheem. I am not a little girl any more; I don’t get to play princess.” Her words were steady now, calm even. “I have had nothing but backstabbing from everyone I have trusted. I am done with that, I have chosen a new path. Siarles and I are to wed and Magrej will then find himself visiting Araxes in the dark realm. I’m not a sweet little angel Kasheem. I have changed, as have we all. The world is a very different place then it was two years ago. I have given you your memory, and I will give you back your kingdom. But after this, I give you nothing.” Siarles stepped forward and placed an arm around her waist gently, steadying her. He looked triumphant and strangely the dark one looked pleased and happy. He had won, Black Star had chosen the darkness, had chosen him.

But it was not over yet, Black Star had one final gift to Kasheem. Stepping forward, breaking away from Siarles, she reached up and gently kissed Kasheem. Fire did not hurt a phoenix, and the Guardian was indeed a phoenix. For a long moment, she seemed to stare at him sadly, but she stepped back again. It was clear that she had chosen Siarles and that it was her final choice. Once again, she activated her powers. This time she was stronger, more vicious and sudden in her movements. There was a great earthquake that shook all of Ellsinora to its very core. Several miles from the castle, the island of Kai was slowly rising. Magrej’s spell was broken. It took only a couple minutes, Black Star in a trance like state, Siarles quickly putting his helmet on and guarding her.

When it was over, the phoenix-form disappeared again like fog in the sunlight. The dagger clattered to the ground. Black Star lost her balance and sank with a low moan into the dirty straw. Siarles, fully armored again, quietly placed the sky gem dagger back in its old sheath and ever so gently picked up the unconscious future queen. Scarlet orbs peered from the strangely made helmet to Kasheem. “Do not ever harm her, or come near her. She has given you your life and she has given you Kai. But Jahanarwa has chosen me, not you. Do not forget this.” His words were cold as he stalked out of the dungeon with his limp damsel. Walking outside with his precious burden, Siarles called his black Friesian mare. Mounting and settling Black Star against himself, he turned the mare and headed toward Celeste. Light fell across his armor, the grey light of dawn. Beneath his helmet Siarles slowly smiled.
It was the Dawn of Despair.