The Haunting (Open)

[Claire]

Claire had tried so hard to sleep. With the tournament approaching, she knew she needed it desperately. But every time she closed her eyes, those strange dreams returned. Dreams that had at first been unclear, but were now beginning to piece together in the strangest ways. A bridge in a meadow, surrounded by flowers like stars. A cavern with a strange crystalline blue light. A temple dyed in red. A house by a river. A throne room in decay. A castle dusted in snow. Always in the castle dusted in snow.

When she returned to that snow-dusted castle, she could feel the cold this time. The dress she wore was heavy- the corset pinched at her chest and stomach, stiffening her back straight. The soft gold of the fabric was lovely, but she felt like it didn’t suit her. It was a costume. She could feel a different pressure at her waist and hand and she looked up to see a masked man smiling down at her. He was dressed in black, like his mask. It was unmarked, unlike the other masks in the party. His hair was likewise dark, and his eyes like ice. His smile was so open though, warm in contrast to the cold color of his eyes.

You are so close. Do you see yet?

Claire didn’t know what the question meant and tried to open her mouth to tell him, but no words came out. The masked man laughed quietly and her chest tightened at the sound.

You will soon.

She awoke breathless. She could not sleep easily again after that, so she rose in the middle of the night to wander the ice-cold streets. The people working in the Gallows Inn were beginning to get accustomed to her leaving in the middle of the night with her sword on her hip, but at the very least she was beginning to dress Novian. Claire had been able to procure for a good deal some thick garments that better suited the weather so tonight she felt slightly less freezing than she usually was.

The tunic hit her mid-thigh over her usual trousers and boots, and was belted firmly at the waist. The skirt that had been supplied to her was no use at the moment, but perhaps some other time when she didn’t wander after dark. The tunic made her feel so strange- like she was trying to dress like a boy. The shirt was too thick to cover with her usual jerkin- she would have to find another way to fix that some other time. But for now, she walked, her breath clouding in front of her face.

The streets were strangely quiet, but that suited her fine. When she looked up, she could see the faint lights of the castle high above them, likewise quiet. A sudden gust of wind swept through the streets, then a sudden banging noise caught her attention.

When Claire turned her head she could see something in the shadows- something opening and closing down an alleyway. She turned and walked over, into the darkness of the alley. It seemed to lead to nothing at first glance, but then she spotted some overturned rubbish scattered in an odd way, like someone had thrown them aside in a hurry. She peered around it to see a gate jutting at an angle out of the ground, with crude steps visible in the faint light leading down. Whatever had gone down the passage not too long ago had gone in a hurry- they didn’t cover up the entrance and they had overturned a crate filled with unburned torches to use below in their haste, spilling them onto the stone. A secret passage, but to where? Claire could feel a grin grow on her face as she grabbed one of the unburned torches and rushed back into the street, lighting it on one of the lamps hanging from the buildings surrounding the alley. She moved back to the entrance and pulled the rusted gate open, hearing it creak as it did so.

Well, this one one sort of adventure she had always enjoyed. There were passages below her city that she would run about in as a girl, leading to their inevitable exits at the waterfront. But who knew where these lead? Claire descended down the crude steps into the darkness, keeping her light aloft. Perhaps this city would prove to be more interesting than she originally thought.

[Deleted]

Here she was in the middle of the night, walking the streets still in her dancers clothes. They didn't cover much leaving her legs exposed because of the slit to the sides, her belly was showing, since the shirt was short with no real sleeves her arms being bear. She was lucky that she grabbed a woolen cloak before she left, along with a pair of boots. Walking the streets not really paying much mind to where she was going just anywhere but back there, honestly what did men not get just because she dance in an outfit that show more than the women they see on the streets doesn't mean that she touch by them.

During her walk she end up wandering down into the lower district, it was went she spotted a person a little off in the distance going down an alley with a lit touch. Seeing no point it really she decided to follow the person, maybe they could help her forget that happen only few moment again. 

Taking the corner, she walked down alley seeing that the person disappeared, she was about to leave when she stumbled over something. Looking at the ground she noticed that the gate for the sewers was open. "Honestly who the hell is going down into the sewers at this time at night." She mumbled to herself, as she felt her instinct telling her to check it out, they never let her down before so see why they would lie to her now.

Opening the gate, she took one last deep breath of fresh air before heading down into the dark dirty sewers. As soon as she entered she wanted to leave right away, the scent was killing her nose. She could try to revert back to being human but since she wasn't wearing enough clothes she would most likely freeze to death down there. Placing her paw over her nose, she waited for her eyes to adjust to the dim, lighting.

Seeing a light up ahead moving she figured that it was the person who came down here just a little while ago. Following them, her boots steps echoing against the stone. She wanted to call out to her person who ever they were but wasn't sure if they were friendly and the scent was messing with her nose was well. Deciding to just wait until the person either turned around or stop she will continue to follow from a distance. 

[Deleted]

The night was cool; yet her thick warm fur kept her warm. Large paws padded soundlessly across the streets. Invisible to the naked eye; that was the useful thing about this form…unless someone could see through magic…like Garrett…she would pass unseen. The being itself was actually a dark red tiger, with bright blue green eyes. A large pouch hung from its neck; holding in it a supply of daggers and a change of clothes. A scent wafted to her nose…a familiar one…her large cat ears perked forward; it was Claire. Perhaps she could go give the girl another lick… With that thought she padded through the streets towards the third district.

She tracked the scent to the alley way, along with a few others….she paused. This was an odd way to go; alley ways in the third district weren’t things you usually wanted to go prowling around. But if Claire was going it alone that could hardly be safe. She cautiously approached the opening; taking the time to take in the scents around the grates….most of them where nasty…however she picked out human scents….recent ones. She allowed the scents to sink into her memory; and took in the sites around the alley….there where a box of unlit torches? There was a quick crunching of bones as her body slowly shifted into that of a humans. She quickly took the pouch from her neck and threw on her undergarments and a large shirt and a pair of breeches. She strung on a belt of daggers; and slung the almost empty bag across her shoulder. For good measure she tugged on a pair of wool lined gloves as well.

Aria frowned, if people were going in and out of the sewers for one reason or another leaving evidence out and badly hidden wouldn’t do. She shifted the crate so it was closed once more, and slipped into the opening of the grate. She closed it very silently behind her and quietly padded down the steps. One hand taking a dagger from her hip. Aria shifted her eyes to that of a cat, her ears transforming to that of a gorge hound. They twitched and picked up every sound that went on in the small tunnel. As she moved she made sure to place her feet to make the least amount of sound. Her breathing kept low and shallow.

As she moved forward Claires scent got stronger…and so did another’s. Aria took her pack and removed a coil of rope from it and placed it on her belt. Holding the now empty sack in her hand. The figures back was coming into view…and so was Claires light. Was it fallowing her? Well…act first ask questions later. Aria sprung forward and shoved the empty sack over the beings head, while her hand with the dagger came up and rested its edge on the things throat. Aria positioned herself slightly behind and off to the side from the girl. One of the first reactions of a trained fighter was always to stamp on the instep, best not give them that opportunity.

”It’s not nice to stalk people in the dark don’t ya know”

Her voice came out in a sweet sing song in the way.

”Hey Claire, You got a new shadow!”

[Claire]

Only a few steps down and the stench rolled over her. Claire wrinkled her nose and pressed on, finally hitting a damp but solid ground at the end of the stairs. Catacombs, most likely. And sewers. The stones were uneven beneath her feet, water seeping between the barely paved cracks. She lifted the light further in front of her, continuing down the passage- she could not hear whoever had left before her. Soon she reached a fork where the path split in two and she scowled, waving her light in front of each opening.

Before Claire could study further, she heard a noise behind her. Had someone followed her inside? She changed the torch to her left hand, her hand twitching over the hilt of her sword as the steps approached. Then she heard a second noise and she pulled her sword from it’s sheath, pointing it directly at the two women behind her. It took her a moment in the darkness to realize who exactly had been following her, and she blinked incredulously.

“ <Goddess above-> Do you follow me wherever I go, child?” Claire sheathed her sword and walked to the young woman and the… feline creature on hind legs. Her lip curled in obvious dislike. Clearly a whore, if her clothing was anything to go by. She yanked the bag off the feline’s head and pressed her fingertip under the… well, she assumed it to be a girl’s chin, tilting it up. She scowled more clearly. These sorts of creatures always filled her with a distinct sense of unease.

“If you followed me in an attempt to bed me, you are not my type. Keep your whoring above ground.” Claire pulled away, taking the light with her. She turned back to the fork in the road, studying the entrances. Next to one of them was a small character written in what appeared to be charcoal and she frowned carefully at it. Clearly if it was important enough to be marked then something could be there. Or it could be a warning against a collapsed entrance. Either way, she’d fall out. She turned her head to the entrance on the left with the mark and passed through the entrance, heading down that passage.

[Deleted]

She wasn't paying much attention to the sounds around her, when a bag was over her head. She was going to start struggling when she kept a knife to her next. 'Okay, Amiee calm down.' Doing her best to calm her sense when they were telling her that she was in danger. Her heart beating a hundred mile an hour. She stiffen up a little hearing a female voice telling her nice to stalk people. She wasn't stalking, she was following her instinct and they lead her her. 

She can't say that she was more then relieved when the bag came from over her head. Placing her paw back on her nose, she narrowed her eyes at the woman, now know as Clair. Doing all that she could from pushing the woman's hand from her muzzle, she already didn't like people touching her, because of those men. 

Shock wasn't the word to describe how she was feeling, the woman thought she was here to bed her, she would never stoop so low and bed a human. Hissing at the woman, "I don't wish to bed you, nor would that cross my mind." Flipping her hair her dancer side coming out. "I am best better than those whores you speak of."

Turning 180 degrees to look at the person who placed the bag over her head, narrowing her eyes at her. "And your one to speak of stalking, when you stalk me AND place a knife to neck along with that bag." Pointing to the bag in question. 

Turning back just to see the light glimpse the marking on the wall, she gasped she seen that marking before, something her mother taught her maybe but she didn't quite remember fully. Placing her paw on the wall, feeling the marking, it's clearly been there for a while, lightly she scratched the marking. 

Looking down at her feet, she quickly took off her boots, tieing the strings together and place them over her shoulders, at least this way her paw steps would be more quiet. Following the woman call Claire, now more wondering why something that seem so familiar to her was written on the wall it had to meet something after all. 

[Deleted]

”Occasionally not all the time; if it makes you feel better Ilta feels the same way so I can’t fallow you both all the time”

As Claire yanked off the bag, Aria caught it with her other hand….she was about to lose a perfectly good sack to sewer gunk. She still kept her knife to the felines throat as Claire examined her. However Aria was clearly displeased the bag had been removed.

”Moootherrr, you went and let the cat out of the bag…..I’m not nearly as threating once they see me.”

Aria pouted at the taller female; however it seemed Claire was more interested in her catch. Aria lightly tapped the dagger against the feline’s throat, not enough to slice it though. A thoughtful expression on Arias face as Claire assumed she was just a whore looking to bed her. She wondered how Claire hadn’t come to that conclusion about Aria herself; she ran around nude half the time…However Aria had never bedded a male in her life…yes she woke up in bed with one once or got pulled into bed by another. But none of that was the same thing… Aria raised an eyebrow when the woman whom had a knife to her throat hissed at Claire…then deemed herself better than regular whores.

”You know…some of the brightest most dangerous woman I know are whores…Each one has a story and a reason for what they do….and I wouldn’t hiss at her dearie you are dressed like one who commonly offers her services.”

As the woman turned Aria stepped with her, otherwise she would have slit her own throat. REALLY dumb to spin around with a knife to your throat.

”Actually if you listened to her initial response you’d realize I was fallowing her; not you. And good girls with good intentions don’t usually come down here; this is a place for thieves, and murderers. However I will give you a chance, prove to be a threat and I won’t hesitate to put a knife in your back.”

Aria removed the pressure of the dagger against the feline’s throat and slid it back into place on her belt. She frowned as they both went to go study a strange character in the wall….Aria had a feeling she knew what it meant however it would seem these two wanted to go see for themselves. So as the two went on Aria shoved her hands in her pockets, one large gore hound ear lazed off to the side while the other stood tall and twitched listening to sounds. She made for a quirky site, but she rather have the hound’s extremely sensitive ears then not. She fallowed lazily behind, her steps quiet from years of habit. Apparently she’d be bringing up the rear of their little get together. Her eyes were have lidded as she kept more to the shadows then near Claire’s bright light.

”So Miss Whorey, you got a name?”

[Madoc Crewe]

Further down the catacombs, people can be heard. Not just one or two, but a decent number as well as the rolling of carts. There is some talking, but it can’t really be heard until the approaching group gets closer to the trio of women. By then, footsteps in the darkness and around the bend can clearly be made out.

“I thought I told you to scout ahead already!” yells a masculine voice, clearly annoyed.
 
“I did, sir. There wasn’t anything other than the occasional rat or roach,” says a quieter voice.  Slight fear tinges his voice as he addresses his superior.

‘Well, unless either talk, obviously not. I’m sure they can hear us too from here. Hello over there!” Upon addressing the unknown party ahead, the man’s voice turns cheerful as if addressing a group of close friends.

[Claire]

“Of course you are.” Claire murmured in reply to the feline woman, peering down the passageway and squinting. As Aria and the feline not-whore prattled on behind her, Claire took a few steps forward into the darkness. She could hear something… rolling? The sound of wood on stone, for certain. Then she could hear steps approaching.

“I thought I told you to scout ahead already!”

“<Shit.>” Claire inched back, holding her arm out behind her in the direction of Aria and the feline girl. She could defend herself if this was trouble and possibly so could Aria, but she didn’t want to take that chance. She could hear them clearly, they must be close.

Claire turned sharply and shoved Aria and the feline woman around the corner into the darkness before going back towards the passageway, holding her light up. Her free hand rested on the pommel of her sword.

“Hello.” she walked forward closer into view, her hand still on the pommel of her sword. “Was not expecting company.”

[Deleted]

Claire did a better job at insulting people off the bat then she did, it was slightly impressive. Though Aria was slowly getting use to her abrasive nature, miss whorey was not….it was going to be a long night if the girl needed the last word in all that was said. A smile twitched on her lips as the girl defended thieves; yes we certainly do what we need to do to survive in this world….including have a little fun at others expenses. Both ears perked forward when voices appeared in the tunnels; far down in the tunnels. Claire and the other girl would be hearing them soon. Slowly she let her ears slide back into her delicate pointed ones. Then there was another shift in her body as a more feline form took its place. Much like the cat girls next to hers, only her tail poked out the top of her pants….pants always were difficult with pants….and the fur felt weird against the cloth of clothes. At least hers were meant for a much larger person.

It didn’t surprise her when Claire came around and shoved them in a dark corner. Aria waited a few moments and quietly took out a dagger from her belt and handed it to the cat girl. It was heavier then it looked, weighted perfectly as a throwing dagger should. Its metal was black and a sapphire was imbedded into the blade itself. The hilt was an intricate twist of metal ending in a loop at the end meant for something to hook on to it. Aria took another one out of her belt that looked exactly the same and kept it in her own clawed hands. Aria raised a brow at the girl when she responded with her name and something about common curtsy….for someone being so rude it was a bit of a hypocritical statement.

”Thought we weren’t doing common curtseys…I’ll be wanting that back after this.”

Her voice was low and light; and at that she shimmered off from sight. Her magic that came with is form cloaked her invisible to the naked eye. She slid out of her dark corner and kept to the shadows, away from the cast of Claires light. Even with being invisible she did still cast a shadow. However she could still blend in with Claires. When she spoke next her voice would only be loud enough for Claire to hear.

”…Why is it I meet cute shady guys always down in the sewers…”

Thought was more for herself, but anyways if trouble started she would have Claires back. Since she had an eye forward, Aria kept an ear to their behind. No good if someone snuck up behind them.

[Madoc Crewe]

In the light, a man appears followed by five other man. It is clear the one in the front is the leader with how the others look to him. He’s straight blond hair is fairly long and has been pulled into a loose ponytail. His style of dress suggests he earns enough money to live comfortably in this world. He carries with him a sabre with a relatively basket-hilt, but unlike Claire, he hasn’t made any motions to it yet. He smiles brightly at Claire, “Neither were we. I own this section of the catacombs, and people tend not to find their way down here unless I personally invite them. Making your presence rather strange.”

He turns to one of his men, “And see, he said that he scouted ahead. Would you be so kind to inform Mr. Cardas of his termination of employment.” His subordinate nods, “Yes, sir,” and then walks off. His footsteps can be heard moving away. The fearful voice from earlier can be yelling “PLEASE DON’T!” There’s some more screaming as it sounds like he is being dragged away further into the tunnels and out of earshot.

With that the blonde haired male clasps his hands together, “I hate dealing with business in front of company. Moving on, my name is Madoc. What is your name, my lovely lady? How did you find your way down here? And where are your two other friends, my dear? There is no need to hide in the dark.”

[Claire]

Claire’s face remained stony through the screams, her fingers twitching over the pommel. Devil with a smile. Possibly some criminal mastermind, at least in his own mind. Or a rich man playing the thief. Aria’s quiet comment made her scowl, but it wasn’t obvious that it was at her. It could have passed as her smelling something disgusting.

“No friends. Whores. They ran already, they did not look like they wanted men.” she tilted her head back a little down the passage, the careful frown still on her face. She turned her head back to Madoc, half wondering how he managed to keep his boots clean. Maybe he walked over his subordinates that he clearly cared so little for.

“Your country cannot say my name without mangling it, so you may call me what you wish.” Claire’s hand did not move from her sword once, but the torch wavered in her hand. “Was not aware that this belonged to you, the door was open. Next time I think I will just find a bed.”

[Roland]

There is a loud clatter coming from the area where the screaming man was being pulled off to and a figure emerges dragging both the man who was being dragged off and the dragger. Both seemed to be tied up by a silk rope that was actively binding them and seemed to constrict tighter every so often. Roland looks around with his characteristic frown as he looks over the group. His coat seemed to be a bit more ragged than before and he was breathing heavily as if he had just exerted himself.

After taking a few seconds to catch his breath and compose himself then looks up and narrows his eyes. "Madoc, I should have known." He grumbles and then turns his eyes towards the cart. He'd come down here to intercept smugglers, but when the commotion happened he'd seen it as his duty to get involved and prevent the 'punishment' from being delivered to one of the men who was now bound and under arrest.

As he looks at the rest of the group he raised and eyebrow, well here was a mixed bag. When he sees Claire his frown deepens, Her again, every time I run into her there's some kind of crime being committed He thinks to himself and as he turns his gaze back to Madoc finds himself wondering if the woman was a criminal after all, she hadn't struck him as one on first meeting.

[Deleted]

Ilta follows behind Roland. Being told that there was a massive underground network of tunnels was a bit surprising. However, if this was the past, this could very well be part of the tunnels that she was travelling in her world before she got brought to this one. She could see why smuggling would be a problem in the city with all these tunnels though. Fortunately for one of the smugglers, they got here just in time for the guy who was fired. However, she feels a bit like she is just following Roland around. He seemed to have this covered.

Clearly, Madoc and Roland had some history or at least knew each other. The name, however, didn’t mean much to her though. From what she could gather, Madoc made a decent amount from whatever he was doing and more so than he was dressed, even when compared to his companions. The saber he had was fairly well made. She looks at the other four men. This probably wouldn’t be their first fight. They looked experienced.

She looks back at Claire who she is somewhat surprised to see down here. It didn’t seem like most people used or even knew of these tunnels. She looked fine, but seemed on guard. Looking at her, she asks quietly, “Are you alright?”

[Deleted]

Taking the dagger from Ari, her eyes glinting with delight. The weapon was a little too heavy for her, looking at Ari she almost wondered what she was to do with something so beautiful crafted like this. If it was a fan that sure she would know what to do with but, a dagger she has never held a weapon in her paws. Before she could ask Ari what to do with it she disappeared into the shadows.

Pouting, she waited listening to the flow of the conversation. Her claws tighten around the dagger, taking a deep breath she decided to let it go since it seems that no matter what Clarie would never know the differents between a common whore and one who dances.

Noticing another two voices joining in on the conversation, she decided to poke her head out. Seeing some men tied up, she deemed it be safe to leave her hiding place. Walking the short distance, until she was little behind Clarie and unknowingly Ari as well. If the situation was to get worst she might not be able to fight with the dagger but leaving a few claw marks on the enemy would be enough.

Her ears turn, as the men seem to cry out in the background. Looking at the man and his companion behind him, she swears that him before not sure where. As for his companion she doesn't believe that she had met the woman. Seeing as the whole issue seems to be taken care of, she turn to take her leave. After all she only came down here because she had a feeling she would find something. Turning back, she handed the dagger to Clarie.

Her eyes cast down, as she drew back into her shell. "Give this back to your friend." A claw ran through her hair, falling away in front of her eyes, as she gave a swallow bow to the two people. "I am rather sorry." Her eyes failing to meet the others, now wondering if she allowed to leave or if she was to be wait to be dismissed.

[Deleted]

Aria looked on with interest as this new blondie talked; her eyebrow raising when he mentioned that these where his catacombs. Well then; she would need to formally meet this man….he could be useful. That was if he didn’t get himself caught. As the person who was supposed to scout ahead got called out Aria winced in sympathy. She did not want to be that guy….though he did do his job horribly. A failed scout could be death or capture on the job. It was something that no leader could take lightly.
Aria could only smile at Claires cover up; personally she found it amusing. She never really even had a first kiss yet never mind sleeping around with multiple men that would earn her the title of whore….So the statement amused her. There little get together didn’t last very much longer when two others joined their party.
At the site of more back up, Aria scooted around Claire and walked up to Madoc. She ungloved one of her hands and shoved the spare into her pocket. Aria popped a finger into her mouth, and promptly shoved the wet willy into Madocs ear. Aria skipped off to the side quickly and went and jumped up onto the carts, her transformation and invisibility dropping as she sat on whatever it was.

”So what is this blondie haulin over here to get the Royal Guard involved”

Aria waved to Ilta and looked over at Claire who was given her dagger.

”Mind tossing that back here please?”