Board Thread:Roleplay/@comment-25808351-20161227141359/@comment-28358106-20170112040335

(Glad to hear it!  I have a lot of fun with her.  You're about to see another side of her, too...)

Cyndwella sings to herself as she roots through her clothes in the ballroom. Suddenly, a black gash appears in the air and slowly splits open, spilling out malevolent energy like a fountainhead of darkness. A clawed foot steps out. Cyndwella turns, surprised, then a look of delight crosses her face.

"Aidlis!!"

She skips forward, practically tackling the dread Dracolich before she's had a chance to step from the portal,  her silver filigreed crown of horns standing in stark contrast with the black sclera they frame. Aidlis laughs, wrapping her massive arms around the Wisp, talons capable of rending steel like tissue paper embracing the girl gently. They kiss, then seperate.

''Hello, my little foxfire. ''She pets Cyndwella's head.

"Oh, Aidlis, I miss you!  I miss you and the others so much."

''And we you. Your time will not be long here, you need only show some patience, dearest. ''

Cyndwella pulls away, floating up into the air. She looks down to Aidlis. "Are you saying my tenure is being shortened?  Why?  Oh, wait...it's about saving those Dwarves, isn't it?   Damn, did I fuck with the timestream here?"

''No, Cyndwella. You did not. That action was of no consequence to us. This is about something much more important.''

"Ooh, do tell!" Cyndwella floats down, eager.

Aidlis' expression becomes somewhat stern. ''This concerns the Vampire King, Armata. First, you are NOT to tell him about what the Dark Father has done. Under no circumstances are you to interfere with the thread of fate you now travel.''

"Nghehehehe, I didn't say a word."

''But you were considering it. In doing so, irreversible damage would have occurred. You know this.''

Cyndwella sighs. "Yeah, yeah.  I know.  I won't.  As much as I want to for what he did to Emelia, you don't have to worry.  I'm staying as far away from that vampire shit as I possibly can."

I'm afraid that isn't possible.

Cyndwella stops floating and touches down. "What do you mean?"

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Aidlis' expression softens. ''You have an additional wrong you can set right during your time here, Cyndwella. It is difficult, but you will not get another chance. And neither will Emelia.''

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Cyndwella's brow darkens. "What do you mean, neither will Emelia?  What's she got to do with this?"

<p style="font-weight:normal;">''Everything, my little foxfire. You now stand in the precipice of releasing Emelia from her deepest sorrow. Now you must act on it. ''

<p style="font-weight:normal;">"Wait...you mean killing Armata?  But...that's..."

<p style="font-weight:normal;">No.  This is beyond vengeance.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">"But, I'm the ASPECT of vengeance!  That's what I'm here for, right?  To avenge a wrong?" Her voice raises.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">''Yes, dearest, you will avenge a wrong, but not this one. Emelia cannot free herself from her sorrow or right her own wrong. She is not lucid enough for long enough periods of time. Her mind is shattered beyond recovery. ''

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Cyndwella gestures, flailing her arms. "But...this makes no sense!  What is it I'm supposed to do?"

<p style="font-weight:normal;">You must get Armata to confess his regret for what he has done.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Cyndwella pauses. "Wait...seriously?  Hehehe, oooh, I can make him confess, all right..."

<p style="font-weight:normal;">''NO. Did you not hear what I just told you? '' Aidlis folds her arms. ''You cannot force a confession from the Vampire. That is not a confession. And if you tried, he would likely injure you enough to banish you back to the Void, and then you would lose all of your chances to right all wrongs during your tenure here. And his confession is not enough, Cyndwella...''

<p style="font-weight:normal;">When he confesses, you must forgive him.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">"WHAT?!" Cyndwella bursts into flame, turning into her true form. "After what he has done?!  I can't believe you would say that, Aidlis!" She spreads her arms wide. "I'm the aspect of VENGEANCE!  I'll NEVER forgive him for what he did to her!"

<p style="font-weight:normal;">YOU MUST!

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Cyndwella stops at the boom of Aidlis' voice. For a split second, she is indeed the Herald of the Void King. She pauses before continuing.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">''You must, Cyndwella! For who will be Emelia's voice, if she has none? She remains locked in the cell that is her mind and will continue to do so until she is freed! And the only way for her to be free is for the last vestige of the memory of the evil that destroyed her to be put to rest! The Dark Father demands repentance! You knew this when you became one of the Favored. As an aspect of the Father, so too must you be His will. Regret, Cyndwella! True regret will be the key that unlocks Emelia's misery, nothing less. But only your forgiveness will hold that key in hand. You will be the Dark Lord's presence. Seek the confession, or Emelia's chance will be forfeit.''

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Cyndwella listens to Aidlis speak, looking at the ground. She hasn't moved. Each word has been a knife in her heart,  cold but true. She speaks again, not looking up.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">"But...Emelia's timestream is a hundred years before this one.  I won't get to say goodbye if she's released and goes back, and I won't ever see her again..."

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Aidlis walks forward, her feet heavy on the floor. She places a hand on Cyndwella's cheek.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">''I know, my little foxfire. But Emelia loves you, you know this. Show her your own love and let her go when it is her time. ''

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Aidlis turns and the portal opens once more. She stops and looks back at Cyndwella.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">''Sorrow is steeped in the bittersweet, dearest. But in this, too, is love. It is the same love that the Father shows us, the same we see when He takes us in, and the same we feel when He releases us. Do as He wills, and let her go. She will know no other path to peace.''

<p style="font-weight:normal;">The portal opens and she steps through, it closing behind her.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Cyndwella stands still, looking at the floor for a long time.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">Finally, she turns and leaves, walking. Not floating, but walking. She walks down the hallway, going through a door to a side passage meant for servants. She goes down to the ground floor, then to a side door to the garden, out of the way of the main walkway. A small path through the snow-covered hedges hides her as she walks, stepping out onto the rear lot.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">She walks through the snow, her feet crunching lightly, making small footprints. She kees walking, onward and upward, past the end of the lot, and up the small foothill. She keeps going, climbing and walking, until she reaches a point to where the edge of the incline is partially hidden by the jutting outcroppings of the mountain. She walks slowly to the edge of the ledge and looks out.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">The town is below her, some distance away. Even now the sun has begun its descent, hidden behind a slate-gray sky. Light begin appearing in windows in anticipation of the early evening.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">There is a soft sound. Four metal poles in the fashion of Cyndwella's cage appear around her, her flames dancing up and down them. There is another sound, and a small swing appears from them, dangling.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">She climbs into the swing seat, its chains rattling. She sits there, looking out into nothing, her expression unchanging. She reaches up and holds the chains as the fire dances its slow motion dance around her hands.

<p style="font-weight:normal;">She says nothing as the sun touches the horizon and the snow begins to fall.