The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Human Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Lingo on 16-09-2010, 01:27:54</h2>
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				Title: <strong>The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>16-09-2010, 01:27:54</strong>
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				“I don’t want to hear another word from that man’s voice; make him go away or I simply just won’t show up to this agreement he’s planned!” A delicate regal voice rang through the upper corridors of the castle, it belonged to the princess, Xanthe. She was talking about her father the king, who she refused to speak to ever since she heard of this silly agreement. Sure, Matthew had been causing quite a commotion in the kingdom, but why did she have to pay for his anger? Because he had some little crush on her so many years ago? “Louise, when I get back, prepare a bath for me; god knows it’s going to be a disgusting rainy night tonight.” She scowled, gripping the lovely big bed she slept in rail, her old maid Louise tying her dress into place. Louise rolled her eyes, glad that Xanthe’s big mouth wouldn’t be around her, but also feeling awful for the girl; did she really believe this was joke, and she would come back? The poor girl was absolutely ruined, she would never return to the kingdom again. <br><br>Xanthe had been dressed in a ivory satin gown with matching delicate slippers and a covering garment that was lacy and tied around her waist. Louise had figured it was one of the few ways she could make Xanthe look more delicate and innocent, and not as cocky and arrogant with her beauty. Finishing the lacing on the back of dress, Xanthe left the bedroom and quickly looked at her appearance in the mirror, and rubbed her cheeks to give them more color, while Louise watched her leave twisting her hands nervously. Her father followed her from her room to the carriage waiting outside, trying to give her advice to act respectfully to ‘Sir Matthew’ and other pleading words, but Xanthe chose not to listen and merely got into the carriage, planning to raise hell to the King when she returned. The carriage left the castle and moved through the crowds of villagers, all huddled outside their huts and waving her off with tears. <br><br>Xanthe was a crowd pleaser, so she took out her lacy handkerchief and waved to them in return her dainty gloved hand only seen outside the window. “Do not fret people, I will return!” She reassured them and they only seemed more panicked. “People these days!” She whispered fiercely to herself, not understanding why everyone was so afraid. When the carriage stopped near the desolate woods, the carriage man wept as he helped the princess out, and left her there. She was to wait for him alone at this spot, and he kissed her cheek in farewell and Xanthe waved him off in a cheerful manner, but was obviously annoyed by everyone being such downers. She shivered as the sun had set and looked out into the dark, haunting woods. It was&nbsp; a frightening sight, but she raised her angelic face defiantly in the air and waited; it would take a lot more than a cold dark knight to do in the princess of Azyul. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>16-09-2010, 02:51:45</strong>
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				He had been watching from a distance, the vague form of a brown carriage pulling up to the forest edge, and the vibrantly, white figure that birthed from its confines. The Clydesdale shifted anxiously beneath him, the black beast’s nostrils flaring as it huffed and impatiently counted as though already sensing his master’s excitement. Once the carriage departed, the knight urged the beast to trot onto the path.<br><br>The black knight’s approach was foreboding. Shards of earth and twigs leapt about the massive hooves of his steed as the creature’s leisure advance brought on a prolonged sense of fear. The man seated atop the creature might not have been what any spoiled, pampered child had expected. His eyes burned with green flames that trailed like fiery ribbons with his passing, and the visor of his helm looked like the jaws of a great devil. It had been what fooled several villagers to believe that he was actually a demon. Having not seen the man beneath the dark, thorny layers of frightful armor—if a murderer of hundreds could even be called a man—they had crafted stories to scare their children. Mothers had frightened their daughters with tales that if a lady refused to act like a lady, then the Demon of the Woods would whisk them away to be eaten. <em>Ridiculous.</em><br><br>The stallion looped around before the princess until his side faced her and his rider regarded her from over his shoulder. The black armor radiated an ominous chill as a white condensation streamed from between the jagged teeth of the helm on a breath and curled about the sharp, bull-like horns protruding from its skull. There was silence as the black knight looked down upon this delicate creature. This piece of meat put before him as though he were some starving beast, some god requiring a virgin sacrifice. Through the flames, his eyes were like white pearls, peering from behind the skull of a once demonic king. They darted about her face, breast, and obscured thighs, scrutinizing her being. Finally, an eerie and delighted chuckle reverberated from him, echoing from behind his covering.<br><br>“I suppose you’ll do. Come,” the black knight said as though unsatisfied; and that was that. He turned his horse’s backside to her, and the stallion started leisurely back down the path. He didn’t whisk her up onto the saddle like a barbarian or even offer her a ride. The black knight simply gave her a command, and not once did he turn his head over his shoulder to make sure she followed. He was too confident that she would do as he ordered. “They put before me a baby when I demanded a woman.”<br><br>It seemed like he were musing aloud to himself or doing so on purpose to grind on the young noble’s nerves. She was so youthful. “Not much of a princess to be deserted so easily. We’re you hated?” There was a tinge of insensitive amusement in his tone. “Surely, you have scouts in hiding, looking to run me through with arrows? Warriors? No one?” Laughter rang clearly from his throat as a plume of white smog gathered about his face, and then dispersed. “I had killed so many, I’m certain your army has none left to best me.”
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>16-09-2010, 03:55:49</strong>
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				Xanthe stiffened when she heard his arrival, but watched him approached through disdainful eyes, readying herself for his arrival, she stood ramrod still,&nbsp; a presence of elegance still with her. She was shocked by his ferocious armor and maybe even a little intimidated, but the princess didn’t dare show her fear and curtsied lightly, as she rose again she looked up at him and inwardly gasped, obviously offended by his scrutiny of her. <br><br>“Hmph!” She scoffed lightly to herself and crossed her arms over herself, trying to maintain a level of modesty. Xanthe was willing to be put before this man for a few days, but for him to so openly look at her body upset her, and she was determined that his last glances at her body would be the only ones he ever had. His laugh made her shiver, but she dared herself to look at him, her arms still crossed, as if challenging him to test her temper, already eager to slap him hard across the face. Xanthe figured she might’ve if he wasn’t on the beast he rode, the black unicorn, where did he find such a creature anyways? She had never seen them near the kingdom. <br><br>“Suppose?” She thought angrily and clenched her fists, she nodded in return to his order, flinching with anger. She took steady steps further into the woods, following the unicorn. How dare he? She was one of the most beautiful girls in the kingdom; he should be glad to be in her very presence! Swallowing another surge of temper, she followed a bit closer to the unicorn, uncomfortable walking in the dark forest, she watched the shadows, waiting for something to take her. But would it be better to be taken by them then this deamon? Xanthe was aware of his cruelty, purposely trying to upset her furthermore, she avoided his questions and turned to look at the haunting treetops and the sounds of the forest. <br><br>After a few moments of agitation, her anger burst over and she politely smiled at his back and curtsied. “With all due respect, my knight.” She said ‘knight’ with sarcasm and fake grace. “This is only a temporary ordeal I must face being with you, as my duty as a princess. Also, do not worry about the army, for you will be dead for your deeds in a matter of days!” She accused, her voice raised. “The people wept at my leave, my father begged for me to listen to him, do not be surprised when the defenders of Azyul attack you’re little abode, which they damn will!” She said then lowered her voice once more to a respectful tone. “And excuse me, but I do not appear before any man’s eyes improperly dressed or revealing….perhaps you’d be better off with a common whore?” She asked in mock sincerity. Xanthe was never one to be toyed with or spoken rudely to and let the person get away with the deed, when she hit back, she hit back as hard as she could…and while it worked well in court, she had a odd feeling this man would not be as moved.&nbsp; <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>16-09-2010, 06:08:55</strong>
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				<strong>With all due respect, my knight...This is only a temporary ordeal I must face being with you, as my duty as a princess. Also, do not worry about the army, for you will be dead for your deeds in a matter of days!</strong><br><br>The black knight grinned at her declaration though it lacked visibility from behind his helm. His smile dripped with arrogance as the princess continued her angered banter. "I hope your kingdom comes for you then as you say. They will only find death with my blade. Unfortunately for you, you are now my slave. Your father gave you to me to save his own ass. You will be of much use to me until the day you die..." He turned his head as a lone burning eye peered at her from over his armored shoulder. "Perhaps," he agreed. There was a smile in his voice. "Perhaps a common whore than a walking handkerchief. You could clean the piss from my cock with what you're wearing." He had accepted her battle of the wits. After all, he was confident he wouldn't lose even in that game. She had yet to learn what really pushed his buttons.<br><br>He set his eyes back on the path and rode on with the sugar-mouthed princess trailing next to his stallion. After what would seem like an hour of perhaps incessant bickering, before them arrived an immense canyon. The enormous crag breathed a chilling wind as though it were the throat of a great creature, and stretching along its expanse was bridge that looked as promising as a thread of yarn. Without hesitation, the black knight started across on his stallion. <br><br>The equine panted nervously and rolled its bit within its mouth. Its gargantuan weight upon the flaky and chipped boards made each plank whine as though one would give, and the ropes creaked as dirt crumbled from between their sinews.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>16-09-2010, 09:01:28</strong>
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				She gave a laugh of surprise at his arrogance, not believing his words. “Oh? You plan to battle twenty-some men, by yourself? I do not know if you’re brave or stupid.” She scoffed and looked away to the forests one&nbsp; more and was surprised he was responding her little temper tantrum. She turned back to him as he spoke again, flinching slightly when they met eyes, wondering how he manipulated them to appear that way she gaped at his accusation, but quickly caught up to him and said, “A handkerchief? Well then, Sir, if it is a whore you want, I have no problem with bidding you farewell, and going back to the kingdom to find a more suitable captive. Though if I appear to be a handkerchief, the best you can get there is a dirty rag.” She stated regally and avoided him and looked at the dusty road ahead of her. <br><br>Xanthe stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes wide, staring at the menacing bridge. Her hair moved with the harsh wind, and the sleeves of her robe flapped in the wind, sending additional chills down her spine, and she felt goose bumps form on her skin. “No way, no way in hell are we going across this….” Her thoughts were interrupted as she watched him beginning to cross and she gasped. She tip toed over to the shaky bridge, and attempted to put one dainty foot’s weight on it. It creaked as well and Xanthe jumped back away from it as though it had bit her. “You’re crazy!” She accused at him, trembling and tried to overcome her fear and took a deep breath. <br><br>“Er well….this has certainly been enjoyable, I see you’re off to collect supplies or whatever you knights do!” She gave the most cheerful laugh she could, though she sounded more nervous than anything. “I won’t burden you with my presence, I shall simply wait here!” She stayed off the bridge now and waved at him in a quick manner. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>16-09-2010, 22:45:28</strong>
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				The black knight scowled when she mentioned leaving him. He halted the stallion and peered back at the timid girl. There wasn't enough room for him to turn the beast around, and so the knight turned at the waist to better observe what the girl was doing. "If you leave, you won't make it back to your castle alive. The monsters in these woods would make short work of you. But if you manage to escape me ever, I will track you down to the edge of the earth and drag you back by rope to my camp. A deal is a deal, and you're mine. Get that through your head!"<br><br>The teeth of his helm clinched tightly together in a disapproving frown. The flames leaked vigorously from his eyes to flag like burning streamers past the sides of his skull. The black knight raised a hand and pointed a sharp claw downwards to his position. Her whining had run his nerves thin and her disobedience was making him impatient. "This is the way to my camp. So you better bring your ass across this bridge or I'll throw you into the chasm. Know that <strong>I</strong> am more dangerous than this pit below. So bring your royal ass here!"
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 00:18:50</strong>
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				Xanthe groaned and listened to him, turning back to look into the dark forests; running back to her castle through these woods did not sound favorable, and she knew he was right. She wondered if when the day broke, and the sun came up again, would she be able to possibly escape? Deciding to think on the problem at hand, she merely glared at him, extremely irritated; she was no one’s slave, and she did not belong to anyone, no matter what stupid deal her father had made. If her kingdom didn’t come to her rescue like she hoped, she would simply leave herself, and make it back to her home.<br><br>“You’re so pushy!” She complained loudly to him and swallowed, pushing up the sleeves of her robe, she took the first step onto the bridge and cowered as it creaked and grimaced.”I can’t believe I’m doing this, I’m gonna fall off this thing..” She thought desperately.&nbsp; Whining quietly to herself she meagerly took one step at a time, each plank creaking under her, despite her small weight. When she reached the beat and stood beside him, she was about to put her foot on&nbsp; the next plank when she turned and gave him a fiery glare. “I am not taking another step further on this bridge! I’d sooner die before that.” She said indignantly, crossing her arms. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 01:39:54</strong>
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				The black knight watched the princess finally muster some courage and start across the bridge. By the time it took her to reach him, he thought that they might had already been crossed the chasm by now. When she alerted him of her stubborn intentions, an annoyed hiss escaped him before he reached down and snagged her by the bicep. She was yanked up onto his saddle, and he warned her, "You're unworthy to ride amongst me, so enjoy this privilege for once we've reached the other side, you will be at my feet."<br><br>There was much tension surrounding him. It bothered him to know such a whiny creature was seated behind him. He was hoping she wouldn't say anything. He wished for the trip across the bridge to be silent and without irritating noise, and it might had been so if not for the figure that stood on the other side. His burning eyes caught sight of the brilliant figure briefly before a whistle sounded on the wind, and an arrow passed through his chest plate as though it were paper. The impact made the knight tip back into the girl. A pained cry bellowed from behind jagged teeth as the mouth of the helm had opened wide that the lips of a human male were seen curled back behind clinched teeth.<br><br><em>A holy arrow,</em> the black knight thought in shock. His demonic armor shook and an eerie howl sounded from it almost as though it was crying. His hand went to the arrow, grasping its stem before ripping it free from his chest. The blood that spouted from his wound ran like oil. Furiously, he gazed at the white knight that stood across the bridge.<br><br>The warrior had drawn his long sword and swung it down to sever the left rope of the bridge. Immediately, the left side collapsed, dropping like a trap door. The black knight felt his form sink and promptly he swung his right hand back to grasp the remaining rope that still held the bridge together whilst his other hand shot out to grasp the wrist of the princess. The stallion, however, was lost. Its terrified cry echoed into the darkness that swallowed it. The loss angered the black knight. Horses were hard to come by and that had been one of several horses that had died under him.<br><br>The white knight’s eyes fixed upon the girl in the black knight’s clutches. Her presence startled him for he had not seen her sitting behind his enemy. Lowering his sword, the paladin hailed, “Dear God, Princess Xanthe is that you? Your father had summoned my presence long ago, but I was caught up in a war. I didn’t think this devil would have you so soon. I shall free you!”
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 03:09:47</strong>
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				“Hey!” She protested, shocked when he grabbed her so roughly. Though she was thankful she didn’t need to walk any further, she situated herself comfortably on the beast, pleased to get her way. “Fine.” She said calmly to his warning, she didn’t seem fazed by his anger, however she really didn’t know what his threat meant, did he expect her to grovel? Well, as long as she got what she wanted, she really didn’t care. <br><br>Despite the occasional stifled gasp or flinch as they continued down the bridge, Xanthe obeyed his wish and remained quiet, looking over the edge of the bridge on occasion, and squeezing her eyes shut, trying to block out the image. That is why she didn’t know what had happened until she felt his weight on her and his cry of pain. She gasped, wondering what had happened and&nbsp; gasped in terror when she saw the bridge left ropes being cut. Who was attacking him? <br><br>Xanthe gave a scream as she felt herself fall and winced in pain when a strong hand grabbed her wrist, and felt she might faint when she saw herself dangling precariously over the ditch the horse had just descended into. Using her other hand to clutch the black knight’s hand, trying to support herself more, she heard the voice of the knight and rolled her eyes obviously angered, her face flushed from shock and annoyance. Seeing her captor wounded and how his had the appearance of any other man, had awoken a pity in the selfish princess. Saying unlady like language under her breath, she cleared her throat and began to speak. <br><br>&nbsp;“You call yourself my savior, you say? Is it not for you I am now hanging over a chasm?” She demanded in a haughty and regal tone, not bothering to wait for an answer. “My God as my witness, if you do not help me and the black knight up and out of here within minutes, I will see you tortured and killed in the most cruelest form possible.&nbsp; Do you not understand?!” She thundered, and the paladin jumped, surprised at her&nbsp; robust order. When the princess was angry her very tone was surprisingly scary, and even more so when one saw how fragile she looked. <br><br>Xanthe didn’t know honestly how they would get out of this chasm, but she seemed somewhat frightened and refused to look below her, and continue to think on what would happen when they got out of this area, would the two knights fight? <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 04:15:32</strong>
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				The paladin was startled by the princess's threat. He understood that he had made a mistake but to hear her demand for him to not only save her but the black knight as well brought an obscured frown to his face. "I will save you, but I will not save such a wicked creature," the white knight declared sternly. He then thrust forward his gauntlet. His fingers were splayed and palm upward as his armor radiated a dim and ethereal glow. "Give me the girl! I know of your strength devil. Toss her to me."<br><br>The black knight sneered at his contrary. "She is mine. Such was the deal with the king." He then clinched his teeth as a shudder of pain passed through his body. "Coward has balls to fight me over a gorge."<br><br>The white knight frowned at the black knight's words and roared, "What?" But only received a sinister chuckle in response. "Then fight me. I will tear her from your rotten fingers after!"<br><br>The grin that blossomed on the black knight's face at the challenge was wild and almost mad. The flames in his eyes burned erratically and his pearly eyes were shrunk like white pebbles. He was starving for a fight. Duels were what he lived on, and a fight against a paladin brought to his mind a great difficulty that could end with his own death. But that's what made duels exciting.<br><br>The black knight's feet straightened as though they settled upon a flat surface and his hand released the rope. The warrior was standing on air, an act that made the paladin step back in fright. How was it that this monster levitated without the need of wings? Beneath his helm, veins had swelled about his forehead. He took another step, while the princess still dangled in his grip. He then took another, and another, and another that came more swiftly than the last. Soon, the black knight was running, charging across the chasm as Xanthe was carried along in his grip. He looked like a predator having found a weakness in a herd.<br><br>The white knight had stepped back away from the edge. He stabbed his long sword into the ground next to him and shrugged his shoulder as a long bow slid down his arm into his hand. He drew another holy arrow from his quiver and nocked it ready. As the black knight stepped onto the grass and released the princess safely on solid earth, he maintained his relentless charge for the white knight.<br><br>The paladin lowered his aim to the black knight's right thigh releasing the arrow as it struck home; and instead of receiving a pained cry, the black knight unleashed an excitable bellow as his armor howled once more. The two cries mixing into one another sent chills up the paladin's spine. There was so much bloodlust radiating from his adversary that it gave him more confidence that to kill this man, this monster, would do the saints a favor.<br><br>The white knight ditched his bow in the grass as the black knight came upon him. Both knights had swiftly drawn their swords to have the black and white alloys clash in a violent meeting. The fight between good and evil was seen visibly in the duel as the paladin remained calm and precise with his countering strikes and the black knight's strikes were harsh and full of violent energy that it definitely seemed he were stronger.
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 04:55:04</strong>
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				“I just told you to! Do as I say!” Xanthe said, exasperated; why didn’t she have an opinion anymore? She was the heir to one of the most powerful kingdoms after all, was it because she was a noble woman? “He has nerve!” She thought brusquely, knowing men&nbsp; would always choose to fight if the option had presented itself…..especially knights. “When I get back home, I’ll be damned if I ever visit the militia quarters again.” She murmured quietly to herself, not too excited for the bloody show she was about to witness. <br><br>Xanthe couldn’t help but smirk at the paladin’s upset, yet the whole situation was amusing to her at this point, she really wasn’t sure who would win the battle, black knights may have been strong merciless, but every white knight she had met in her life was eager to be called a hero and was certainly well trained and supported. She was ripped out of her thoughts when she saw Matthew loosen his grip on the rope, she looked at him bewildered. “What are you doing?!” She said, panicked, and impacted herself for the huge fall that never came.<br><br>Gasping in astonishment, she was frightened to find herself hovering off the ground with no support below her, and she wriggled desperately in his grip as he walked across, actually glad when he began sprinting.&nbsp; “Is this really necessary?” She asked as they reached the ground, but she was obviously ignored by the two men. Eager to be safely on the ground, Xanthe hurried off to the side of where they fought, watching on nervously. <br><br>Xanthe winced as the paladin hit him once more, his cries we’re bloodcurdling with his eagerness to kill. Watching the men charge at each other, Xanthe backed away, and her eyes go wide with realization at what has just happened. The damn white knight had blocked the path back to her kingdom, or at least the only path she knew, and for that, she wanted to take Matthew’s sword from his hand and slice the white knight's throat herself. <br>
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 05:46:31</strong>
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				The white knight had watched from his peripherals the princess move off to the side. When his eyes flicked back to the face of the knight, he had noticed that he, too, had seen. It had given him an idea. After he had deflected a swing from the knight, he darted away from him toward the princess, and it seemed as though the paladin was bringing the violent duel in her direction. He reached out his hand as though anticipating to grab her, but such an act was not his intention. As predicted, the black knight ferociously followed keen on not letting him take her. The paladin turned a meter before reaching her. He pivoted upon his left foot and brought the long sword around. His right hand cupped the butt of the weapon as the argent blade angled parallel to the ground.<br><br>The black knight had swung his sword downwards, and simultaneously the two attacks met. The white knight thrust his sword into the knight’s abdomen. The pain sent shocks radiating through the warrior’s body that when his blade came down, it didn’t do so with as much force. The sharp edge bit into the white knight’s shoulder as both their armors chorused in pained screams. The paladin kept his grip upon his sword as he started to force the black knight back, driving the sword even deeper until it exited through his back.<br><br>Scarlet blood ran down the white knight’s left side as black blood dumped from the mouth of the demonic helm through choked gasps. The paladin could feel that the knight’s blade had become weak as he shrugged it free from atop his shoulder and brought his foot up to kick out at the black knight’s groin, forcing him to stagger backwards before he collapsed flat upon his back across the grass.<br><br>Through exhausted gasps, the white knight spoke, “Your greed has only brought you to your demise.” He lowered his sword and brought his hand to grasp his shoulder as he strode closer to the felled warrior. He observed him from behind his silver helm, blue eyes taking in the eyes that still burned with life and the black ooze that streamed from between the monster’s teeth. “Still alive…”<br><br>The paladin brought his hand to his helm and removed it as his long, blonde hair tumbled free. His face was fair almost like the angelic beings from legend. He tossed his helm upon the grass and smiled condescendingly to the creature at his feet. “I thought it only right that you see the face of the man who defeated you.” The paladin then brought his sword into both his hands once more as his eyes flared with rapture. He brought his sword down once more upon the knight and eerily, there was a smile on the holy man’s face almost as though he enjoyed every minute of what he was doing.<br><br>The black knight exclaimed a bloodied cry once more. He reached out with a clawed hand to attempt to swipe at the white knight’s shin, but the white knight lifted his leg out of its path and brought his sword down once more. “Still alive?” he chuckled. The flames in the dark knight’s eyes finally extinguished until there was but empty hollows that remained. His head tipped to the side as blood continued to stream across the grass. It was a satisfying end for the paladin as he removed his blade and stared at the blood that coated it. “Kssh,” he muttered dismissively. As he stooped to wipe his blade clean in the unsoiled areas of the grass, he spoke to the princess as though the incident hadn’t happened. There was a cheery warmth in his voice as he offered her his assurance, “I’m sorry for endangering you before, Your Highness. You are safe now, and though I cannot promise we will make it around this gorge in time to beat nightfall, you will have nothing to fear on the journey back.”
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				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 20:38:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe had been surprised the paladin was running towards her, and prepared to defend herself, covering her face with her arms, and when she had seen the paladin stop in front of her she jerked up right. It had been a trap? She gasped as both knights were struck, her stomach turning at the blood that had been poured from both men. <br><br>Looking away for a brief moment she tried her best not to get sick, though her face had gone a chalk white and her forehead had a sheen of sweat. She heard the sounds of pain coming from one of the men, and was surprised to see it was Matthew. She was surprised to see the man who had killed so many already down; was this white knight so strong? <br><br>What had she had said to Matthew only a few hours ago? 'For you will be dead for your deeds in a matter of days'? She hadn't expected a rescue to come so quickly, she didn't feel sorry for the black knight, but had she not been the one being held captive, she probably would've. A deal was a deal, and a king's promises (no matter the bargain) was supposed to be the most sacred in the realm.&nbsp; <br><br>Something about him didn’t sit right with Xanthe, he seemed much to happy to inflict pain, and he seemed oddly sadistic in his manner of stabbing Matthew. There was nothing she could truly do except watch as it seemed Matthew died, and the paladin walked towards her. She looked for signs of breathing from the black knight, but he seemed lifeless. <br><br>Nodding to the paladin, she merely dusted herself off, and took one last look at her dead captor. “Fine. But I expect us to be back at the kingdom by tomorrow..” She said in a calm but sure tone. She didn’t thank the knight for freeing her or fighting for her; she would only do so when she was back home safely, not still tromping through the woods as the sun began to set. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 21:57:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The paladin rose and sheathed his sword once it was clean. He then brought his eyes back down to the corpse of the black knight, another reassurance that the man was vanquished. He picked up his bow, and then his helm before walking over to the princess and took her delicate hand into his. “I can promise that,” he replied and bowed respectfully at the waist as he brought his lips delicately to her fingers. “I am called Justinian. I am also known as The White Knigh, a paladin of the Lord.” He straightened and walked with her down the length of the gorge. “I offer my services to many a nation sieged by devils. Again, I am sorry for having not arrived to your-”<br><br>The white knight stopped as just over his shoulder the black knight was sitting upwards. “What in heaven’s name…” he gasped in frightful disbelief.<br><br>The black knight’s head hung as his visor continued to drip, and his eyes were still black and hollow. His back was to the princess and the white knight as he brought his hands to his helm. The white knight had turned around in time to see him remove it to his surprise. It hadn’t been the head of a demon after all. To see that it had only been a helm made his eyes widen in further astonishment. “What…what foolery is this?” he whimpered.<br><br>Setting his helm aside, the black knight stood with his hand grasping the area where he had been stabbed through. When he turned to finally face the two, there was blood littering his chin and throat in numerous streams that had formed from his mouth and the sheen of perspiration that brought a shine to the dark blades of his hair. His black irises were small, having shrunk from the adrenaline that was coursing through his body, intensified by the look of shock and confusion that paled the paladin’s face. <br><br>“Hu-human? A child of God…no, you rose from the grave,” the paladin pondered aloud.<br><br>“There is no God,” the black knight returned. His lips stretched apart into that crazed grin that had been veiled by the demon king’s helm. “You underestimate me. I thought you had heard all about me…” The black knight leisurely strode forward. The veins swelled like roots, branching along his forehead and the sides of his face. “Because you felt it necessary to strike me whilst I was on the bridge, I felt that you were unworthy and your power unequal to mine.”<br><br>The white knight struggled to move, but realized that he could not and fearfully warned the princess. “Princess, stand back!” His hands balled into tight fists as he attempted to resist his immobilization. “Release me coward! Afraid, I’ll kill you again.”<br><br>The black knight’s brows knitted together irritably though his menacing grin had yet to thaw. “You never killed me; although, you had the chance. There isn’t a place for weakness in this world.” As the black knight stopped before the white knight and stared with his cold, black eyes into his blue. His brows lifted as a look of sympathy softened his face. “<em>I thought it only right you see the face of the man who defeated you</em>,” the black knight coldly mocked.<br><br>“Xanthe run!” the white knight bellowed. The consecutive actions performed by the black knight were inhumanly swift, actions that were not seen in his previous fight with the knight. His left hand rose with each of its bladed fingers abreast each other. His hand then ripped through the paladin’s mouth as he had screamed. His crimson blood sprinkled the black knight’s face as his mouth was torn wide and cheeks split until the top of his skull rolled down the length of the black knight’s arm and shoulder to thump onto the grass.<br><br>The white knight’s body convulsed as the black knight released it from the psychic domination he had on it. The veins faded from his face as his eyes were brought to the dark-red syrup that coated his gauntlet. There was a look of pure satisfaction on his face as he wiggled his fingers amongst the film that clung between them. Red had been the sign of weakness. That was his understanding for why so many had red blood and why he and his father had black. His eyes darted from the blood on his hands to the princess, wherever she was, if she had remained to watch the entire show or had fled as the paladin had pleaded.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>17-09-2010, 22:47:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe curtsied dutifully to Justinian as he kissed her hand, “Honored. I’m sure.” She said in a more respectful tone. As they began their journey back to the kingdom of Azyul, Xanthe began to get more excited about her return. The rough and heartwarming peasants, all cheering her name and thanking God that their princess was safe. The king, so relieved to find his daughter back would simply bow to her, and have a banquet in her honor. And, of course, the nice piping hot bath Louise was to prepare for when she-<br><br>“What?” Xanthe asked impatiently, wondering why the white knight had broken her lovely train of thought with his pondering. “Let’s keep moving!” She insisted and ran back beside him and gasped at what she saw. “How?” She mouthed to herself, her air of hope diminishing quickly. “I should’ve known.” She thought dryly as Matthew stood, taking off his helmet. <br><br>Xanthe shuddered at what Justinian had done to his face, he was horribly bloody, and she had a bad feeling for the poor paladin. Stepping back reproachfully, Xanthe knew the paladin would not live; it wasn’t a pessimistic thought, it was a fact. The black knight’s grin was the epitome of malicious and blood thirsty, it was hard to look away at the frightening sight. <br><br>As Matthew came closer to Justinian, Xanthe clenched her now clammy fists in worry, how did he manage to survive? Was he really human or god knows what else? “He just got up, he just got up like he only gave him a paper cut!” She thought frantically, she was unprepared to see the gory sight that was about to unfurl. <br><br>That was the reason why when Justinian pleaded her to flee, Xanthe didn’t need to be told twice. <br><br>Within seconds of his warning, Xanthe had already ran back into the black forest, panting as she sprinted, she was surprisingly fast for a 19 year old girl in a gown. Ferocious thorns attacked her hair and dress, tearing the delicately pinned curls out of their position and ripping the hem of her vibrant gown. Checking nervously behind her shoulder, Xanthe had managed to go straight into another area of thorns and sharp branches. Giving a cry of pain, she wrenched herself through, covering her face with her arms, leaving them scrapped and letting out a small stream of blood that she wiped away dismissively. <br><br>She had reached a river bank near a clearing of the woods, adjacent to that was a small cliff, that could maybe break a few bones if you fell off. Xanthe clutched onto a tree near by the stream, coughing and trying to regain her breath, her heart pounding. She heard the sickening thud of the dead knight and her fingernails curled harder onto the tree, she felt faint with distress. <br><br>Standing up straight, Xanthe examined the stream and cliff. While it was a shorter route, the cliff was slippery and treacherous, and in such a proud dress and as frightened as she was, with her luck she would fall right off and kill herself. The river wasn’t a much better option wither; it’s swirling waters and unknown depths could easily make her drown. Deciding the stream would be her safest bet, Xanthe jumps in, gasping at its cold temperature, the freezing water swirling just above her knees. She treaded through as fast she could, shivering, and gave a shriek of alarm when she slipped, dousing the rest of her skirt with the cold. Standing back upright, determind, she made it to another bank of the opposite side, she groaned in exertion and heaved herself up, her heavy gown weighing her down. Grimacing, Xanthe wrung out the skirt of her gown, she was soaked waist down and cold. Rubbing her arms and taking in shaky gasps, she looked at her surroundings, unsure where to go next.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 00:10:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Just out of the corner of his eye did he see the white skirts of the princess, leaping about as she fled into the woods. The black knight scowled, his darks brows furrowing and nose wrinkling in disdain. Did she really think she could escape him? She was merely wasting his time and stretching his patience. He had stopped bleeding some time ago. His first arrow wound had been first to scab over before his thigh, and all the other wounds he received. The amount of pain that overwhelmed his body at once had made him pass out briefly. If the fool, white knight had been any killer, he would have severed his head, but no…he was weak for he believed in the laws of his God, the very laws that kept him from seeking powers that could have rivaled his own. The very evil and dark magic cursed in the scriptures as being a product of Satan and devil worshippers. <em>Pah</em>.<br><br>As Matthew returned to pick up his helm, he thought that the presence of the Devil was more evident on earth than the presence of a God. Returning his helm to his head, green flames erupted from his eye holes and those jagged teeth came together in a sinister smile. The black knight turned and followed in pursuit to where the princess had fled. If there was a Satan, than he wouldn’t hesitate to challenge the creature to a duel. But so far, as he strutted about in the armor of a demonic king, he was convinced that he had already done so.<br><br>The black knight arrived on the bank of a stream, peering across like an ominous specter at the princess on the other side. “If you continue to run from me, you won’t like me when I catch you,” he threatened, and his face twisted into a sadistic grin as though he looked forward to her defiance.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 00:26:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe shreiked, obviously shocked, and pivoted around to see him staring at her with that awful armor on again, seeming unfazed by the injuries he had just recieved. "How did you get here so fast?" She mumbled, more so to herself then him, and looked at the ground, biting down on her thumb thinking. Her first instinct was to flip him the bird and keep going, but what if that's what he expected? Or was the safe thing to do was return to him and beg for mercy...? Hell no. Xanthe would never. <br><br>Looking back at him, she glared at him and pointed directly at him and shouted across the steam. "I didn't like you when I first got into this mess, you bastard! You're not gonna catch me, I'm going home!" She said, naively hopeful she could find her way out, she turned on her heel and sprinted deeper into the woods, loosing track as she slid on the downhill path, she grabbed a tree again to keep balance and weaved in and out of the area, making a complicated path to track. She made it to the next clearing and continued near the trees, sprinting further down the area and going into the woods on the oposite side, blindly trying to find an escape route. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 02:12:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Matthew thought he would have enjoyed this little chase, but now it was just growing annoying. The little bitch honestly believed she would return home to Daddy. She had no idea where the castle even was. She was just running deeper and deeper into the woods, and as the sun would set, the forest became a labyrinth of darkness.<br><br>It was night, and every tree looked like every other tree, and directions were difficult to decipher for north, south, east, and west looked just as vast and hopeless as any other direction. There was the squawking, howling, and rustling of various creatures in the dark around her. The night had fallen like a black cage over this small forest, and there didn't seem to be a way out.<br><br>A flute passed through the din of the woods as the creatures were muted, and in the distance was the small flicker of a fire. The tune was bright and friendly, the melody fluttering with spirits. It might have brought to mind several things: a party; a caravan; a flute-playing stranger in the woods besides the dark things that lurked and stalked her.<br><br>If the princess stumbled across the camp, she would find not a man but a strange creature on goat-like legs. It looked like a fawn, but it had the upper body of a deer and the hands of a man. It stood on cloven hooves, its skin brown and black with zebra stripes, and a long horn protruded from the center of its head. Its eyes were yellow and bulging as its lips were pressed against the mouthpiece of his instrument. In a delightful dance, it skipped about its fire that if one looked closely, they would notice that it wasn't chicken this creature was cooking, but the huddled forms of small children.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 02:51:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As nightfall set, Xanthe began to wonder if she was safer with Matthew than alone at this point. She could barely see her hands out in front of her, and her dress still clung a bit, still drying. Shivering, she was easily detectable in the quiet woods with her shaky cold breaths and the occasional gasp or yelp she admitted when she swore she could feel things on her skin or bumping into her. <br><br>Walking at a tired pace now, Xanthe groaned as she trudged along mindlessly, her hair loose from its pins and the bottom of her dress muddied. This whole slave deal was getting to really aggravate her, and she just wanted to go home and sleep, she was so cold and hungry now too. She didn’t dare cry out for help in the woods, worried she would attract something she didn’t like, or even a group of robbers or murderers. She was truly scared, and all she wanted now was someone who could at least be safe company; Matthew right now didn’t count since she figured if he saw her he would really throw her into the chasm.<br>&nbsp;<br>“Huh?” Xanthe whispered, hearing a soft, lovely sound. A flute, perhaps? Tracking the sound Xanthe went closer to it, hoping it was one of those traveling musicians that liked to play in the woods. Perhaps they’d be moved to pity by a cold, pretty princess who was clearly in distress. Coming closer to the fire, the flames started illuminating her features and shining off her flaxen hair. She opened her mouth to speak but gasped at the sight she saw; some sort of…..creature….eating…..<br><br>She gasped and recoiled back into the darkness, panicking, her breaths coming out shaky once more. She didn’t dare to look if the thing had seen her, and truthfully didn’t want to know. Finding a large twig half the size of her, she gave it a practice swing in the air, hoping it would defend her. Saying a silent prayer, she turned back to the camp, to find the creature gone and the children still roasting. Hiding behind a bush, Xanthe put her back against it and tried to stay still, holding the large branch with shaking hands, waiting to see if the creature would approach her. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 04:36:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The goat-like creature ceased its playing when its orb-like eyes settled on the girl that came into the clearing of his camp. His head snapped to the side, and then up in haphazard movements as though the creature's brain wasn't quite right or was slow to process neural signals. When Xanthe fled back into the shadows, the creature's nostrils flared before an abrupt snort resounded from them. Its lips trembled as they slowly rolled back to flash needle-like teeth. It tossed its flute onto the ground and stormed into the woods in search of her. Every now and then, it sniffed the air, and opened its mouth to release a scream into the night, hoping to startle its prey from hiding.<br><br>As Xanthe sat there huddled in the bushes, the dead leaves before her resounded with a loud crunch as the black knight stood before her with his eyes burning in those haunting flames. In the night, the green glow lit the craggy rows of his visor and the smooth horns that extended from his skull. He didn't say anything to her as his head turned upon hearing the vicious scream of some swiftly approaching creature. When it stumbled across the black knight, it stabbed its hooves into the ground and collapsed back onto its bottom. It sensed the ominous presence that hung around him, and finding him very dangerous, the creature scrambled back to its feet as it quickly turned and fled.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 05:05:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe gaped in horror at the terrifying mouth the creature possesed, and hid her face, squeezing her eyes shut, hoping this all was some twisted nightmare. She whimpered quietly to herself and flinched at it's long, peircing screams, and she focused on breathing normally, her face still burried in her knees. Resting the twig beside her helplessly, she waited for the beast to come at her, not willing to look at it. She had a feeling the small stupid twig wouldn't help her, and she figured this creature would be the death of her.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>However, when she heard the footsteps unlike the creature, much more heavier, she lifted her head slowly, afraid at what she might see. Her eyes went wide, and she gasped quietly, immeadiately recognizing the burning green eyes, blasting some light into the otherwise perpetual darkness. How did he find her here? And just in the nick of time, as the creature approached them, Xanthe backed up further away from it, while Matthew seemed to scare it off. <br><br>Giving a quiet sigh of relief, Xanthe was torn between feeling ultimate relief and despair now that he had found her. It meant the hopeful and miserable hours she had spent running through this damn forest had gone to waste, and he would certainly not be happy with her for making him search for her, and she expected him to be enraged with her. It also meant she wasn't going to die tonight, and there was someone who was nearby to protect her from other threats this world held. Standing up silently, Xanthe was too tired to keep running, and besides, where could she run? She could barely see him, minus his eyes, or two feet in front of him. And for once, the stubborn and mouthy princess didn't know what to say. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 05:25:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As soon as the black knight brought his sights back to Xanthe, he watched as she rose to her feet with nothing to say. He honestly didn't have anything to say either, but he did have something that he had been waiting to do for a very long time. Abruptly, the back of his armored hand swung around with enough force to knock her unconscious yet lacking the strength to have broken anything. He had brought his hand against the side of her face and the next time she woke, she would find herself bound at the arms and legs and lying on her side upon a bed of wet leaves.<br><br>The leaves were near a river bank. The current was gentle there and standing up to his waist in the water was a nude male. The water glowed gold, reflecting the fire that was some ways behind her in a cave. They had reached the black knight's camp and he was bathing in the river, while keeping an eye on her apparently with how she was bound not only at her arms and legs, but at her wrists and ankles too.<br><br>Matthew bent over as his abdominals constricted, crunching into solid curves of muscle. He had managed to wash most of the blood from his creamy flesh. His rough hands exfoliated the filth from his skin, and he cupped a few handfuls of water to splash into his face. His features were still a bit far off for her to clearly see. The runes that were carved on his skin would have been seen if she were closer.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 05:52:10</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe groaned as she stirred, hearing the soft sound of water and found her cheek pressed against damp dewy leaves, she sighed in irritation, and used her shoulder to wipe her cheek and blinked a few times, her vision was still blurry. "Ow..." She moaned quietly, her head was in excrutiating pain. Trying to use hand to feel it, she felt she couldn't move it, and her vision was able to focus enough to see strong chains that bound her arm and wrist. <br><br>Giving a startled cry, she tried to sit up, but the chains prevented her from barely moving at all. She started to remember what had happened last night; she had run from Matthew, only to almost get killed, then knocked unconcious....by Matthew. "The dirty little creep! When I get out of this things, I swear!" She whispered feircely to herself, unaware of the male a few yard away from her bathing. Still a bit loopy, she didn't recognize him and cleared her throat. <br><br>"I don't know who you are, but unchain me at once!" She demanded, her voice still husky with sleep and delirious, and struggled harder, her wrists and ankles felt sore from the constant tugging.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 06:25:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe's screams made the black knight arch a lip in disgust. She had slept so quietly last night. It had been nice not having to deal with her whining. He turned around to face her. There was no blood obscuring his face this time as he stood before her, the water hovering dangerously past his hips as the dark hair that grew coarsely about his member was slightly hinted. He didn't look embarrassed to be standing in front of her bare-ass naked. In fact, his small, black eyes seemed to care less beneath his naturally stern brows. <br><br>"Good Morning, Your Highness," he mocked, and then his lips twitched to the side into a smirk. "Unchain you? But you're just going to escape. This is your new home now." His brows then furrowed further as he threatened, "And if you don't shut your trap, I'll make sure you learn that there's no going back." He stared at her with intense eyes that practically dared her to cross him. She would regret it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 06:54:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She gasped realizing it was him, and her anger rose again. “Disgusting pig!” She swore, tugging at the chains again, the rattling sound disrupting the peace of the day. Had he been closer, Xanthe would’ve gladly spit at him, or hit him back, or whatever she could think of to piss him off more or disrespect him; a part of her wanted to see how far she could push him, but at what costs? She was a little intimidated by him, but she refused to let that get the best of her. <br><br>She felt herself turn crimson when she realized he was absolutely naked, and looked away from him, as he issued his next threat. Pretending as if she was ignoring him, she waited a few moments before looking back at him again, keeping her fiery eyes square on his. “Not even if I say pretty please?” She said in just as a mocking voice he had used, and fluttered her eyelashes at him, completely infuriated with being chained, she wanted to make him even more mad; if he was making her go to hell, she would be damned if she didn’t drag him with her. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 07:32:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The black knight bowed his head as though he were a bull readying a pair of deadly horns. As she cursed at him and even had the audacity to retort, his lips parted and that <em>oh so familiar</em>, wicked smile was on his face. He started out of the water. Ripples pushed from his body as he stormed toward shore. He emerged before her with crystals glinting about the coarse hair of his lower regions and dripping beads off the tip of his thick and sleeping behemoth. Matthew marched right up to her and grasped the chains about her arms, lifting her with surprisingly little effort and dragging her to the water. It was there he dropped her upon her side within the shallows. He crouched and grasped wads of her once vibrant gown and began tearing them from her body. The prolonged sounds of splashing and ripping was a perpetual noise that surrounded them until even her underclothes were stripped free and she lye naked with nothing but chains to clothe her.<br><br>Matthew violently brought his hand about her neck to lift her head above the water so she wouldn’t choke to death. His rough hands rubbed over her dirty skin, cleaning it and touching her in sensitive places. His hand went between her thighs, grasping her pussy as his fingers pushed against the folds, spreading them as he roughly stroked it. He washed it off filth, his fingers sometimes brushing against her clit and sinking to probe the slick walls of her uterus. “Do you still think you can go home?” the black knight angrily demanded. He wasn’t going to stop until he got the answers he wanted. He would molest her entire body if it required such.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 20:31:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe watched him curiously, wondering what he was thinking, with his head hung she couldn’t see his expression. When his teeth became visable Xanthe felt herself cower, as though she was trying to plant her body firmly into the ground. She became even more nervous as he walked towards her, and furrowed her fine brows together. “What are you doing?” She said, appalled as he lifted her, Xanthe struggled violently in his grasp, trying to kick him or punch him, but still had no real use for any of her chained limbs. <br><br>Gasping as she was hit hard with the cold water, she coughed, relieved to be out of the water to breathe, but not too happy his hands were around her neck. Trying to desperately claw at them, she could barely lift her weighed down hands out of the water, and strands of her wet blonde hair stuck to her neck and face. Even more infuriated that he had not only exposed her, but ripped her beautiful dress, she glared at him defiantly still, though she hated him putting his hands on her, and hated her current vulnerability. Her face flushed and she let out a shaky breath as he hands moved between her legs, and she tried to squeeze her legs together, squirming under the water, it wasn’t much use. “I am! Stop it!” She demanded in a shaky voice, it wasn’t a matter if she could go home or not to Xanthe, for her it was when, she simply refused to believe she would never be in her beloved kingdom again. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 20:51:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Matthew drew his hand back and rose to drag her closer to the shore. He released her to tip over onto the wet bank as he strode back to his cave. He wasn't finished with her. He wanted to break her. Walking around the fire, he stooped down to pick up some deerskin shorts that he quickly stepped into. He then walked over to where he set his swords against the walls, picking up a red, wickedly-curved dagger.<br><br>The black knight returned to the bank and he took a knee by Xanthe's head, grasping a wad of her soggy, flaxon hair. He craned her head high as he held the dagger before her eyes so she could see it. He had no intention to cut or maim her with it, but was going to use it for something else. "You are no longer a princess. You are a servant. <em>My</em> servant. You will learn to serve me and not run from me because there is no going back. You have been with the black knight. The devil! Your reputation is tainted by my presence. No one will want you near them knowing that you are mine. So do you understand? Do you!" he roared.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 21:38:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe gave a startled cry when she felt herself hit the ground, lifting her head she watched him go back into the cave. Would he leave her here? Trying to get up once again, she tugged on the chains and groaned, laying back down on the ground defeated, she watched his feet draw closer to her and gasped in fright at what he held; why was he holding a knife?<br><br>Xanthe shreiked when he grabbed her hair, waiting to feel the tip of the knife on her skin, she watched it warily, her heart pounding.&nbsp; She wanted to protest, to tell him that she would always be the princess of her kingdom, that she would never be his, but she was too nervous and scared to see the outcome if she didn't oblidge and nodded miserably, squeezing her eyes shut, taking in a shaky breath. "I understand." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 21:58:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The black knight stared into her frightened eyes when she confessed to him her understanding. He wasn't convinced because she was all too quick to agree with him after the protests she gave him before. Maybe it was because he threatened her pathetic life? Matthew roughly released her hair, shoving her head back down as he rose back to his feet. Frowning deeply, he started back to the cave, having no intention to bring her closer to the warmth of the fire or even considering her hunger and thirst. Tossing the knife back into the corner, he sat upon a stacked carpet of animal skins and rested his back against the warm wall of the cave as he allowed the heat from the flames to dry his body. He seemed very calm when he sat there alone. He closed his eyes and the flame’s orange glow played along the moisture that polished his torso. In actuality, he was thinking, thinking whilst resting his eyes. He was without a horse, so he would need to find another. Only this time, something that didn't die so easily.<br><br>Another thought had come to his mind about that girl. She was very irritating and he wasn't even sure if this was the girl from so long ago. During the battle with the white knight, she had asked the paladin to not only save her but him as well. She was either a naïve fool or…Matthew opened his eyes to scowl at the wall across from him. He had rather pretend she didn’t exist for now as he decided to lye upon his side and possibly take a nap. She was just a woman. A stupid, red-blooded woman.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 22:20:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe winced as he threw her back on the ground, she didn’t take another look at him again, she figured he would retreat back to the cave, and honestly didn’t care. Still, she shivered as the cold wind dried her wet skin and awkwardly placed her elbows over her breasts, trying to cover herself as much as she could, her hands laying limply in front of her face, still unable to really move. She curled up as much as the chains would allow, laying on her side, her shoulders shaking.<br><br>A small tear ran down her face, and she angrily used her shoulder to wipe away the next tears that had sprung up from her sore eyes, but as they continued to pour she figured she better cry now, and not when the black knight was watching. She remained silent, still shaking, she took a few deep breaths, trying to clear her mind. She was getting delirious with thirst and hunger, and she shifted uncomfortably on the ground, grimacing. Could he at least had the decency to cover her with something? She was naked and cold, laying out in the open for anyone to see, and that frightening thought kept her eyes open. However, Xanthe fatigue was beating her worries, and after an hour of crying and watching the bushes, she finally fell asleep. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 22:33:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				When Xanthe would wake, she would find herself in the cave by the fire. She was still naked and adorned in her chains, but there was a smell filling the cave, the smell of roasting meat. It was venison; and across from her, Matthew was sinking his teeth into a thick leg. The skin of the deer he killed was lying off in the grass, drying from being stretched and prepped for common use. He was wearing his armor as though he planned on leaving soon.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>18-09-2010, 22:55:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe first heard the sound of the flames cracking as she stirred, sighing. She wondered where she was, it was much warmer than where she had been, and she wondered if her fear had come true and she had been taken while she was sleeping. Her eyes grew wide with panic and she gasped, trying to sit upright once again she was over powered by the chains and pulled down. Grimacing, she looked further at her surroundings and saw the familiar heavily armored man and covered herself in an awkward position once more, noticing the food in his hands. Xanthe was absolutely ravenous, but she didn't dare ask him for food, knowing his reaction would most likely be unfavorable. Turning away from him, she looked back at the ceiling of the cave, waiting for his next move. Did he plan to go somewhere? And if so, would she have to stay here chained? 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 00:25:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After he ate as much as he wanted from the deer leg, Matthew wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and tossed the remains into the flames. The black knight then rose to his feet. He walked over to the section of the cave that most of his weapons occupied. There were two short swords that he slipped into sheaths at his hips and one immense claymore that he slid into one on his back. He equipped a shield, the dagger he had thrown earlier, and paused to think that something was missing. He glanced to the princess and at the chains that wrapped her body. He would need those.<br><br>Reluctantly, Matthew walked over to her and crouched behind her. He untangled the chains, loosening them before collecting them from her. Once he had them in a nice coil about his arm, he returned to the weapons corner and began to snap claw-like hooks to the ends. "I'm leaving. Stay here," was all Matthew said. He didn't say much else, but by the way he was equipping himself, he was going somewhere that must not have been safe. He had more weapons than what he had when fighting the white knight.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 06:06:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe felt her skin flush in embarrassment as he had to untangle her body from the chains, flinching when he had approached her. Standing up immediately, she seemed extremely relieved to be freed from the chains, and examined her slightly bruised wrists. Leaving him for now alone in the cave, she left quietly and looked out to the still lake. <br><br>Walking silently over to the remains of her gown, she scavenged the pits of lace and fabric that remained and was able to salvage the upper portion of her corset and found a long strip of fabric from the skirt. Using a strong piece of cattail in the river, she managed to put on the corset and use the strip of fabric as a small skirt. Xanthe felt the small garb wasn't much of an improvement, her stomach and shoulders were bare as were her lower thighs, but it was better than walking around naked. "I liked that gown..." She muttered sadly to herself, giving a disdainful look over her shoulder at the black knight.<br><br>Watching him gather supplies, she furrowed her brows curiously and blinked dumbly at him, surprised. “What? You can’t leave me here!” She exclaimed, looking at her surroundings, distressed. She didn’t want that goat thing to come back, and she figured she was safest with Matthew. “Where are you going anyways?” She asked suspiciously, her arms crossed over her chest. “There could be robbers right outside camp, and I can’t fend for myself! Let me come, please?” She stretched out the final word, whining, obviously panicked.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 06:15:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Matthew's brows furrowed when he heard Xanthe open her trap. He was rolling up a few pelts of skin and stuffing them into a sack. When she asked where he was going, he simply answered, "I need a new steed." The black knight didn't have many valubles, so if theives came to his camp, he didn't think there would be much to steal since he was wearing everything he cherished. "You'll only get in my way," he muttered.<br><br>Shouldering his bag, the knight kicked some dirt into the fire to extinguish it, and then started out of the cave, still intent on leaving her there with what remained of the camp.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 06:22:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She pouted, turning to him she scoffed. When he began to pack his thingd however, her offended stare changed and she wore a sly look on her face. "I'm offended, you think I'd slow you down? I'm a valuable asset!" She said haughtily then followed him, appearing at his side. "And maybe you should think about <em>this</em> knight; you're leaving you're captive here alone, and free. Since you obviously need those chains, you have no choice but to bring me along! Otherwise you're pratically giving me an open invitation to escape, which I'd be stupid not to take." She said mischeviously, smirking at her logic. "So, are we leaving?" She demanded in a sugar sweet tone.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 06:34:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The black knight stopped and turned to face her when she claimed to be a <em>valuable asset</em>. He snorted at that and his mouth exploded wide with laughter. His hand went to his stomach and he leaned over, shifting his balance so as not to collapse in his mirth. "You an asset?" he repeated through spouts of chuckles. "You can't cook, you can't clean, you don't know how to do anything on your own. Your outfit looks like you stole it from a chicken...you're about as useful to me as..." He blinked his black eyes as though he were just struck in the forehead by something, and that something was an idea. He stared at her with far away eyes. He could see his plan unfolding, and a devious grin stretched across his face.<br><br>Matthew strode past her back to the cave without saying a word. He picked up a sack and tossed the last of his skins inside it, and then returned to her, shoving the bag into her hands. "I don't need chains to keep you in one place. You would be stupid to run away because then I'd have to break your legs. You can come. You might be useful to me after all." Without saying much else to her, the black knight trudged on across the grass and onto a path through the woods.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 06:46:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe let out a yelp of anger at his laughter, and pointed a finger in his face. "Well, the reason I happen to have this damn get up on, is because someone had the <strong>audacity</strong> to ruin a perfectly good dress that had been embedded with crystals from the farway mines of the north, and designed by one of the best dress makers in Azyul!!" She said, her voice raised to a surprising degree. She flung her hand away from his face, and turned away from him, her chin raised in the air. "And yes, I am a valuable asset! I-" She paused, wondering if she had a point, she cleared her throat and continued. "I bring charm and excitement to the everyday romp of life, and I am graceful and well mannered....things that you don't posses, my knight." She said with a smug smile and turned to him. However, as soon as she saw his grin, her face showed alarm. "....What?" She said, begining to hate it whenever he smiled now; smiles did not bring good things. Watching him walk out to the cave and return with the sack, she realized his intentions. "You can't be serious-oomph!" She yelped as he put the big bag in her arms, she muttered unlady like language under her breath and followed him closely. "I don't see why I have to be a lackey.." She mumbled, giving him a sidelong glance.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 07:30:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Because that is what you are," Matthew reminded. "Because you said your gown had crystals in it, it'll be best that you ditch it and learn to wear deer skin. The rags you wear are better for suited for wiping my ass. Because it is the gown of a spoiled, rotten little girl, I find it only worthy of that." He then scowled as he trudged on with her trailing behind him. "A black knight doesn't care for grace nor manners. They matter not when I'm running my sword through your heart."<br><br>The black knight gazed upon the path before them. There was a beast he had in mind to find. It was a creature so rare that he wasn't sure his search would be successful, but he had slain many, and if the beast were attracted to evil as well as innocence, then they could surely lure it and catch it. He didn't talk about what kind of a creature he was hoping to catch. Xanthe hadn't asked and he rather not share, thinking she would become too scared to continue.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 08:13:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She glowered at his cold words and looked past him and back onto the path ahead. “If you weren’t wearing all that armor, I’d slap you for that.” She muttered dryly, her voice dripping with arrogance. “Oh, well then when you’re not going sword happy on everyone in sight, it doesn’t hurt to be courteous….and know how to treat women.” She said pointedly, raising her eyebrows and looking at him, his face hidden by the helm. “You mustn’t like company, you’re too violent to make any friends; do you ever get lonely?” She asked curiously, she wondered how anyone who was so hostile knew how to interact with people socially. <br><br>Following his eyes back to the path, she suddenly felt very dumb, not even sure what type of creature he had in mind. “Hey, wait a moment; what exactly are we looking for anyways? Like, a noble steed?” She made a heroic face, finding their situation comical and laughed. She stopped walking, standing on her tip toes, she craned her neck to see over the sack she held trying to look around in the dark forests. When she saw nothing, she hurried up to him and had an amused smile on her face. “Or!” She suggested, randomly perking up even more. “A lovely white stallion perhaps?” She looked at him hopefully.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 08:40:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The black knight hadn't been wearing his helm actually. He had it dangling from his hip, and it wasn't unlike him to not wear it. Not when he knew they were deep in the woods that only a hermit would have known his face. When she talked about slapping him, he abruptly turned around and shoved his face right into hers. He even turned his cheek to her as he dared, "Go ahead. Just understand, if you slap me, I'm going to slap you back. I'm sure you've learned already that I don't hit like a girl." He leaned back when he was convinced she didn't have the juice to do so and continued on the path with a sour face. What was it question time? When she spoke about company, friends, and loneliness, he hadn't given her an answer. He found the question to actually be difficult to answer. He had always been alone ever since his family...<em>they weren't your parents</em>...those people had left him in the streets. He zoned out as his thoughts got carried away.<br><br><em>A little boy that had been sitting next to a shop leapt to his feet when he saw three friends striding by. A long smile stretched on his face, a smile full of youth and cheer, and waved his hands frantically. "Hey! Where are you guys going?" he called.<br><br>One of the boys who walked between the others, had his arms stretched across their shoulders. He turned his head to look at the young boy before the shop and then whispered to the other boys. "It's that weird kid again," he told them.<br><br>"Just act like you didn't see him. Besides, if we brought him along, he might beat us up like he did Andy."<br><br>For some reason, though the three boys had been far away, the little boy could hear them as though they stood just next to him. When one of the boys looked back, he was startled to see a deep frown on the boy's face. "This kid is giving me the creeps, let's run!" He watched them run.<br><br><br>Another vision, the boy was curled up against a wall with his arms shielding his head. Rocks were pelting his body and bouncing off his skin, making him tremble in pain as tears streamed from his eyes. It was those three boys again. "Not so tough are you now?" they laughed.<br><br>"You harm our friends, then we'll harm you!"<br><br>"Come on guys, this is boring. It's not like he can beat us any way."<br><br>The boy's arms slowly lowered as he stared at the three with his eyes as black as coal. He stood to his feet, sniffing softly and curling his fingers into tight fists. His fists trembled with the rage that suddenly filled him. His tears had evaporated and his chest swiftly swelled and sank with his intense breaths. The boys turned and their eyes swelled with fright when the boy suddenly unleashed an enraged roar.<br><br>"Run!"<br><br>"Don't let him get you!"<br><br>"Tim!"<br><br>Aaah!</em><br><br>Matthew stopped again and his eyes were wide and shrunk. His heart was racing and his fists were clinched. There had been a killer instict for a second as he blinked his eyes and recalled where he was. The forest. Xanthe. The dark unicorn. His expression softened before sliding back into that scowl as though the world was never right. <em>You're too violent to make any friends.</em> That question had gone and passed by and dry. He didn't bother to comment on it. He did, however, answer her last one to change the subject.<br><br>"A dark unicorn," he said simply as though expecting her to know about them or the name alone said everything about them.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>19-09-2010, 16:33:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe was surprised he had turned so abruptly, and immediately had backed up in return, her eyes wide.&nbsp; Crossing her arms and glaring at him, she waited until he withdrew, upset that he was right. She really didn’t have the nerve to hit him, and she remembered the shoot of pain that rushed through her when he had hit her, before blacking out that is. Letting him walk slightly in front of her, she stuck her tongue out at his back, and sulked behind him. <br><br>After a few minutes of silence, Xanthe sighed and hurried back up to him. “How are we going to find any horses or whatever in this place? There’s nothing here, except monsters.” She said and waited for a reply. “Um…Hello?” She asked and looked at him, he had a faraway look on his face. Furrowing her brows in confusion, she walked, keeping her gaze on him. “What’s wrong?” She asked impaitently, looking around them nervously, she noticed his stance seemed ready to fight. <br><br>She realized he hadn’t answered her question, and&nbsp; she wanted to ask why, but it seemed he wouldn’t have an answer for her. Was it too painful for him to answer? Deciding to drop it, she would probe him later, when they weren’t on the great quest for the noble steed….or whatever he was looking for.&nbsp; <br><br>Shrugging off his moment of being zoned out, she turned her eyes back to the road, and she let out a stifled laugh. “A uh, unicorn?” She asked, her face breaking out into a grin and she giggled. “And I thought you didn’t have a sense of humor..” She mused, imagining Matthew decked out in his armor, riding a adorable, white unicorn with a glowing mane, she began laughing once more. Xanthe knew nothing about the real world outside of court, and the only unicorns she had heard of was the ones in fairytales who saved people and ran on rainbows.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>20-09-2010, 01:08:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"It is a <em>dark</em> unicorn," Matthew repeated. A wicked grin parted on his face as he explained, "It is a black unicorn with great powers. It has sharp teeth and eyes the color of blood. It is a vicious creature that eats other animals, including it's own kind."<br><br>There wasn't much else he knew about it. He just knew that the creature was going to be difficult to catch. His grin faded as he added, "We may not ever find one. Just like white unicorns, they are very rare. But I need a new steed, and I shall get one somehow."<br><br>"I only have an idea of where I believe the dark unicorn will be, and it is in the valley between the mountains. If you were afraid of a mere Shadhavar, you will be afraid of the many monsters that reside there. We will make camp at the edge of the valley. I cannot think of a reason to venture into the its heart."<br><br>They walked all day and their journey concluded at night, at the edge of the valley between the mountains. Matthew had set up a fire before night fall and had laid out the skins that would be his bed for the night. He had removed his armor and was lying on his back in a tunic and trousers, gazing up at the starry sky. His arms were crossed behind his head, and for a moment, he forgot that the princess had come with him. He closed his eyes and warned, "Don't wander too far from camp. If a creature kidnaps you, I will not be saving you from it." The black knight looked about ready to sleep despite the fact he hadn't prepared any food to eat or water to drink.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>20-09-2010, 01:50:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe’s giddy and girlish smile disappeared at his explanation, and the sparkle in her eyes disappeared and was replaced with disappointment and shock. “….Oh.” She said quietly, looking at the ground, swallowing hard, she wouldn’t think the same way about unicorns after that. “Well, I personally think the white unicorns sound a bit more endearing!” She chirped, after an odd moment of silence. <br><br>“Monsters? Like, the one from the other woods?” She asked timidly, looking at him over the heavy sack she carried. Her expression was one of panic and worry, but she shook her head, trying not to think about it. “How do you plan to get this thing anyways, if it’s so rare?” She asked, trying to keep up with him. <br>&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>As they continued walking, Xanthe’s stomach growled ferociously, and she often had to take breaks while holding the heavy sack, she was famished and not used to walking so much. By the time they had reached camp, Xanthe could barely walk, several feet behind Matthew, panting. A light sheen of sweat laid on her flushed face, and the girl groaned with each step. <br><br>Her tired eyes noticed a small clear spring in the clearing where they planned to stay, and she immediately dropped the sack, sprinted over to it, and dunked her head in. She remained submerged in the water, drinking thirstily and coating her head with its coolness, and she emerged, flipping her long wet hair back, a serene smile on her face. “Ah, that feels great!” She cheered, the water ran through her corset and chest, also down her back. <br><br>She walked back to the roaring fire, humming cheerfully, running her fingers through her wet hair, she sat herself across from Matthew. “You don’t have to worry about that…” She reassured him with her whimper, looking around the camp nervously. As he closed his eyes, Xanthe felt her stomach growl again, and she felt sick with hunger, putting a hand on her bare stomach. “Ummm…..” She said, unsure how to approach him, just realizing she didn’t know his name. It was odd to think he had the name, other than ‘devil’ or ‘black knight’; but he must’ve had been called something more humane in childhood. She walked over to where he rested on her knees, and tapped his shoulder. “I’m starving, let’s get food.” She said, her eyes wide, hoping he would take pity on her. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>20-09-2010, 08:53:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Matthew's eyes opened, and he gave her a look that thought the girl was crazy for bothering him. His first, thoughtful reaction was to curse her for being so weak and helpless, and to not get her anything at all, but as he mused further, he understood that hungry people do crazy things. Closing his eyes once more, Matthew sat up and then rose sluggishly to his feet. "Your weakness disgusts me. You were spared by fate to have been born a sheltered fool. If you had been born anywhere else, you would have died long before maturity," he grumbled. After his aggravated speech, the black knight told Xanthe to stay with the camp. He would have told her that sooner when she went for a drink from the river. He walked over to his gear to retrieve his dagger, and then checked the rings on his fingers. "I'll be back," he bade and started down the river.<br><br>The black knight was gone for quite the while, and the valley's edge was quieter than the woods. Not too far from the princess, was a grand sight. Munching on succulent grass blades near an arbre was a horse with a pelt glowing white like the moon. Long hair covered its ankles and hung from its mane and tail. A horn with an irresdecent sheen was protruding from its forehead, smooth like a pearl and spiraling one and half feet. Its eyes were silver, round like iron spheres and veiled by long lashes. Tiny, glowing sprites hovered like stars within its presence. Some found content sitting on the creature's back and watching in fascination as it ate.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>21-09-2010, 22:45:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe smiled proudly as he stood, glad to know she wouldn’t starve again tonight. But as he complained about having her with him, something in Xanthe exploded and she watched him, clearly livid, her thoughts stuck on his comment. She may have been born into privilege and royalty, but she didn’t stand to let anyone blame her for her sheltered life. Her cheery ember eyes seemed dark with her anger. “You wanted a princes, knight? Well congratulations; you got one, and we were never taught these things!” She retorted defensively to his retreating back, her fists clenched, and she shook slightly. After not having a thing to eat for two days, being emotionally and physically weak, Xanthe had reached a breaking point. She was homesick, out of her element, and her sense of helplessness in the wilderness scared her. <br><br>In her old life, Xanthe depended on servants to a certain level; it was their job for her to depend on them, they were to do as she told them. Now, she had to hope Matthew would have the mercy to help her, and do as she was told. Watching him leave, she thought of his last order, and stomped her foot and went to the edge of the forests, storming through the trees, as if she wanted to do anything in her power to defy him. “What the hell did he expect?” She grumbled, her arms crossed. Now that she thought more carefully about the question, it began to bug her; he clearly didn’t want some noble girl who would be of no use to him, so why did he pick the most useless one of them all? Her thoughts were interrupted by the beautiful creature she saw; the fair unicorn, at peace by itself, she giggled in excitement like a child, then immediately clamped her hand on her mouth. She didn’t want to startle the majestic beast, so she stayed hidden behind a tree, watching it thoughtfully, smiling to herself. If this had been a fairytale she had read about in childhood, this creature would notice the damsel in distress, whisk her away back to her kingdom. However, the lovely creature continued eating as though she wasn’t there, and Xanthe felt her heart thud like it had earlier today when she was chained at the reality of her situation.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>22-09-2010, 01:42:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The unicorn's ears perked as it then raised its head. Its eyes were wide with alert and the sprites about it began to dart about frantically like guards seeking out the cause for danger. There was a crack of a twig and the rustle of bushes. The rhythmic drumming of hooves trampled the ground as a dark equine emerged behind the unicorn. Its lips rolled back in the most personified smile. Rows of carnivorous teeth filled the dark creature's mouth as it swiftly mounted the unicorn. Its black, lengthy phallus was quick to penetrate, and as the unicorn screamed, the holy glow that embraced its sacred form was fading as though the equine's dork was soaking it all up.<br><br>The very creature mounted upon the unicorn was a living contrary. Its dark pelt, red eyes, and black horn matched the very description the black knight had told the princess. As the dark unicorn continued to buck its cock deeper into the mare's vagina, the unicorn's white and flawless pelt became spotted with blotches of brown. Its hair turned from white to beige and its white horn dissolved into stars that fled into the dark sky. The dark unicorn's nostrils flared as it moaned and snorted. When it comed within the creature, it didn't dismount. Its monstrous teeth parted and went straight for the mare's neck, biting into it as the once-unicorn uttered a cry of distress. The sprites had abandoned it. They found the creature to no longer be as fascinating as it had once been. When the once-unicorn lowered to the ground from its weakness, the dark unicorn stood over it, twisting its head as it continued to viciously pull at the muscles of the mare's throat.<br><br>When the mare no longer moved, the dark unicorn raised its head. Its maw dripped with blood and its cock dangled like a sticky hose, having yet to retract. The creature's eyes gleamed with satisfaction and its throat rolled with a noise that sounded so much like laughter.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>22-09-2010, 03:44:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe looked curiously at the white unicorn’s alert. “Hmm?” She murmured aloud, and her eyes went wide with panic as a horrific vibration from the ground grew closer and she held onto the nearby tree for support, she saw a dark shadow seem to overcome the delicate white unicorn, and in horror saw a monstrous version of it mount the poor creature.<br>&nbsp;<br>“My God!” She shrieked and looked away, hearing the unicorn’s scream and the ragged breaths of the black unicorn, Xanthe couldn’t stomach to look at it. Yet, she seemed chained to the ground with fear, and she trembled in her spot, afraid to look away. <br><br>It was when she heard the throaty orgasm of the monster and the helpless cry of the unicorn, she dared to look up and see the black monster bare it’s teeth. Finally the cord of terror holding her in place broke, and Xanthe ran screaming back the way she had come, stumbling over roots on the ground and twigs pulling at her hair, her screams could’ve alerted someone miles and miles away. <br><br>Hurrying back to camp she followed down the path of the river, hearing the unicorn’s final cry of pain, she quickened her pace, she had finally ceased her endless screaming when she saw the familiar black knight ahead of her, and she nearly ran into him, visibly shaken. “That thing, it’s back there! Please, I don’t want it to be your steed or whatever! Let’s just get out of here!” She pleaded, shaking his arm, her short choppy explanation didn’t make much sense. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>22-09-2010, 04:09:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The dark unicorn turned its blood-red eyes in the direction of the horrified scream that rang throughout the night. Had someone been there? Its ears perked, and its grin hardly wavered at the idea of a chase. Its tail tossed in its excitement as it listened to the fleeing rustle of what could only be a human woman. How interesting that a fool would be in the valley? The dark unicorn chuckled once more as it trotted onto a detouring path. Instead of following Xanthe, it chose to catch her by surprise.<br><br><br>Matthew had returned to the camp with two large trout hanging from his fingers by the gills. They were bleeding profusely, the result of the Bloody Dagger's power. He scowled upon not finding Xanthe, and he was about ready to throw the fish upon the ground in a fit when the frightened princess emerged. Her terror made his eyes widen curiously as he listened to her scream about some <em>thing</em>. He thought at first she had been talking about the Shadhavar that had attacked her, but when she mentioned steed, Matthew's eyes widened with even more surprise. Xanthe's tugging on his arm was irritating and her hysterical panicking forced him to bring the back of his hand across her face. He wasn't wearing his gauntlet this time, but there was enough force to knock some sense into her.<br><br>"Where did you see it? Tell me!" he demanded. Who knew when there would be another one? If he missed this one, he might not ever see it again.<br><br><em>Looking for me.</em><br><br>The voice was low and rumbled almost demonically. Its power made the roots of Matthew's hair stand on end as he dropped the fish a top of Xanthe and turned to face the dark creature. Its head was low, and its eyes glowed a frightening red. It prowled a circle around Matthew like a big cat, grinning hungrily.<br><br>There it was. The creature he had been looking for. They both seemed to share a similar look of challenge. There had been nothing but bloodlust and the hunger for a duel between them. Clinching the knife in his hand, Matthew informed with a grin similar to the unicorn's, "Gaze upon your new master monster."<br><br>The dark unicorn chuckled lightly. <em>Fool. A mortal cannot tame me.</em><br><br>Matthew only returned a chuckle as the dark unicorn then frowned with worry. With a determined bellow, the black knight charged upon the creature with but his light clothes and knife. He may have been mad or confident in his skill, but no normal man would have challenged a monster without a full set of armor.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>23-09-2010, 23:31:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe gave a gasp of alarm as he slapped her, she wasn’t as much hurt as she was shocked, and she held her face with her hand, and shook her head, trying to calm down. Pointing back to the words she sprinted from, still facing Matthew, she was panting furiously still. “It was back there, and I-“ She turned silent when she heard the demonic voice, and gripped her goose bumped arms, shivering as she slowly turned around.<br>&nbsp;<br>“It talks?” She murmured quietly but in response, only got a fish thrown at her. She grabbed it with a grunt, and gave Matthew&nbsp; a dirty look. Quickly turning and putting the bloody fish on a nearby dry stone, she whimpered and rubbed her bloody arms off on the ground and listened intently to their conversation, giving Matthew a curious look. He didn’t have a chance, she thought, going against that thing like that. <br><br>Xanthe may not have liked Matthew, but she knew if he were to die or get hurt in this battle, she would be stuck with a murderous, ungodly, terrifying, raping unicorn. The very thought made Xanthe stiffen as Matthew attacked the unicorn, and she jumped up and down in her spot, frantic once again. “What are you doing?! You’re all I got out here, pal, and if you dare leave me in this hell hole, you’re gonna pay!” She threatened and sprinted next to where he had laid, and got his armor and chains out of the sack they were held in. <br><br>Taking the helm and gauntlets first, she laid them in a neat pile near where Matthew had charged at the dark unicorn. The next trip she carried his heavy long sword, dragging it on the floor with his shield, the next trip she carried bac the abysal armor. Finally, after a much more slower retreat to the sack and back, Xanthe carried the heavy chains, hunched over and gasping for breath, she dropped them by the pile, her forehead shiny with perspiration. “Okay…..” She said though her breaths, seeming pleased with herself, she left the pile and backed up to watch him fight, her fists clenched in worry. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>24-09-2010, 07:58:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The dark unicorn thrust its head forward. Its sharp horn rose in a dangerous arch with the intention of running the black knight through. Matthew immediately pivoted defensively as he turned sideways to avoid the horn. He reached out to grasp it in his left hand as his right was ready with the dagger to sever it. The equine only chuckled as it tossed its head against Matthew’s torso, shoving him back. The black knight staggered backwards as the unicorn faced him with its toothy smile and apple-red oculars.<br><br><em>Did you honestly think it would be that simple? I see that you are not just some average warrior, and so I won't go easy on you.</em><br><br><strong>What are you doing?! You’re all I got out here, pal, and if you dare leave me in this hell hole, you’re gonna pay!</strong><br><br>Matthew frowned as he snapped, "Shut your trap!" He wasn't going to die or lose, so he believed.<br><br>As soon as his focus returned to the dark unicorn, the horse seemed to have vanished. His eyes flared in disbelief and when Matthew looked to his left there wasn't the spoiled princess or his camp. There were soldiers garbed in iron. They had their swords drawn and were staring at him with alertness. His attention passed around in a circle as he saw more soldiers. They seemed taller than him and when he looked down at his hands, he noticed they were small and the back of his knuckles were dark with his old, dried blood.<br><br><em>Careful with him. He ain't a normal boy!</em> one of the soldiers exclaimed.<br><br><em>What do we do with him then?</em> another soldier asked. <em>You saw what he did. He killed Pierre!</em><br><br>Matthew's brows rose in confusion. Was this all real? Was he reliving an old memory? It felt as though he had woken from a long dream. But it just didn't make sense...<br><br><br>The dark unicorn chuckled when Matthew stopped fighting and stood there, his eyes long gone in the illusion that was forced into his mind. The unicorn looked at Xanthe as she piled the knight's gear. <em>Idiot. He's already dead. Well...he will be</em>. The dark unicorn raised his head and walked in a proud circle around the knight and flicked his tail at his chest. <em>All that's left is to eat him alive. He won't even feel it.</em><br><br>As the dark unicorn came around to Matthew's left side, he sank his teeth into his bicep, and then withdrew them when he saw the black blood that oozed free from the bite. <em>Interesting.</em> The unicorn ran his tongue across his teeth and then smacked his lips as though testing the flavor. <em>His blood is bitter with evil. Perhaps I won't eat him after all, but I will kill him. Unless that is of course...</em> The dark unicorn brought its shrunk, beady eyes to the princess. <em>…You want to try and save him. I haven't had a virgin in awhile. Please, say yes.</em> The dark unicorn laughed and flashed her a malevolent grin.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>25-09-2010, 02:25:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe clutched furiously at her arms as the battle continued, and growled; why hadn’t he put on the armor she had just dispensed right in front of him? “He must be a fool,” Xanthe thought sourly.&nbsp; “A proud, reckless fool.” She flinched with fury, wanting to kill him for being so careless, did he not realize he was also endangering her? Was she really that invisible? <br><br>She gasped in terror as he relaxed, seeming lost in a trance. “Knight? My God, what are you doing?!” She shouted from the side of the fight, clenching her fists and her entire body shook with worry and fright. Watching the unicorn circle him, she took in a shaky breath, her eyes filling with tears, she was terrified. <br><br>“No! Don’t touch him!” She stepped forward as the unicorn sunk his teeth into Matthew, gripping onto his life like a life line. Truly distraught, she looked at the unicorn with wide ember eyes, listening to his request. She jumped, surprised, with a look of disgust and fear etched onto her face. Xanthe had lost her kingdom, her title, her freedom, her gown, one of her only things she had left was her maidenhood. Taking in slow breaths, she watched the unicorn’s menacing smile with torn eyes and nodded weakly. She knew what she had to do, and she knew it would have severe consequences….and would hurt like hell in the morning.<br><br><strong>Just understand, if you slap me, I'm going to slap you back. I'm sure you've learned already that I don't hit like a girl…..</strong><br><br>“Fine..” She said in what was barely a whisper, taking a deep breath, she approached him. Despite her trembling breaths and wet face, her stance held a certain gall to it. With shaking hands, she had undone her small top, revealing her ivory white skin and milky breasts, if only to show a sign of surrender to the unicorn. Her face was etched in shame and burnt a scarlett red with her immodesty. It was when she&nbsp; reached the unicorn and Matthew her hands traveled to the waist of her skirt, as though she were to pull off the garment. In a flash, her hand was off her garments and had traveled to Matthew’s face, hitting him with all of her noble might.<br>&nbsp;<br>“Snap out of whatever the hell you’re doing <em>this instant</em>!” She demanded in that same, regal and bossy tone, though her voice held a tone of hysterical fear, and her face was blotchy with tears. After immediately having her hand blow into his face on one cheek, she slapped him again, clearly desperate, if this worked he would be furious. Xanthe would never willingly give up her virginity in the state she was in, she had been raised religious and innocent, to be untouched was the one last strength she possessed.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>28-09-2010, 09:25:36</strong>
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			<dd class="postbody">
				The dark unicorn stepped forward as he watched that thin top tumble down her shoulders like a curtain. His black tongue ran across his black lips at the sight of her breasts. They were just ripe for his teeth. The black horse stepped forward some more as its tail anxiously flicked. Its red, burning eyes watched her hands descend to her skirt, but then she released it. The unicorn's head cocked back defensively when she lashed out with her hand. Normally, he would have snagged her delicate arm right between his teeth, but he had perceived in the same instant that the slap hadn't been for him. His triangle ears perked at the sound of a slap that met against the side of the black knight's face. Matthew's head had snapped to the side and his eyes widened, though he still offered no response.<br><br><em>His hands went to his face. For some reason, his cheek was throbbing and the soldiers had yet to lay a hand on him.</em><br><br>The dark unicorn had chuckled at first, thinking she were releasing her abhorrence on her captor, but after seeing his expression light up in confusion, the equine couldn't help but feel nervous. Xanthe's hand met Matthew's face again and the memory dissolved like sand before his eyes. His right hand rose almost instinctually, the back of his hand was ready with its two rings on his fingers, Matthew was ready to hit someone; and as the dark unicorn lunged at Xanthe in spite, Matthew turned that prepped hand and shoved it back against Xanthe’s chest to push her out of reach of the dark unicorn's teeth. His left hand then gathered into a tight fist that he threw at the dark unicorn's cheek. The blow made the creature's jaw dislocate with a frightening snap as it crossed like chopsticks, and its tongue gushed free. The black horse's eyes looked as though they crossed for a moment from the dazing strike as it then staggered away from Matthew, whinnying in agony as its lower jaw and tongue dangled lifelessly.<br><br>The black knight brought his eyes to Xanthe and he scowled at her sternly though, his frown seemed a tiny, grain of sand softer than the previous <em>You piss me off</em> expressions he gave her in the past. "Don't interfere in my fights again!" he growled. His eyes darted from her face over to his gear piled on the ground. Spreading his arms, the black knight's veins began to branch and swell across his forehead as his pile of equipment vibrated. Suddenly, each piece of armor sprang at his body, attaching itself. His gauntlets slid onto his hands and he flexed them to make sure they were on the right hand. His leggings, boots, pauldrons, torso guard, and helm followed after. The demonic armor flexed and seemed to mold onto his body as though it were alive as the black hollows of his helm's eye sockets ignited with green flames. Summoning his weapons and shield to his armor next, the black knight flashed the dark unicorn a menacing and craggy grin of his own.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>29-09-2010, 05:54:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe swallowed hard as he still seemed dazed; what would happen if that hadn’t awoken him? The frightened girl’s skin pricked at the sound of the unicorn’s ominous laugh, and she whimpered quietly. Fretting, she cringed and pivoted, her gaze met the menacing unicorn’s, who seemed ready to attack. Xanthe screamed and covered her face with her arms, preparing for it horrifying, large teeth to pierce her skin. Seemingly unaware of the man, stirring beside her, it was when Matthew’s rough hand came into contact with her skin, her eyes opened wide and she fell backwards on the ground, landing on her back. “Thank God!” She thought and covered herself with her arms and scurried up and ran to her position by his armor, overwhelming relief flooded her being. <br><br>When she heard the sickening crack of the unicorn’s jaw being dislocated, Xanthe groaned and looked away, whimpering. Peeking quietly at the wounded unicorn, she groaned again and turned away. “Ew!” She whined and squeezed her eyes shut. The princess' stomach turned as the unicorn's tounge hung out of his mouth, and she shivered, she couldn't get the very sound out of her head. <br><br>Hearing Matthew’s harsh words, her eyes opened and she snorted. “Hmph, the nerve you have! I saved both of us, perhaps you should thank me!” She retorted defensively, she narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms. Her relief for his safety had been replaced with her usual distaste. Crossing her arms, Xanthe realizes she is still without her top and feels her face burn as she slinks over to her corset. It was now even more dirty and frail now, and she grimaced as she covered herself with it once more, carefully retying the strings.&nbsp; <br><br>She watched the knight’s armor assemble in wonder, he truly looked like the demon her villagers had talked about. It was impossible to tell if he was truly human under the armor, especially with the grace he used it with, as if it was his own skin. Shaking her head, they still had to capture the savage beast the knight boasted in front of, she coughed pointedly. “We could use these right about now…” She murmured and picked up a part of the chains, grunting in exertion as she did so.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>29-09-2010, 06:23:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Matthew heard the soft chime of linked metal and glanced to Xanthe as she hauled the length of chain into her hands. "Give me that you shit excuse for a squire!" the black knight growled. "You didn't save anyone but yourself!" He held his hand out in her direction and the chain jerked free from her hands to fly into the grasp of his own. Once in his hand, he began to twirl the chain as the heavy claw kept it in rotation. Matthew's impish chuckle resonated within his helm as he prowled toward the dark unicorn. <br><br>It began to cautiously step back, choking and sputtering as it sought to speak, but with its dangling lower jaw could not. Only its flesh held its jaw in place as it seemed to hang lower than what would be considered normal. Its black tongue quivered and dripped with the crimson saliva that oozed profusely from its gaping maw. It hurt the beast to move too much for the slight tremble of its jaw sent shocks of pain throughout its skull.<br><br>The dark unicorn scowled. Its eyes narrowed, and its nostrils flared with a breath. It faced Matthew with its horn directed toward him, and then the beast went still. Matthew was prompt to use the opportunity to hurl the claw across the space. Its teeth bit into the unicorn's back as a strangled squeal rang shrilly from its throat. It had tossed its head a bit, but the pain of its jaw forced tears to stream from its eyes. Finally, both of his bloody orbs began to glow, and its horn turned so black, it might have been another dimension.<br><br>Matthew had been readying to toss a second claw when his body suddenly felt weak. His legs buckled and he fell to his knees as it suddenly felt as though his body were being drained of energy. "More magic?" he grunted in frustration. The dark unicorn was truly a worthy steed. The black knight slowly lowered to his side, his armor suddenly growing heavy the weaker he became.<br><br>There was an audible crackle of bone and cartilage as the dark unicorn’s jaw suddenly snapped back in place as though miraculously healed. The creature roared with laughter and flaunted its beastly teeth as it kept his horn aimed on the knight. “It won’t be long now,” the dark unicorn laughed. “Soon you won’t have the energy to even live!”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>30-09-2010, 05:30:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe gave a gasp as he wrenched the chains out of her hands, upset by his remark. She recoiled at his hurtful words and watched him hurl the chain silently, crossing her arms. “You’re steed there was going to kill you, I like to think I played that one very wisely.” She said quietly, the princess felt her hand twitch by her side, she wished she had the opportunity to slap him again. She didn’t understand why she hadn’t gotten over his insults, she didn’t expect much kindness from him, other than the decency to keep her alive. <br><br>Xanthe returned her gaze to the unicorn and felt a wave of pity wash over her. It now stood, once a beast they had feared, in pain and conquered. She flinched, her fists clenched and she grit her teeth, as Matthew raised the claw into the air. It propelled through the air and dug itself into the beast’s back, the scream that resonated in the clearing made her ears ring and she turned from the fight, she almost couldn’t bear to see the agonized face of the unicorn. She covered her mouth in shock, the unicorn looked pathetic, it’s jaw horribly stretched. <br><br>Since she couldn’t watch the unicorn without feeling overcome with emotion, Xanthe kept her gaze on the dark knight, she scowled and crossed her arms at him, obviously still offended. Her eyebrows rose in shock as he fell to his knees and talked of magic; she knew he was too proud to fall at a minor blow, what had happened? Turning back to the unicorn, she saw it’s ebony horn was directed towards him. “Knight!” She called a bit more softly, he seemed to be losing his power. Walking closer, Xanthe jumped as the unicorn fixed it’s hurt jaw, was it stealing the knight’s power to heal itself? <br><br>She looked at the unicorn heatedly, why was everyone outside of her kingdom so insanely strong? Her annoyance built and she pointed a shaking finger at the unicorn and growled, jumping between the two foes. “It’s one after another with you bastards! My God, you’re worse than him!” Her pointer finger moved from the unicorn’s monstrous grin to Matthew, who was now on the ground. <br><br>She panted heavily with exertion for a moment, stupidly unaware of what she had done, she was being drained without realizing it. Not even seconds after her outburst she had fallen to the ground, her cheek resting on the cold ground. She exhaled shakily, her hand laid in front of her face and she realized her error. “God damnit…” She whimpered, angry by her own foolishness, she tried to push herself upright again. Xanthe was weak to begin with, she was easily taken down by the power of the unicorn. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>02-10-2010, 04:49:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The black knight felt his energy cease slipping from his body. Amongst the screaming of the dumb broad, his eyes flicked up to her as she stupidly stood before him, flapping her gums, which apparently was all the good she could ever do. With a soft groan, he weakly managed to slide his arm behind him to withdraw his shield. He brought it around before him to guard his body from the unicorn's dark magic and scooted over to Xanthe, pulling himself along with his free arm that wasn't holding the shield. He put it over her like a barrier before taking a moment to rest behind her. His exhausted breath and the heated flames from his eyes were on the back of her neck as he waited for his body to recuperate. "You’re quite the royal genius," he scoffed.<br><br>Matthew was hardly deterred in his belief that he had this powerful creature. The battle had proven to be more difficult than he had hoped. The unicorn's magic had caught him completely off guard and now that the equine could talk again, it seemed almost as bad as the princess. <br><br>The abyssal shield protected the two from the magic of the unicorn. The black knight knew it would have being that it was comprised of a similar dark essence. He saw the chain almost hidden beneath the sheet of dead leaves that carpeted the ground. He frowned softly. There was an irritable nagging at the back of his head. The nagging for...<em>teamwork</em>? The idea gave him the chills, but he knew they couldn't lay there for long. "I'm going to need you to take this shield. It's heavy, but if you want this to end, then you need to suck it up and carry it the best you can. You're not going to just protect yourself, but you're going to protect me also. There are three chains left. You'll need to keep guarding me as I toss more claws at that thing." For some reason, he felt that asking the girl to help him with anything was hopeless, and she could hear it in his voice when he asked, "You think you can do that?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 02:45:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe felt her eyes drift shut, as though she was about to be overcome with fatigue, she gave out a soft sigh. She could not hear the knight behind her moving, and she tried to glance up at the dark unicorn, it’s horn was directly pointed at her still, intent on death. But did this mean Matthew was out of harm’s way? She scowled, angered at the thought of being a meat shield for him. “I just had to get in the middle of them..” She thought angrily, she wanted to kick herself. She would die in these dark woods at 19 years old, and she really couldn’t blame anyone but herself…and Matthew. What’s so damn great about a stupid, talking unicorn? <br><br>Just as she began praying to every God who existed to find the mercy to let her haunt him until he went mad after death, her eyes flared open as a warm flame tickled her skin, and saw a black shield go out in front of her. “So he’s recovered..” Xanthe thought hopefully, she smiled weakly to herself, until she heard his comment. Still regaining complete awareness, she merely looked at him behind her shoulder. “Hmph! I don’t see what you expected me to do!” She hissed, her nails digging into her palms. “You picked a real winner knight, this thing is gonna kill us now!” She protested quietly, her voice dripped with angry sarcasm. <br><br>Xanthe knew they couldn’t stay on the floor of the forest for long, the unicorn would finally rush over and finish them off with those horrid, sharp, teeth. The idea of it made her shudder, and she listened to his plan carefully. Giving him a dirty look, her hands reached up grasped the handle of the shield, ignoring his rude comment. “Fine, but this better work. Ready? I’m pulling it up now.” Xanthe warned, she gulped, her clammy hands shaking on the handle. Saying a silent prayer, she groaned in exertion as she lifted this shield, rising with it, the heavy shield weighed almost as much as she did. Her arms trembled and she almost dropped it at first, the small princess was a pathetic sight carrying it. Making sure Matthew was behind her, she kept the shield up and inched her way towards the chains, taking in a sharp breath.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 05:07:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The black knight slowly rose to his feet making sure to keep a low stance behind Xanthe as she held his shield. He scowled behind her back at how she was a little short and followed in sync as she approached the first chain. It was still connected to the dark unicorn’s back and once Matthew had it in his hand, he rested a hand on her shoulder and gave her a light tug back so she could feel the direction he wanted her to travel next. He continued to guide her until they reached a tree where he violently jerked the chain, and then began wrapping it about the tree before locking it with the clawed end.<br><br>The dark unicorn had screamed when it felt the claw biting deeper into its back from the harsh tugging of the knight. Angrily, the dark unicorn charged toward them with its sharp horn lowered and ready to run them through. Matthew wrapped his arms about Xanthe’s waist and hefted her off the ground. In one arm he carried her, and in the other, he held the shield as the dark unicorn’s horn collided. The strength behind the ram made the soil beneath the knight’s feet curl as he slid backwards. He knew that if the princess had been holding the shield during that her forearms might have broke from the collision.<br><br>The black knight bore his teeth in determination as he sprinted for the next chain. The dark unicorn was right on his tail as he kept its jabbing horn at bay. Matthew lowered Xanthe above the next chain and ordered anxiously, “Pick it up!” Once she did, he charged to the next chain, and didn’t feel he’d have to tell her again. When she had the two chains in her hands, he set her down behind him, and took the two chains from her in his right hand. After the unicorn rammed the shield once more, he swiftly handed the shield off to Xanthe and brought the clawed-ends of the chains into both of his hands.<br><br>The dark unicorn was trying to snap at him. Its vicious teeth flashed wildly before his face and Matthew just back-stepped out of reach of the creature’s teeth. As the unicorn followed after, Matthew lunged forward to bring the first claw across the unicorn’s snout and then slashed with the second claw into its shoulder when the unicorn was stunned by the strike. He managed to roll to the other side of the beast and snag its other shoulder with the last claw. All the claws were in!<br><br>Matthew was just about to lunge for the chains when the dark unicorn swung its hind quarters in his direction, and he received a strong kick from its two massive hooves. The blow sent the black knight soaring through the air like a rag doll until he landed and slid a good meter. The attack had stunned him for a few seconds. He was trapped in a brief dizzy spell yet was determined to recover and regain his focus.<br><br>The dark unicorn swung its head about angrily and expelled its demonic roar into the chilly night air. <em>I am tired of this!</em> it screamed. Its red eyes flicked to Xanthe who had been left alone. Snorting angrily, the dark unicorn charged at the girl as the black knight desperately scrambled to his feet.<br><br>As the unicorn charged for Xanthe, Matthew sprinted for the chains and at the same time shouted at the princess, “Run! Xanthe run!” He had called her by her name for once.<br><br>The black unicorn gave a mighty thrust of its head against the shield with enough power to tear it from her weak grip. Matthew reached the chains and quickly began to reel them taut as fast as he could. The equine whipped its head again and the sharp horn was headed like a harpoon to stab the princess right on through.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 06:15:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe slowly but surely trudged to the next chain, grimacing with the weight of the shield, she tried her best to follow his directions. Her arms shook violently when they reached the tree, and she seemed to be panicked. “I can’t hold it much longer!” She wailed, and was relieved to feel him pull it out of her grasp and let her rest. She took in a heavy breath, her arms ached, though she still was uncomfortable with being handled with. <br><br>As unicorn charged, Xanthe covered her face with her arms and screamed, the vision of the vicious unicorn advancing on them frightened her. She winced as the brute force of the unicorn hadn’t been fully wasted of the shield, and Matthew seemed to backtrack a bit. Obediently picking up the chain, she squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her teeth in determination. Picking up the following one, Xanthe she whimpered quietly to herself, she wouldn’t let herself so much lower the chains. <br><br>The impact of the unicorn’s horn made her yelp once again in shock, her brows furrowed in worry and she took the shield reluctantly, holding it steady. Xanthe watched as the unicorn lashed out at Matthew, she covered her face with the shield, afraid he wouldn’t step back far enough and be struck.<br>&nbsp;<br>Hearing the blow the unicorn had given, Xanthe gave a gasp of alarm and watched him fly; the unicorn’s might was truly one to revere, how had it been able to send such an heavily armored man so far? She flinched and pulled the shield closer to her body as the unicorn howled, and as he screamed his protest, Xanthe knew who his next target was. <br><br>Too scared to follow the knight’s orders, Xanthe could merely stumble back a few awkward steps. She hid her face behind the shield and shrieked as the shield was wrenched out of her grip. She didn’t have time to defend herself as it’s sharp horn pierced her skin. Xanthe screamed, he had stabbed her to the left of her navel, the bottom of her corset was marked with scarlet and poured down her skirt. Her supple waist was tainted by the bloody wound. Pale from blood loss, Xanthe merely gave a soft cry of pain when she felt the wound. The forests grew blurry and the princess lost consciousness, her face met the ground and she fainted dead away.<br><br>She woke up on what appeared to be a cheap bed, but nonetheless, a bed and not the forest floor she had been on before. Xanthe blinked multiple times, her eyes tried to adjust to the dark room, a candle flickered beside where she lay. Her wound seemed less severe, and Xanthe didn’t seem to care much of where she was, she was exhausted, and appeared to be alone. Giving a quiet moan on pain, she turned on her side, her hand laid across her face, trying to drift back to painless sleep.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 06:33:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As the princess rolled over, a woman in a white gown stepped into the room with a tray with a steaming bowl of hearty soup and a mug of water. She walked closer to the bed to see the glow of the candle reflecting in the young girl’s eyes and she couldn’t help but smile in relief to see that she was all right. “Thank God,” the woman gasped. She slid the candle aside and set down the tray of food. “Excuse me, Dear, but I must check your wound.” She lifted the blanket, and then peeled up the princess’s hospital gown to see the once ghastly wound had practically vanished. The doctor’s eyes widened in disbelief as she informed, “You recovered much too quickly.” Releasing her gown and the blanket she stepped away from the bed and turned her back to Xanthe. “It bothers me that the barbaric treatment that demon gave you actually saved your life.” There was a disturbed frown on the doctor’s face as she mused further on the situation. “No matter. You are starved child. You should eat and drink to regain your strength. I’m sure that monster will enjoy the good news that you are well…”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 12:25:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe jolted upright, her head throbbed by the action, and she seemed startled to find the woman in the room. She warily laid back down, watching the woman put down a plate of food, her mouth watered at the sight of the meal. The princess inched away from the woman as she examined her wound, she felt like touching such a horrible wound would cause a great deal of pain.<br><br>&nbsp;“Hmm? You mean it’s-“ Xanthe glanced at her stomach before the woman pulled the blankets back and her eyes widened in amazement; the unicorn had stabbed her, it was a fatal wound, how could it have almost healed? When she turned Xanthe hungrily snatched the soup bowl and placed it on her lap, she took a long sip of it before glancing over to the doctor, curious. “W-what treatment?” She asked nervously, and wondered where Matthew even was. She seemed to know she was not in Azyul, but another poorer town in the doctor’s clinic. Xanthe took another long drink of the soup and had to set it back beside her once more, she had been drinking too fast and choked, she went into a brief coughing fit.&nbsp; &nbsp;
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 19:53:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The doctor turned to face Xanthe when she asked about the knight's treatment. "You were going to die, and so the knight cut his wrist and poured his evil blood into you," she explained. She saw the event happen over and over in her mind and it made her clasp her hands nervously over her apron. "You're his prisoner aren't you? You don't have to go back to him. We can send you somewhere safe. Where he can't find you." She had watched how the princess scarfed down the food. The poor dear was starved. The doctor added, "We can send you back home."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 20:53:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>We can send you back home</em> The words echoed in Xanthe's mind, and she swallowed slowly, watching the woman intently. Two days ago she would've immeadiately nodded and demanded to have a carriage prepared right then and there. Now, the princess seemed to doubt the woman's certainty. She had seen him levitate on air, kill the brave paladin Justinian, chase her down within seconds, and tame a wild beast. Xanthe had shuddered when the woman told her how she recovered, but a part of her was torn; he had given her his blood, when he could've run to the next kingdom and stolen <strong>their</strong> princess, who would probably faint at the very sight of him in his armor and abide by his every word. Xanthe severely doubted that this woman could help her safely get home, and agreeing to the idea might buy her freedom, but it could also create havoc for this peaceful little town.&nbsp; <br><br>Then again, other peoples' well-fare hadn't stopped her before and Xanthe was cold, tired, and too hungry to give a damn. <br><br>"If we were to do this miss, you must understand he is smart, unbeleivably strong, and he will find me, I have no doubt of that in my mind. Going straight back to the kingdom would be stupid, he would be there and raise hell to my father. We would have to pretend to keep me hospitalized in this town for a day maybe, and try and sneak out during night, and only then would we possibly have a way if we were careful." She murmured, warning the doctor that her rescue would be no simple task. Xanthe's plan was still fool hardy; she had learned to prepare for the worst with Matthew, but the naive hope she held still clung to her, her promise to be his slave vanished when a woman stood in front of her offering refuge.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 21:16:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The doctor listened closely to the girl and she smiled in relief to hear that she actually wanted to get away from the knight. When she told her the plan she had in mind, her blue eyes lowered to the floor thoughtfully as she also decided to share intelligence of what he was currently doing. "Sneaking away from the town may be difficult. He has been patrolling it on his monstrous horse. He demands we return you as soon as you're well. You recovered so quickly, I'm afraid if we say you're not well he won't believe us. I thought perhaps if you poison him, then we can kill him!" She was suddenly excited. Her blue eyes rose to Xanthe with joy shining in them. "There are enough drugs here to do away with any beast. We can just slip it into a soup that you can take to him. I can give you a herb that will make you immune to it in case he needs to be convinced."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 21:52:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe snorted and crossed her arms at the news the doctor told him, her brows furrowing in aggitation. "Ugh! He would!" She snapped, angered that her brilliant plan had gone right out the window, she clenched her fists and sat upright in bed. "He's such a bossy, arrogant man....and he called me 'weak!" She wailed, glad to have someone to vent to, she had been so alone this last few days. Xanthe's perked up as the doctor hatched another. "That could work, I mean, he is human, they've gotta take him down.." Xanthe nodded and peered outside. She couldn't see him, but she remembered the woman talking about a horse. "Oh yeah. The unicorn. The <em>dark</em> unicorn." She muttered dryly and pointed out the window to the woman. "We'll have to do something about the thing he's riding, it's a monster." She said, suddenly nervous, there was no way this was just going to be a simple task. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>04-10-2010, 23:37:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The doctor blinked at Xanthe and the way she spoke of the knight. It was as though she were talking of the demon as though he was human, and then she said it. The blonde gasped in startle at the news. "Our plan will work for sure then," she said excitedly. Her period of euphoria dissolved when Xanthe mentioned the dark unicorn. "I'm sure the guards will handle it. At least scare it away." She then turned to the door and spoke quickly, "Finish eating,. I'll go prepare the soup and bring you the herbs."<br><br>The doctor left and she hurried to the kitchen to pour another bowl of soup. She prepared it in a ceramic bowl with a lid, and then left the kitchen to retrieve the herbs from a cabinet in the lab. She made sure to select the correct vial before she returned into the kitchen and shook the poisonous contents into the soup. Setting the empty vial aside, she stirred the soup around and then closed the lid. Lifting it, she set it onto a cloth and tied it over the bowl so that it was sealed tight. Taking the anti-drug vial into her hand, she carried it and the soup down the hall and back to the little room where Xanthe rested. She walked over to the desk where she had set the tray. She set down the soup and then faced the princess with the vial.<br><br>"Here, take this with your food," she instructed. She popped it open and shook the leaves into her hands. "They taste very bitter if you don't eat it with something delicious. I put the poison in the soup. Do not drink it unless you have to, and by that I mean the knight of course. Oh yes, and be sure to memorize the way back here. I want to see you again, so that I know for sure that our plan was successful."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>05-10-2010, 00:39:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe nods in return and hurries to finish her soup, her stomach turning. She couldn’t tell if the poison would work, and if so, what she would do after that. Hopefully, the woman would keep her word and help send her home. If not, Xanthe didn’t know what she would do, being stuck in some little town like this. It was almost as bad as being the knight’s slave, and she had grown terribly homesick now that the idea of being home didn’t seem so farfetched. <br><br>Her eyes seemed to sparkle with the alertness she had gradually lost through the tiresome trek she endured today, and her complexion wasn’t as sallow after the blood Matthew had given her.&nbsp; She gave a cursory glance at the gown she wore, it was much more modest than her last attire of scraps, but the fabric was thin and could easily tear. Getting out of bed, she rose unsteadily, still a little disoriented. She took the time alone to straighten her hair and the gown, it had small straps that held up the loose garment and ended at her knees. The princess was truly very uncomfortable in such feeble attires, her entire life she was fully garbed, barely any slips of skin would show through the several layers of lace and silk. <br><br>Deciding to grin and bear her current state, she watched as the doctor entered, and her delicate nose crinkled at the smell of the bitter herbs. Spooning out some soup, she held the leaves in her other hands and sighed. “Well, here it goes…” She murmurs and pushes them into her mouth and downs the soup, the bitter taste made her face pucker. She gave one of her rare gracious smiles to the woman and curtsied, leaving with Matthew’s poisoned soup. <br><br>Keeping careful watch of where she was headed to and how to head back to the doctor’s office, Xanthe felt an unfamiliar sense of guilt. She was spoiled, selfish and uncaring, but the childish girl never thought she would actually be the person to kill someone. The idea that she would physically hand the bowl she now carried to him made her flinch with shame, but she didn’t dare back down now. She reached the knight and was oddly quiet, her arms extended to him mounted on the unicorn. “The doctors offered this to you..” She murmured, not making eye contact with him, she kept a distance from the unicorn’s horn, she didn’t want to get too close to such a creature, especially after it had tried to impale her. Within a flash of her offer, she had drawn back her arms, and finally made eye contact with him. "Are you hungry?" She asked warily, the girl seemed torn.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>05-10-2010, 01:01:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The black knight was seated a top of the dark unicorn that hours ago they had fought. When he saw Xanthe emerge from the hospice, his helm pulled into a long, beastly grin. “It’s about time your ass got out of bed,” Matthew jeered. When Xanthe came closer, Matthew didn’t hesitate to show off his new steed. “I believe you remember our friend, Pessimus.” The dark unicorn flashed its teeth in a giggle at the knight’s insensitive nature. It wasn’t like she was ever impaled on his horn or anything.<br><br>The black knight’s grin faltered when the princess held out a steaming gift before him. He could smell that it was some sort of stew and Pessimus turned his head, snorting up the aroma before adding, <em>Mmm, smells delicious. Maybe it’s an offering for scaring the shit out them? You should thank me.</em><br><br>“Tsh,” Matthew dismissively uttered. He believed he was more intimidating, but he wasn’t in the mood to argue. “Humans don’t give me anything,” he returned to Xanthe. He brought his burning eyes to the sky and then back down to her. He had been reluctant to give her a ride, but he thought of how the journey back to the camp would be much quicker if he did. The black knight frowned and held out his hand to her as though it were the most painful offer on earth. “Come on,” he ordered, he didn’t wish to savor her reaction.<br><br>The doctor had been secretly peeking from behind a window curtain when she saw the knight say something, and it looked like he had refused the soup. Why had the girl been so forward? She might as well had screamed to him that the soup was poisoned.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>05-10-2010, 01:27:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe scowled at his remark and seemed to lose her pity for the arrogant knight. “Why should I hurry while you’re here just roaming around aimlessly?” She answered shortly back and scoffed, she didn’t even so much glance at Pessimus, obviously miffed by the battle they had endured with it before they arrived in the town. She was starting to dread traveling with the knight even more now, since his companion would be another thing to back him up and insult her.&nbsp; <br><br>“You are a human, why can’t you just accept their gift?” She retorted through grit teeth, her patience was wearing with his proud attitude, why was this so difficult? The doctor had made it sound so easy; just offer soup, Matthew would become poisoned, and she got be freed of her imprisonment. Her lips bunched together in a line and she met his hand with the soup once more. <br><br>“Truthfully, I don’t feel safe with you so tired after this long day and fight, just drink a little and recover some of your strength…” She tried to reason, trying to be calm and polite, however she was starting to get discouraged. It felt like he knew she had the soup poisoned and knew her plot to go back home, and was eager to foil it. Even if the soup wasn’t her main concern, there was no way in hell she was riding the dark unicorn, she was clearly livid about the beast.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>05-10-2010, 02:28:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Matthew retracted his hand from the soup bowl as though it were a searing hot iron. "I'm a black knight you poor excuse for a god damn woman. You can walk for all I care. If you try and give that to me one more time, I'll kick it out of your hands and make you eat it off the mud!" Jerking the dark unicorn's head to the side, Pessimus glared up at the knight when he felt the reigns turn his head so violently. "Come, we're going back," he ordered to Xanthe.<br><br>The dark unicorn turned its head to cast its blood-red eyes at the girl. There was a knowing glimmer in them as its teeth shown in a devious grin. <em>My, my, I have never seen a man so angry over some lousy soup. You must be more afraid of humans than I thought.</em><br><br>Matthew jerked the reigns to make Pessimus stop and growled, "What the hell did you just say?"<br><br>Pessimus swiveled his pointy ears carelessly. <em>Well, it is just a bowl of soup. You're even afraid to touch it. But...oh well, if you don't want the soup. I do. I haven't eaten all night.</em> The dark unicorn turned to face the princess and trotted over to her. Matthew yanked back on the reigns again to steer the unicorn's head aside. "Stop!" he snapped. He glared down at Xanthe and reached down to snatch the bowl from her hands. He brought it to his lap and stared down at the cloth that was holding it closed. Slowly, he undid the knots and lifted the lid to get a large cloud of steam wafting into his face. It did smell pretty good.<br><br><em>You sure I can't have some? I mean, you were afraid a second ago.</em><br><br>"If you keep talking, I'll get a larger bit for your mouth so you can't no more," Matthew threatened. He lifted the bowl up to his chin and hesitated. It felt so wrong, accepting a gift from humans. They had done nothing but try to destroy him several times, and here at this ill-fortified village, what could they do? If they had refused to give him Xanthe, he would have had the village in flames before she even woke from unconsciousness. Accepting the gift made him feel soft and weak. It was violating to be even holding the bowl. The black knight closed his eyes and the fires that leaked from them extinguished.<br><br>Pessimus bit his tongue in suspense. His eyes were wide and pupils shrunk with anticipation. He was going to do it! The helm's visor spread wide until the rim of the bowl could pass beyond it to touch his lips. Matthew tilted his head back as he gulped down the hot soup. He paused twice to chew the beef and vegetables and then finally finished with a soft and audible gasp. Tossing the bowl to the ground, he didn't have much else to say. He felt already that he had betrayed his own law. "We're leaving."<br><br>The doctor turned from the window and as the dark unicorn started walking, he looked back at Xanthe to flash her another evil smile.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>05-10-2010, 05:17:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe narrowed her eyes at him and held the soup closer to her, she scoffed and rolled her eyes at his anger. “The nerve you have…” She muttered under her breath, and begrudgingly followed him, she decided the soup was a lost cause, and she felt the urge to throw the soup on the ground in a tantrum. Xanthe gaze met with the unicorn and her eyes widened in realization at his casual claim. <br><br>Perhaps Matthew’s hostility was a sign of fear of companionship.&nbsp; Xanthe nodded energetically in agreement with Pessimus, she had only viewed the knight as a hostile attacker. Surely something must’ve happened back in his past to make him that way. Trailing behind them carefully, still wondering what her captor was like before he donned the demonic armor god knows when. Better yet, she didn’t even know his name, other than what people called him; ‘demon’, ‘black knight’, ‘devil’…. <br><br>“It’s not for you!” She interjected and pulled the bowl away from the hungry beast, she seemed to regret her decision to bring the damn soup along. Sighing, she was about to eat it herself, it only made Matthew more irritable and Pessimus more annoying. She met the knight’s eyes with her own fiery ember eyes, standing ramrod still, she looked up defiantly at him. She was taken off guard as he snatched the stew out of her grasp, she looked at Pessimus hopelessly and tried to grab it from him. He was too far off from the ground, and her hands barely reached his rib cage.<br><br>Groaning, she watched as he drank it and twisted her hands nervously. The unicorn seemed to understand what was happening, and she looked at him pleadingly, though he didn’t seem to even pay the slightest bit of attention to her, infatuated with Matthew as he ate. Her hands were clammy, and she hurried closer beside Matthew in anticipation. She was distraught, unsure if the poison would really affect him; he may be human, but he proved his ungodly powers enough to make any sane person have their suspicions. Xanthe didn’t even want to think about what Matthew would do when he found out she had poisoned him, so she remained silent, though her worried and grey complexion made her look sickly.&nbsp; <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>05-10-2010, 06:50:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				They didn’t get far before the doctor appeared at the outskirts of the town with two squads of eight soldiers. The first squad had armored guards wielding spears, and the second squad, long bow archers. “Stop demon!” the doctor shouted.<br><br>Pessimus stopped as the black knight casted a burning eye over his shoulder to regard the unit that was challenging him. The dark unicorn then trotted around Xanthe in a circle as he and the knight faced the small army. Matthew was grinning in pure amusement at the size of the offense presented. “What is this? That’s not even big enough for my birthday,” the black knight jeered.<br><br>“You are under arrest, Knight. You will be held here at our village until the proper authorities arrive to have you properly executed. We will also be taking that girl from you,” said the doctor as she pointed toward Xanthe.<br><br>Matthew eased his head back in laughter. They sounded so sure of themselves that it brought tears to his eyes. His eyes then widened when hot chum suddenly washed into his mouth. He sounded as though he had choked as he leaned over to his right and spewed blood and soup onto the ground. His left hand reached out to snag the mane of Pessimus as the dark unicorn winced against the bit and growled. Matthew’s entire body was shaking to stay strong. The doctor smiled upon seeing that the poison was actually working. She beckoned Xanthe to quickly come to her side as she decided to enlighten the knight, “You were poisoned. A normal man would die a slow and excruciating death, and well, because you aren’t normal, that is why these men are here.”<br><br>Matthew watched in awe his vision blurring and with his growing weakness, he slowly dismounted from a top of Pessimus. He lowered unsteadily to his feet and sank to his knees. He was feeling so sick. There was a sharp pain in his gut and his stomach was trying its hardest to purge the foul that dropped into it. His hands shot out before him as he heaved his guts a second time. He coughed a few times as the doctor watched his slow collapse into comatose.<br><br>“I know of how many you’ve murdered and the cities you’ve destroyed devil…or…actually, you’re nothing but a wicked man, aren’t you?” the doctor queried. “You’re finished. What do you have to say for yourself?”<br><br>The black knight’s arms bent and he rested his horned head upon his forearms. Pessimus trotted away from him, flashing his impish grin down at the knight and then at Xanthe. Matthew lowered onto his side and when he rolled onto his back and gazed up at the sky, he was heard laughing. The laughter gave the doctor the chills. How could he still be so cynical?<br><br>“I’m going to kill you,” he began between his deep and desperate breaths. “I’m going to burn down your entire village, and then I’m going to kill that backstabbing bitch.”<br><br>“She won’t be here for you to kill. You won’t be able to find her,” the doctor declared.<br><br>“I’m going to kill her.”<br><br>“You will be too dead to do anything!”<br><br>The green flames from the black knight’s eyes gushed in his rage as he bellowed into the morning sky a voice that resonated over the treetops, “<em>I will kill her!</em>” He then bore his teeth and groaned in pain. There was so much discomfort passing through his body that he couldn’t stay still. It hurt to do so.<br><br>“You can go retrieve him. I’m sure he can’t do anyone any harm now,” said the doctor.<br><br>The soldiers rushed over to the knight as archers aimed their bows at Pessimus. The dark unicorn snorted. He was insulted. <em>You don’t have to worry about me. I’m free. Isn’t that right, Girl?</em> he brought his red sights to her. <em>Poison…so lethal. I’m starting to wonder if you should have been my master instead, but you’re going home. Home sweet home.</em> The dark unicorn laughed as he watched the soldiers take the knight by the arms and drag him toward the village.<br><br>They stopped before the doctor and one of them grasped the smooth horn of his helm and removed it. The soldiers and the nearby villages were shocked to see that it was only a man like the doctor had said, but the helm had made his guise look so real. It was as if he had been truly a devil. The doctor crouched before Matthew’s hanging head and rested the back of her hand on his forehead. “He has a very high temperature,” she informed. “If he doesn’t die of that by morning, then he surely will come time for his execution.” Rising, she stepped out of the soldiers’ way. “Do with him as you wish.”<br><br>One of the soldier’s grinned as he peered down at the black knight’s helm. He had been anxious to try on the demonic helm, and as soon as he placed the thing over his head, the eyes of the helm lit up and the soldier began screaming. His body violently convulsed as it began to shrivel to a prune before crumbling beneath the weight of it. The helm landed with a thud as the visor seemed to be grinning wickedly. Apparently, a devil still possessed it. The sight made the doctor gasp in horror as she then begged, “Please don’t touch anything you’re unfamiliar with!”<br><br>The doctor looked to Xanthe with a smile. “See? Everything worked out just fine. You should eat and rest, and then in the morning, we will have a carriage prepared to take you back home.” She then tilted her head shyly scratched her nose. “That is, I don’t know where your home is or who you even are. My name is Dena. I’m the healer here at Corwick village.” She held her hand out to the girl with a bright smile.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>05-10-2010, 23:39:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe froze in absolute terror as the doctor’s voice rang out through the woods. She slowly turned to see the village guards armed to fight, and her chest rose in shaky breaths. He was so unaware of what she’d done, he was too proud to realize his force couldn’t withstand everything. <br><br>While the force brought to take him down seemed weak, Xanthe knew if the poison worked they would not even need the weapons they brought, for Matthew would be too sick to even throw a punch. The whole idea made her burn with shame, and she immediately kept her face away from the knight, who now circled her slowly with the horse.&nbsp; <br><br>Trying not to gag, she looked away as he retched, her hands covering her face. She shook with emotion, and looked to the knight helplessly, her eyes were pricked with tears. He had dismounted his pride, too sick to even stand. How had she had the nerve to do this? Xanthe was many things; spoiled, arrogant, egotistic, and truly a brat, however she wasn’t a killer. Or at least, she didn’t have the instinct of one. She was too childish and cowardly for murder, even if she despised Matthew and his right over her. “Why am being so ridiculous? I only gave him soup, he was fool enough to take it…” She thought to herself comfortingly and wiped her eyes with her arm briskly, though it didn’t help her much. <br><br>Her hair seemed to be covering her face and she was relieved to be away from the knight as she obediently trudged quickly over to the doctor. He seemed so sick. Oh God, he wouldn’t die right here would he? The idea of being in the presence of a dead body made her blood go cold, she cowered behind the doctor. When the knight threatened her life, the hairs on the back of her neck seemed to stand on end, her eyes were huge jumped as he raged on. Hell, if he was going to die, she could imagine there was another demonic trick up his sleeve he could use to take her down with him. <br><br>Her lips parted and she pointed to him, her intentions seemed unclear, but she was obviously distraught. “You’re not going anywhere! You better stay here and wait for him!” She hissed through clench teeth, she spoke fiercely yet quietly, as to not attract attention to herself. The words she whispered to the unicorn made the girl sound crazy, since it seemed the chances of Matthew living were slim to none. <br><br>It had been the first time Xanthe made eye contact with him when they tore off the man’s dark helm, and she didn’t seem able to look away. “I wish you were a demon…” She murmured ruefully, if he hadn’t been as human as the horde surrounding him Xanthe would’ve been a saint, but instead she was just a conniving young girl. He was dragged off soon after and Xanthe let out a small gasp as a small instinct had took over her being; she could save him from his imminent end. The woman still had the antidote that Xanthe had taken with her food, the bitter tasting leaves. <br><br>Despair flooded her, she couldn’t get his tired face out of her mind now, and grit her teeth in frustration. “I can’t pull this off, he’ll kill me, I’ve just gotten so close to freedom, I can’t blow it!” She thought desperately. Once the idea had been hatched, she knew it would haunt her. Could she barter with him from a distance?&nbsp; To let her go and spare this village to save his life? “He would have to agree..” She thought gullibly and watched where the knight was taken; the soldiers dragged his weak body to a dingy tower that seemed to be some sort of jail. The knight certainly would do anything to not perish in the dungeon of a <em>village</em>, hadn’t he been hoping for a more glorious death?<br><br>Memorizing the location to heart, she swallowed hard and turned to address the victorious doctor. “You were right, miss…As for food, I'm quite full, I would just like to rest before dawn” She smiled weakly, trying to calm her nerves, and curtsied to her. She also wanted to wait until the village was asleep and pretend she was as well, so she could find those herbs again. “And for your unfailing kindness I must thank you, Miss Dena. I am Xanthe, princess of the kingdom of Azyul.” <br><br><em>The village people seemed to be polite to the everyday damsel, she tried to convince herself; Matthew had it coming with his deeds, after all... </em> <br><br>She met the woman’s rough hand with her own dainty hand and shook with her somewhat nervously. While most peasants adored their royal family, other could be hostile for being treated poorly by the ruler or jealousy with their rich life.&nbsp; <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 00:36:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Pessimus laughed at Xanthe’s orders. <em>I take orders from no one, stupid girl</em>. The dark unicorn then turned and with a flick of his black mane, he bolted into the woods and seemed to evanesce back into the elusive shadows from which had made him so rare.<br><br>One of the soldiers timidly picked up the demon king helm and gazed down at the bones of a once comrade. He then stared at the face of the helm, feeling spooked. He followed behind the group that was taking the black knight to the tower and suggested, “Make sure that we strip him of his wicked armor. I think it’s best that we take everything and lock it away where it can’t do anyone harm.”<br><br>The soldiers agreed and once they had entered the tower, they dragged him to the highest floor to a chamber where he was alone and away from other prisoners. It was there where they stripped him of his armor and three soldiers carried his belongings back down the tower to the main office of the guard. They were stored in a chest and locked away for no one to ever get curious.<br><br>Meanwhile, the doctor’s heart leapt in startle when the young captive revealed that she was actually the princess of Azyul. She at first fidgeted about as though not knowing whether to bow or speak first. She finally decided to curtsy, spreading her white apron and lowering her head as her blonde pigtails dangled to either side of her face. “You’re-you’re Highness, I couldn’t recognize you without your extravagant gowns.” She raised her head. “You’re so dirty. Ah! We must return you to the castle at once, I’m sure you’re father is worried about you.” She started walking with her back to the hospice. Being in the presence of a very important lady had made the doctor ramble nervously. “We need to get you some better clothes. We don’t have dresses here as fine as what you’re used to in Azyul, but I will make sure you have one of the best gowns in the village. I will also have a hot bath prepared for you, and-and a room better than the one you have now.” She clapped her hands over her cheeks. “It must have been dreadful living in the presence of such a brute. You must have been horrified. I noticed that he hadn’t deflowered you when I examined you, thank goodness.”<br><br><br>The remaining soldiers stood in a circle about the unequipped knight, staring at him as he lie on his side in but a tunic and trousers. There was no sign of a devil on his being. One of the soldiers was rummaging through his pants pockets and checking his clothes for any hidden objects. Upon lifting the knight’s tunic, he gazed at the ruins that wrapped his body in chains, reading the incomprehensible inscription as it disappeared down his backside. They had been carved all over his body. “What of this strange language?” the soldier asked cautiously.<br><br>As the other soldiers stared they only shrugged, and one replied, “Sadistic bastard—probably more dark magic. I’m not a wizard so let’s just go. He’ll be dead by morning in his condition.” The soldiers turned and left the dungeon and the black knight.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 01:35:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Wait! God damnit!” Xanthe cursed as he left, hitting her fist on her thigh irritably, and stomped her foot. She wanted the cursed monster to be there if Matthew were to survive the angered villagers, she just hoped that if that was the case, they wouldn’t follow her. She saw the knights remerge without Matthew and gulped. The tower was huge, she would have to search tirelessly for him, if she truly planned to help him. Which she hoped she would come to her senses and get over this guilty conscious thing and just save herself.&nbsp; <br><br>Giving once last look to the prison, Xanthe turned to Dena, dismissing her nervous manner, it was what she had been used to her entire life. Doing a much smaller curtsy to the woman in return, she replied “That would be splendid, I understand any shortages, I thank you for your hospitality.” She spoke calmly, and grinned to herself brilliantly at the idea of a nice hot bath, fresh clothes, and a warm bed. Her skin was marked with blood and dirt, and even her beautiful hair was somewhat limp. Grimacing at her scraped palms, she felt simply disgusting. She knew however she would soon return home, and these things would become a regular occurrence as they once were. <br><br>Following the woman closely into the hospice, Xanthe listened to her take pity on her and smiled in what she thought was a brave and humble manner. “It was frightening to say the least, but I wouldn’t let him destroy me. The man is bitter and powerful, but he cannot get everything he wants with just that.” She said sagely, but truly didn’t want to recall some of the more traumatic events with the knight. Doing so would probably make her cry like a weak girl, and she refused to make such a stupid scene in front of a commoner. As for the woman’s last remark, Xanthe merely ignored her. In all truth, she had been afraid of rape at first by the knight, since she had heard so many horror stories of young virgins being kidnapped and deflowered, but she hardly doubted Matthew would even wish to. He didn’t appear to have much female interaction, or any interaction for that matter, the idea might’ve never come to his mind unless it would be to punish her. <br><br>&nbsp;Following the woman into the hospice, she looked for the lab. In the main area of the small building a door still remained open slightly and within it held several herbs and medicines in Xanthe took note on their numbers and several uses and inwardly groaned. The strong pungent scent was still familiar to her, so all hope was not yet lost, but it would take a hell of a lot more time to try and locate the herbs while the knight slowly died in the cell. Her heart grew heavy once more at the idea of the human she had tried to kill, she secretly hoped she would have enough time to get to him. <br><br>“Miss, if it is not too much to ask, I am not hungry right now, though I may be in the morning. All I request is for the bath now and sleep, I’m terribly fatigued..” She asked politely, although she knew the woman would do as she asked. She was running out of time, and she wanted to pretend to be asleep and hoped the townsfolk would drop their guard and rest as well so she could sneak out. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 02:15:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Your Highness is so brave," Dena praised as Xanthe told her of her toils with the black knight. She then nodded exuberantly. "Yes, I'll prepare one for you right away along with a fresh gown." She walked her back to the bedroom and held her hand out in her direction. "You just wait there." The doctor then darted out of the room to prepare a tub. <br><br>Outside, in view of the tower was an iron basin with a low fire popping beneath it. Inside it was wood and sealant to keep the iron from getting wet and rusting. Dena got on the pump and began pumping fresh ground water into it. It was a lengthy process, but eventually the bath would be full and herbs and tea leaves she got from the lab were tossed into it.<br><br>Meanwhile, outside Xanthe's window were two, glowing red eyes. It was the dark unicorn and he tapped his horn against her window before calling, <em>Open the window!</em> Once she did, he gave her the most pathetic and flustered look. <em>I forgot to ask, can you remove this blasted bridle and bit? I am quite hungry, and I cannot eat with it on.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 02:36:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Thank you, mistress!” Xanthe waved cheerfully to her as she left and hummed to herself, trying to soothe her nerves as she examined the room. It was quaint and sweet in its rustic manner, but Xanthe was still grateful she would only spend one night in there. Turning to a oak cabinet with a mirror seated upon it, Xanthe gasped at the sight she saw. Her cheek was smeared with blood, she had a purple bruise on her neck, and her eyes seemed puffy. Even her long hair had been knotted and tangled with leaves. <br><br>Quickly grabbing a brush, Xanthe frantically combed through her hair until she found in satisfactory. She rubbed her cheek frantically until the blood began to smear off with the friction, though one side of her face now appeared ruddy and blotchy from the harsh treatment. Figuring she’d better herself more in the tub, she had pulled down the sleeve of her gown until she heard a taping at the window. Xanthe’s first instinct was to scream, the red eyes looked menacing, but when she heard the same voice of Pessimus, she looked carefully around her and slowly went to the window, fixing her garment once more.<br>&nbsp;<br>“What?” She whispered excitedly, she smirked with victory. This couldn’t have worked out better, the unicorn needed her help and he would get it, for a price. She could help Matthew, send him on his way with Pessimus, and try to bargain her way home. Her eyes flickered to the tower and she looked back to him. “Of course I will dear,” She obviously enjoyed his embarrassed attitude. “However, you have to help me find a way to get into that tower unnoticed…and without killing people.” She added dryly&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 02:55:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The dark unicorn's pathetic frown shifted into an irritable grin. The princess thought she was so clever, and it bothered him how he needed her help so badly. When she mentioned sneaking into the tower, his nostrils flared as he expelled a great snort of disgust. <em>What?</em> he hissed. <em>You want to free the knight? He will kill us both!</em><br><br>A man that happened to be walking by the hospice stopped to gaze at the window where the princess was. He didn't seem to even notice the large unicorn that was standing before it for all he saw instead was a black cat perched upon the sill. Giving Xanthe a smile, he waved at her and went on his way.<br><br><em>Without killing anyone?</em> Pessimus questioned further. <em>You can't ask a dark unicorn not to kill someone. The task of getting you into the tower and out is very easy, but what am I to get out of it if I cannot eat?</em><br><br>Dena returned and noticed the princess and the black cat in the window. "Shoo! Go away!" she shrieked and fanned with her hands. The black cat dropped down and Pessimus spoke to her <em>I will see you outside by your bath.</em> He then fled as the doctor shut the window and locked it. "My Lady, you should never play with such creatures. Black cats are bad luck. Truly they're the spawn of the devil," she enlightened. "You're bath is ready, and I hope you find the temperature to be to your liking. I've added some soothing herbs."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 03:13:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe was about to soothe the unicorn’s worry but she gasped as the man walked by. Returning the cheery wave to the man who had passed, trying to act as unsuspicious as she could, twirling her hair innocently. She realized he had not seen the black unicorn, and was about to reply to it when Dena entered. She gave a quick nod to Pessimus, she would talk more when they met outside, and feigned shock at this news. “Oh my goodness, you’re quite right, I’m truly sorry!” She nodded in agreement and her upset face drew to be quite delighted. “Thank you Dena, you’re service is a great change from all of this. I shall be in shortly.” And with that, Xanthe excused herself from the doctor and walked out to the bath. <br><br>Looking around for the unicorn, Xanthe placed one delicate foot in the water and sighed; it truly was like home. Sliding in the large tub the lovely aromas of teas surrounded her. Giving a content breath, she fully emerged herself in the water and took off the flimsy gown underwater. Slapping it onto the ground beside her, her head popped out of the water, the darkness made the clean water black and concealed her body as she carefully peered over the rim for Pessimus. “Pessimus? Are you here?” She called out quietly into the darkness, her gaze went back up to the tower and she sighed quietly.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 03:48:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The heavy thuds of the dark unicorn's hooves trailed across the grass as the tall, stallion came before the tub and stared at Xanthe. <em>Looks like a soup bowl,</em> the dark unicorn laughed morbidly. <em>You look so delicious stirring around amongst the grass.</em> Saliva began to ooze from around the horse's bit. <em>It's making me hungry.</em><br><br>Pessimus lowered his head and dipped his muzzle into the hot water as he sipped it. His ears swiveled forward after taking two gulps and he raised his head with an amused grin. <em>Your water is drugged. It is not the poison from the soup, but it is more of a sleeping potion. The leaves will soak and give off an odor that will lull you to sleep. Why are humans so devious?</em> The dark unicorn's eyes darted to the window and just in the corner he could see Dena watching. <em>Don't turn your head, but the snoop is looking this way.</em> She saw Xanthe in the bath and a little, black squirrel perched upon the rim. The unicorn was pretty adept at mind reading.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 04:08:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As he emerged, Xanthe rolled her eyes and scrubbed at her arms. “Pessimus, I thought you were brave for heaven’s sake. He is too sick to barely move, he cannot kill us…besides, I have a plan that will hopefully save both of us..if I can get the antidote and tell him to let us both go and then give it to him, these nice villagers will return me and you will have a chance to escape while he recuperates!” She finished in a quiet voice and scowled at him, covering herself as she watched him drink. “Do you mind?! I'll sneak food for you after you help me!” She whined and dunked her hair in the water, trying to get it thoroughly cleaned. <br><br>“…Drugged? You don’t mean she-“ Her eyes widened in fear and her mouth opened and she shook slightly at his words. Nodding obediently she didn’t dare turn around. Her ember eyes darkened as she felt the urge to yawn and grimaced at Pessimus. “That little country wench!” She whispered fiercely and her fists splashed in the water, agitated. She began to panic, however she was too stubborn to leave before she felt she was presentable.<br><br>&nbsp;She gingerly used the water to clean her face, holding her breath and keeping away from her eyes and mouth. “..Oh God, why is she doing this? What are we going to do?” She wheedled quietly to Pessimus and leaned closer, talking even quieter. “I had planned to sneak into their lab and steal the antidote, and get into the tower, but it’ll all get blown to hell if I fall asleep…and I'll be a murdering princess.” Her hands disappeared to check the rest of her body for any further dirt, when she was fully satisfied, they reappeared and began braiding her hair to dry. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 04:33:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The dark unicorn couldn't stop grinning when she said she would feed him. <em>I will be looking forward to that,</em> he said. As he kept his eyes on the window for Xanthe, he reassured her, <em>I will send her on a little trip</em>. His horn changed until it was so black it absorbed light. It had been the same attack he had used on her and the knight in the past. It wasn't long before Dena suddenly collapsed. The thud of her body hitting the floor was heard from outside. <em>You better hurry. She may not be down for long, but perhaps long enough for you to get what you're looking for. From what I understand, she suspects that you may be evil just like the knight. She saw the knight pour his blood into you.</em> The equine giggled and gazed at where the fatal wound he had given her used to be. <em>So far, I feel he's rubbing off on you with all these cruel ideas of yours. Any how, I'll meet you at the front.</em> Pessimus then trudged/fled around the hospice to the front with an impish smile.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 05:20:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“Trip?” She repeated and listened to the fall of the woman and realized what he meant as she watched his horn grow dark. Nodding briskly, she glanced at the fallen doctor and picked up her soaked through gown. It bothered her she was now stuck with the damn thing, but she hadn’t had a choice. ”….Don’t remind me about that.” The idea of their blood intermingling made her shudder, she felt tainted by his blood. Her eyes began drooping and she shook her head, trying to keep her composure and stay focused. “Alright….let’s do this.” She encouraged and mustered up her bravery, wringing out the gown as well as she could. Slipping it over her head she jumped out of the tub simultaneously, successfully covering herself and drying off she was about to take off when she heard Pessimus’s remark. <br><br>She scowled and crossed her arms. “Rubbing off on me? I doubt it, otherwise I would be just rolling over like a good girl and going to sleep instead of saving him!” She insisted, and sprinted into towards the hospice. Opening the creaky door, Xanthe didn’t take a moment to catch her breath and flung herself into the open door of the lab room panting. She frantically began searching for the leaves of the antidote, remembering their distinct long, almost elegant form and soft green hue. Unfortunately, there were a good 10 that had that appearance, so she readied herself and sniffed them all, until she found one that made her gag. Almost dropping the vial in her haste, she slipped on the cold floor of the main room and caught herself on the counter, hurrying to the outside with Pessimus. <br><br>“I got it!” She cheered triumphantly to the beast and emerged outside with a flourish. “Okay, we got the antidote, now all we need to do is get to the tower, find him, and then-“ She stopped herself, her eyes wide, if the villagers had the intentions of drugging her, were they ever really going to take her back home? Which meant she was left with <em>the knight</em>. <br><br>“Umm….so, you really don’t think he’ll kill me if I’m extremely nice?” She asked quietly, looking at him with wide, fearful eyes, the vial in her hand trembled. She wanted to burst into tears at the fake chance of hope, and how much troubled she had gotten herself in all for some damn town.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 05:59:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The dark unicorn had used his magic to shroud him and her in an illusion. They appeared to the common man as mice. He listened to her nervous explanation and suggested, <em>Maybe you shouldn’t give him the antidote all at once. Maybe just enough so that he can listen? Listening always seemed hard for him, don't you think?</em><br><br>Pessimus lowered his head between her legs being sure to mind his horn, and then raised his head so that she tumbled into the saddle. <em>Leave everything to me.</em> He trotted down the street to the tower where two guards were standing guard by the door. <em>Hold on.</em> He rose on his hind legs and knocked the hoof of his foreleg against the forehead of the unsuspecting guard. The human went sprawling across the ground unconscious as his friend stared in shock. He glanced around at his surroundings, wondering what could have knocked him out. By then, Pessimus had lowered and kicked with his hind legs the guard's abdomen to send him sliding next.<br><br>The dark unicorn grinned with self-praise at his skill of breaking and entering. He turned his backside to the tower door, and once again kicked out with his legs to send it slamming across the ground. The soldiers inside jumped in fright and watched as two mice strolled inside and went right up the stairs. They blinked their eyes in disbelief, hardly convinced that some rodents were able to tear down a door. They stepped outside and found the unconscious soldiers yet no culprit.<br><br>"What the hell is going on here?" one soldier growled.<br><br>"Maybe it's a ghost," another soldier whimpered.<br><br>"Shut your trap about that shit!"<br><br>Pessimus trotted up the stairs. <em>They had to put him in the most obvious place.</em> Once the dark unicorn reached the top of the stairs, he head-butted and donkey-kicked the last two guards before stooping to let Xanthe down. <em>Your turn.</em> The keys to the dungeon were hanging from one of the downed guards' hips. Pessimus turned to try and peek into the dungeon to see if the black knight was still feeling low. It gave him chills just thinking if he were conscious and healthy. Such was why he chose to send the human in first.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>06-10-2010, 22:16:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe nodded anxiously and tried to smile confidently, though it looked as though she was in pain. “Right. Yes, of course, he has to listen.” She said and cracked her knuckles, obviously panicked, the princess wouldn’t let her circumstances have the best of her. ‘<em>I’m going to kill that backstabbing bitch’ </em> he had promised…..Xanthe really didn’t want to think about that, and figured it would be a good idea to pray right about now. <br>&nbsp;<br>“Alright, be careful..” She said and let out a small squeak of surprise as he put her on his saddle. She couldn’t help but raise her brows in approval as he slyly knocked the men unconscious and snuck in. “Nicely done.” She murmured, it was rare for such a snotty princess to give anyone a compliment, however, she wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without Pessimus. As they broke into the large tower Xanthe noticed a loaf of dry bread on the main desk and snatched it. She knew the unicorn wouldn’t be happy with such a dry meal, but it was all she could do for now.&nbsp; <br><br>As they ascended the stairs, Xanthe’s eye began to droop, the drug was slowly working into her. She was even dozing off as the unicorn took out the last few soldiers, and probably would’ve fallen asleep had Pessimus not spoken. “Hmm? Oh, sorry!” She mumbled sleepily, she blinked and got off the horse in a slightly clumsy manner. Shaking her head, she tried to stay alert as she took the key from the belt loop of the unconscious soldier, and looked back warily at Pessimus.<br>&nbsp;<br>“Well..a deal is a deal, I suppose.” She turned to Pessimus and held out her hand that held the bread. It took her a few tries to undo his bit, she had never fastened or unfastened one before, and turned back to the door, she couldn’t delay this any longer. Her unsteady hand slid the key into the lock, and turned it, a click noise followed as she did so. Her heart was pounding, her skin was clammy, and she slowly opened the door and peeked in. It was too dark to see much, but with the rays of moonlight she could seen chains fastened to the wall, surely they had restrained Matthew. “Knight?” She called out quietly, and stepped further in the room, the moonlight gave away her identity, she held the vial close to her chest. A tremor came over her at the thought he might’ve already been dead.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>07-10-2010, 04:33:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The dark unicorn had a smile prepared for Xanthe when she announced the completion of their deal. When she held out the bread loaf, the equine's smile drooped at what she was offering him. Once the bit was free from his jaws, he exclaimed, <em>Bread? What horse do you know eats bread? You're as dumb as the knight claimed. A stupid and sheltered bitch, unfit to even eat!</em><br><br>Once Xanthe entered the prison cell, Pessimus turned his hind legs to the door, and kicked it closed. Whirling around, he bit the key poking from the hole and tossed it off to the side. <em>Yes, a deal is a deal. The both of you shall rot!</em> Pessimus sadistically cackled before bolting down the corridor to the steps. His black hooves thundered across the stone floor and soldiers that were already racing up the stairs out of suspicion froze on the steps in dread. <br><br>"It's the unicorn!" a soldier screamed in panic.<br><br>Pessimus hissed with excitement as his jaws fell open, and he brought his mouth over the soldier's head. The soldier collapsed beneath the weight of the horse, his muffled screams making his comrades freeze in fright as he desperately clawed the unicorn's cheeks to be free. The dark horse's teeth came together and crushed the soldier's head like a melon, the blood spilling from the horse's teeth, coating them in a red syrup as he chewed the bone between his molars. <em>So juicy</em> Pessimus giggled and then parted his teeth in a crazed laugh.<br><br>"Pull-pull back!" one of the soldier's cried as he turned to race back down the steps. The dark unicorn frolicked after them, pouncing one after the other to take their heads.<br><br><br><strong>The Knight's Cell</strong><br><br><br>The black knight was still where they had left him, lying on the floor though his fever had caused him to sweat despite the bite of autumn. It had made him hallucinate, bringing past memories to his eyes—some dreams and others nightmares. His pulse was very low, but had not yet stopped for his stubborn blood was processing a slow immunization to what was afflicting him. It sometimes required he suffer for awhile, but never for long. In his current condition, he was between sleep and unconsciousness. He wasn't alert to what or who was around him as rats often hungrily scurried about his cell, waiting for him to die. They remained in the shadows with their beady eyes gleaming in what little light came in from the moon, and upon the princess's entrance, they were considering an alternative meal.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>07-10-2010, 05:30:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				She grit her teeth at him from the door, she was tired of being blamed for her sheltered life. “Shut up! You think I’ve ever dealt with a horse before? I couldn’t find anything else in this cursed town, just eat it!” She wailed, her temper taking control of her, she had hoped Pessimus would’ve just been grateful for food. Turning back to Matthew, her stomach fluttered and she approached him slowly, he seemed unconscious. Kneeling beside him, she felt his forehead and frowned, taking out the vial with trembling hands.<br><br>She jumped and heard the door slam and immediately pivoted to see Pessimus’s sadistic grin. Her face seemed to flush with anger, and she remembered language she had heard from angry and bitter old sailors one day while on the docks of her beloved kingdom...and she couldn’t find a better moment to repeat what they had said. <em>“You….you little mother fucker!”&nbsp; </em> She exclaimed, the dirty words rolled awkwardly off her royal tongue, she truly began to wonder if the unicorn was right, was she losing her status and becoming a brute like Matthew? <br><br>Growling, she turned back to Matthew, she didn’t seem as scared as she stomped over to him and kneeled down beside him. She was losing hope fast, and couldn't find the drive to be careful. If he were to attack her, he would attack her, this nonsense was getting to be too much for her. She gently pried his mouth open and put three of the bitter tasting leaves on his tongue and put her hand on his chin to shut it closed, the bitter smell would hopefully wake him up. Scooting away from him, Xanthe nervously looked at her surroundings and gasped in terror at the rats, she immediately retreated, standing up. “Rats?” She cried, alarmed, and realized they were honing in on her and Matthew. <br><br>Xanthe’s fear rose to a climax as several soldiers cries were heard outside, the evil unicorn was surely attacking them. Falling to her knees she looked at the knight pleadingly, shaking his shoulder, her eyes were watered. “For the love of God I’m sorry! Please wake up knight!” She hated running to him, yet she knew she couldn’t go back home now and desperately needed his help. Whining, her delicate finers opened his mouth once again and took the moist leaves off his tounge, she grimaced at the sliva streaks left on them. "Heaven have mercy on me..." She whimpered and rubbed the antidote on her arm to dry it off, still squeaking quiet whispers of distaste, she looked at Matthew and then at the leaves. Before she could gross herself out, she put them in her mouth, her eyes squeezed shut as the scent penetrated her sense of smell, she chewed as fast as she could before spitting up a wad of leaves. <br><br>Determined, she tilted his chin up and stood over top of him and dropped the moist concoction in and tilted his head back so they would fall down his throat. Her originial plan had been to slowly wake him up and heal him as the unicorn had suggested, but that time had come and gone and they needed to leave. Taking out another three leaves she chewed them again, merely flinching at the horrid taste, and spit them out and hastily put them in the knight's mouth and pulled his jaw shut.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>08-10-2010, 08:42:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The herbs passed down the black knight’s throat and slid into the depths of his stomach. His intestines groaned as the chemicals in the antidote were swiftly accepted into his system just as the poison had. His brows furrowed with difficulty as a few coughs left his throat. The unbearable heat from his fever was fading, but his body still suffered weakness.<br><br>The rats were slowly creeping toward the two humans, but froze when a low, resonating speech filled the chamber. The words that left Matthew’s lips were dark and ominous, willing the runes on his skin to spring to life and glow in a crude red. The black knight clinched his teeth as his body trembled in slight pain, but soon it ended. His face softened with a tranquil expression that was quite unlike what Xanthe would be used to seeing. The new presence that filled the chamber was chilling, and it made the rats screech and flee into the cracks in the walls from, which they came. Matthew sat up and when he opened his eyes, his irises were large and yellow as though something foreign inhabited his body. The runes remained glowing on his skin and dimly beneath his clothes as he stood to his feet and dusted off his trousers.<br><br><em>You’d think they’d invent new forms of torture by now,</em> the voice that left Matthew’s lips hummed and wasn’t his at all. His eyes became half-lidded as he gazed at the wooden door before him, but before walking out of prison, he turned a devilish eye over his shoulder and stared at the princess. A sinister grin parted his lips as he faced her and ran his index finger along the thin, goatee that bisected the black knight’s chin. <em>You’re either brave or foolish for coming here. I’m supposed to kill you, but you don’t look a tad bit formidable to give me a pleasurable fight. What is it you want…</em> His eyes rose to the ceiling in thought as his fingers began to elongate and his nails blacken. <em>Ah yes, you wish to return home. I can do that—whatever gets your useless ass out of my way. Right now, I have a village to burn, a unicorn to enslave, and to retrieve what belongs to me.</em><br><br>The black knight turned and started for the door. He thrusted his palm against it and easily it was torn from its hinges and smashed into splinters against the wall. He seemed much stronger in his current state as he leisurely turned down the corridor and started down the steps. Though the look and the voice was not the black knight’s, the demeanor was certainly similar. In actuality, it was a conjuration of a dark spell that lured a devil to possess one’s body. The devil then brought out one’s true, dark thoughts to only bring anger, sadness, or other negative feelings. The danger for such a spell was once a devil got in, it would surely try and remain and assimilate its host into its own image. One had to be strong enough to push the creature out when the time was right.<br><br>Matthew’s eyes lowered to the decapitated forms of the soldiers sprawled on the stairs. <em>Someone was hungry, and he left an obvious trail…</em> he mused aloud. <em>But yes, Useless, that is what I’ll call you. You are truly a sheltered twat meant to have everything done for you like an animal. Fed, washed, cleaned and clothed, and then be forced to breed with another idiot just like you to keep your stupidity flowing. I have no time for pets.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>09-10-2010, 03:22:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe’s brow was furrowed in worry, she looked around anxiously after putting the leaves in his mouth, creeping closer to Matthew as the rats got closer. When he gave signs of consciousness she gave a sigh of relief and almost smiled, he was alive. However she remembered his promise to kill her, and immediately scooted further away from him, impacting herself for his fury, unsure how to escape. Yet, he seemed different, something wasn’t right; was his skin was glowing? <br><br>Her shaky breaths punctuated the sounds of the dingy cell, and she stepped further away from him as he spoke, her pale skin reflected in the moonlight as she stood adjacent to the window. Grasping her arms with her fingertips, His calm manner frightened her more, was this another power of his? He seemed so much more sinister than before, she had pitied him only because she knew behind the devilish armor he wore was only a man, but now she wasn’t so sure.&nbsp; <br><br>Stepping out of his way meekly, the princess froze as he turned to her, she clenched her fists in anxiety as he spoke of his intentions. She nodded dumbly, grateful that he didn’t find her worthy to kill, and he seemed sincere to take her back home. Following him from a distance, she felt guilty about the burning of the village but she knew it would be fool hardy to even try and stop him. The persona of the knight still radiated off him, and she knew better than to interfere with his urge to kill. She would however, try to help the villagers in any way she could; minus that witch of a doctor, she found the country people endearing. Giving a cry of disgust when they reached the staircase, she steadied herself on the doorframe, feeling as though she would faint at the gory sight. <br><br>Taking a deep breath, she side step the mess and almost fell down the stairs, lithely squeezing by him on the narrow staircase. “What has happened to you?” She asked in a demanding tone and crossed her arms. “The whole reason I got you out of there was because…” She trailed off, wondering if she had made a mistake, she studied the ground.&nbsp; Scoffing she turned her face back to him and sighed, "Nevermind, as long as you take me back home, I really don't care." Backing up from him, Xanthe seemed oddly quiet and left the prison slowly, with all the soldiers dead, she didn’t bother sneaking around.<br>&nbsp;<br>“Let's hope this just isn't too gory....” She murmured quietly to herself when she felt the cool night air on her. The princess sniffled, outside it was quiet, and she knew the knight would be relentless. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>12-10-2010, 03:09:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The black knight strode out into the cool, night air. The soil comforted the bare soles of his feet and his enlarged, yellow eyes surveyed the buildings around him. A heinous, long smile stretched his lips until they were inhumanly ear to ear. They then parted, revealing triangular teeth clinched into a docile grin that grew menacing as the human rage that flowed in his veins fueled his destructive and demonic incentives. Burn, burn, burn was all that passed through his mind. A spasm passed through Matthew’s body, forcing him to curl his arms next to his head, bracing himself as his body took on a monstrous alteration. His back swelled until it tore free of the tunic on his shoulders. His flesh stretched until it became as thin as plastic wrap, tearing as black wings extended like hands into the sky.<br><br>The wings flexed as blood and flesh dripped from them. The black knight’s body began to grow as his muscles grew thicker and the insteps of his feet elongated until his toes sharpened into claws. The brief transformation ceased as he remained an abomination—not man, not devil, but an in between grotesque monstrosity. Drool dripped from his mouth and tears ran from his eyes as he panted heavily from what was apparently an excruciating, partial transformation. His eyes ignited like they did when he wore his helm. Instead of green, red flames leaked from them and rolled like clouds down his cheeks and arms to cluster in the palm of his hands.<br><br>Clapping his large hands together, Matthew rubbed the flames between them and bowed his head to mutter a low, resonating chant, similar to the dark magic he had used before. The chimneys of several homes began to erupt like volcanoes, firing flames into the sky that fell like rain to douse everything. <em>I said I would burn this fucking village!</em> the demon bellowed; he then roared with laughter, beating his wings to scatter the fires and he even breathed flames onto a nearby home.<br><br>The once quiet village was soon riddled with terrified screams as people emerged from their homes and leapt through glass windows. Dena had awoke and raced out of the hospice with her hands gripping her skirts. She stood upon the porch and took in the burning village of Corwick before noticing the devil that was hovering off the ground and breathing flames on fleeing passer bys. Next to it, she saw Princess Xanthe. She hadn’t known what enraged her more—the demon or the one that freed him. Dena pointed her finger accusingly at Xanthe as she screamed, “Look what you’ve done! Witch; servant of the black devil! I won’t forgive you! No one will!”<br><br>Matthew glanced to Dena, and then to Xanthe with a chuckle. It surprised him that she was getting all the blame—more like, all the credit. He strode over to her on his taloned feet and from the back of his trousers, a fleshy tail ripped free to whip to his left and right. It seemed the more the black knight chose to use the powers of the demon, the closer the demon came to assimilating his body. Dena gasped in fright to see the devil was approaching her, and lifting her skirts, she ran from the porch and up the street.<br><br>While Matthew was occupied with Dena, Pessimus wasn’t too far from Xanthe when he noticed her now alone. The dark unicorn was wedged in the doorframe of a small home. He had been eating too much and his bloated sides along with the saddle on his back made it difficult for him to squeeze his way out from the burning house. He felt the heat growing hotter on his bottom as the flames intensified the more they ate at the wood. <em>Hey Xanthe!</em> he called innocently. He couldn’t believe he was asking this human girl for help again. <em>Can-can you help an old friend? If you get me out, I promise to get you out of the village. Who wants to be around here any way with the knight having gone berserk, right? Plee~ease?</em> he pleaded pathetically. He thrust his neck out a few times and tried to squeeze the saddle through the door only to no avail.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>14-10-2010, 06:14:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				While chaos ensued around the girl, she seemed lost in regret. “Human, what a complete and utter contrast!” She snarled to herself, and gave a groan of disgust as he transformed, placing her eloquent fingers on her temples, her ears ringing. She wanted to kick herself for freeing him; he seemed mortal then…was he really the demon the villagers had spoken of? Surely it was country superstitions, for the dumb and blind? <br><br>She didn’t dare to look too long at the monster he had become, or else the proper and dainty princess might’ve fainted away from shock. Holding her head high she avoided flames as well as she could, Xanthe maneuvered her way through to see Dena standing, clearly enraged, her face turned as scarlet as the flames around her. <br><br>So unfamiliar with insults of commoners and her townspeople, Xanthe’s bottom lip trembled as though she held back tears; if she even were to return home, would the people respect her as a ruler, if she wasn’t married off like a servant is sold before that? She bowed her head, about to plead for forgiveness when a thought struck her. Seizing her grasp on Dena’s wrist, stopping her in her tracks for only a moment, the princess had a dangerous look in her eye.<br><br>“Was it not <strong>you</strong>, good doctor, who gave me these potions and antidotes, trying to poison a fellow man and then lead me to the way to free him? If anyone here that should be called witch, madam, it’s you for even trying to meddle with things you do not know of!” She finished violently, throwing away her arm as Dena fled. Once Xanthe had rationalized what had happened, she felt thousands of times better, and strolled over to Pessimus. Besides, she had seen people fleeing their house, perhaps she wouldn’t burn in hell if they all died….Xanthe ignored that thought and gave one disdainful look at Dena. The wench tried to condemn her? The princess truly wasn’t one to believe in witchcraft, like many nobles, it was still something that they thought on but never acted as brash on it as the commoners. However, if the doctor was going to be stupid, Xanthe figured she should play along.<br><br>“Stuck again? Ugh, you’re the epitome of gluttony.” She said in a mock sweet tone and gave the unicorn a smug smile. “I suppose I can’t blame you, you helped me….but was this necessary?” She points a finger to his wide stomach and gives him a stern look, grasping his reins she gave a hard tug, leaning her weight out of the cabin, the unicorn wouldn’t budge. “Okay….um..let’s see..” She said as optimistically as possible, the flames creeping closer to the unicorn. Frowning, she gazed upon the beast to find it’s sturdy saddle. “Aha! One second!” She chirped, proud of herself, and tested the wood surrounding the unicorn to find the heat and flames had weakened it substantially. Despite her frail figure and&nbsp; weak demeanor, Xanthe was able to successfully tear off the wood surrounding him in small strips, chatting with the unicorn while she did so.<br><br>“So, Pessimus, guess who’s going home?” She murmured joyfully to him, not bothering to wait for a reply. “I was truly scared for awhile there, I thought I was surely going to have be a slave, but everything worked out, yes?” She said, giddy with satisfaction, she bent down&nbsp; to adjust the notches holding the saddle firmly to the unicorn and loosened it so he could pass through.<br>&nbsp;<br>Soon after that, the cabin’s frame began falling and with a shriek, Xanthe had narrowly missed a piece of the burning roof that would’ve surely burned off her arm. Jumpy once more, her calm demeanor was replaced with urgency. “It’s a hellhole here, let's get out of here! But uh, not too far, I'm waiting on a escourt!” She nodded to the unicorn, bouncing back and forth on her feet nervously. Turning back to the flaming village and the few scraggling fleeing villagers she grimaced;<em> a escourt who sure is taking his sweet old time.... </em> She thought heatedly.&nbsp; &nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>14-10-2010, 10:45:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As the black knight followed Dena, she ran until a burning pillar from a collapsed store fell before her. She raised her arms to protect her face from the flames, and then remembering the devil that followed after her, she whirled around to see him standing inches away. <em>So you were the mastermind?</em> the devil spoke with a grin.<br><br>Dena trembled in fright and then emitted a terrified scream. Her cry was so shrill, the sclera surrounding the black knight’s eyes began to turn black and slick, bull-like horns—similar to the ones on his helm—sprouted from his skull as a rush of black blood tumbled past his ebon blades down the sides of his twisted face. His long, fleshy tail shifted to the left before then snapping violently to the right as it curved around his hip to pierce cleanly through the side of Dena’s skull. His tail had slid in and then out as the woman convulsed and blood oozed from her eyes. Her body collapsed to the floor, her dress catching a spark that leapt from the burning debris and slowly began to burn.<br><br>The black knight hadn’t been interested in sticking around to see her scorching death. He had kept the promise to himself, and then turned back to Xanthe to see that she had found Pessimus for him. He was next on the list.<br><br><br>Pessimus snorted at the princess when she mentioned his belly. <em>It has been several years since I’ve tasted flesh that wasn’t the backside of unicorns. I was unsure when I’d be able to eat humans again. They are often so defensive, and they have to try and have everything.</em> He flared his nostrils at her irritably when she had jerked on his reigns and tried to pull him free. The doorframes creaked as they always did, but he still did not budge. When she finally decided to try and peel away the frame and loosen his snug saddle, the dark unicorn staggered free, and sighed in relief at the loosening of the saddle belt. <em>I am so glad you did that.</em> It gave his tummy more room.<br><br><em>You’re going home? You’re a slave now. The knight is not the knight we know. Actually, it’s not him at all. It is a devil that possesses the knight. Apparently, the agreement between them didn’t go too well. The devil is helping the knight seek his revenge, but at the expense of his own body. A devil will happily make promises, but it will eventually demand something awful in return. If you made a deal, you should be worried.</em> Pessimus warned, and then grinned sinisterly. <em>But since when did I care? You’re a spoiled-rotten princess. You’re a defenseless child in this world you don’t understand. You should be thankful you lived this long.</em> He then nudged her in the back with his snout. <em>I would eat you myself, if it wasn’t for-</em><br><br>Pessimus’s ears perked in alert, and he turned his sanguine eyes up the dirt road to the demonic silhouette amongst the flames. The sight made the unicorn’s pupils shrink as a sudden wave of anxiety came over him. <em>He’s come to get me now since I had helped you coax him into drinking the poison.</em> A low, an unequine-like growl rolled from the stallion’s throat before he swiftly thrust his head between the princess’s legs and scooped her onto his back. He had grown adept at minding his horn. <em>Come with me. I have an idea to free the knight of his corrupt spell.</em><br><br>The dark unicorn bolted into the woods at a speed she may not have been used to seeing. It was the speed of a majestic beast. Only a creature with divine hooves could run so graceful without jarring the rider, unfortunately, the dark unicorn hadn’t been able to keep up the sprint up for five minutes before his full stomach began to weigh him down. He slowed to a tired trot and panted heavily. <em>You are too heavy human,</em> he claimed. Surely, it wasn’t him. It had to be the human! He glanced over his shoulder and clinched his teeth in startle at the prompt approach of the black knight.<br><br>Matthew wasn’t looking so human anymore. His skin sprouted flakes of hard, black scales. It almost looked like a hideous rash or disease had broken out all over his body. His chest was wide and waist extremely narrow. His black hair had grown into a thick mane that ran down his back between his wings. His arms were as thick as tree trunks and hands so large they hung like barbells inches from caressing the forest floor. His raptor-like legs propelled him along as though his body were as light as feather. His black wings flapped every few seconds to amplify his sprint as he was almost on top of the two.<br><br><em>You may see something different, but as long as you stay with me, you won’t be led astray of what is real and what isn’t,</em> Pessimus warned. He turned to face the devil and lowered his horn in his direction. In a bright flash, the dark sky was lit by the sun and the forest was no longer around them. There were people and buildings, and if the princess looked closely, she’d recognize her home: Azyul. But it was slightly different. The dark unicorn passed through the crowd like a ghost as he eluded the sights of the devil. He trotted into an alley, and then turned to face the street as an escort of soldiers in armor rode by on their horses. He enlightened, <em>This isn’t your home. It is only an illusion—a memory to be more specific. This is a memory within the black knight’s mind. In the past when I casted my illusions, it was always these scenes that seemed to appear.</em> He then briefly mused in silence. <em>Your own memories may also be affecting this illusion, such is why it is seen so clearly. Did you know the knight before?</em><br><br>The crowd stood along the sidewalks, throwing flower petals as the soldiers rode by. “It’s Princess Xanthe!” a woman cried.<br><br>“Our beloved princess!” A man cheered.<br><br>Behind the crowd, from what she and the dark unicorn could see was a young boy, rising on his toes as he tried to peek past the hips of onlookers at the passing cavalry. He had black hair and was dressed in tattered clothes—worn by the streets. A noble woman that felt a hand on her hip shot a glance over her shoulder to see the filthy boy touching her new dress. She shrieked in shock before she shoved the little boy into the street, “Don’t touch me you filthy thing!”<br><br>The little boy stumbled into the path of the parade, frightening the horse of one of the officers. The brown mare froze and reared back to dodge the boy. “Shit!” the officer cursed as he nearly fell from his steed. He kept a tight grip on the saddle horn, and as the boy scrambled out of the way, he swung his foot out to kick him in the side of the head. The child collapsed in the gutter with a pained gasp. “Stay out of the road, Rat!”<br><br>There then emerged a young and familiar little girl from the carriage that was being escorted. She had watched the whole incident. Her parents disapproved of her scolding the officer for harming the boy, feeling that he deserved it for being in the street. The child rose out of the gutter in surprise to stare at the little girl that had defended him. Her actions had confused him. No one ever cared about his well-being before, and instead of explain herself, she offered him a bright and caring smile. It made the boy’s brows rise in even more astonishment as he slowly glanced over his shoulder to make sure it hadn’t been some other boy behind him that she was smiling at. Seeing no one but the envious glares of those on the walk behind him, the boy hesitantly returned a smile of his own. He was truly grateful and had enjoyed the scowls being drawn his way.<br><br><em>My, he was such a miserable thing, wasn’t he?</em> Pessimus commented. To him, it had to be the most pathetic sight he had ever seen. His eyes wandered across the parade to the other side of the street. His heart jumped in startle as he immediately lowered his head. Standing across the street was Matthew though he wasn’t looking like a devil. His eyes were barely open and empty. His body was sickly pale and gaunt and clinging to his back was what looked to be a giant and hairy mosquito. Its mouth was inserted into the back of his neck like a syringe, and the creature was rapidly draining the black knight of his life, vigor, and from what they saw beneath the illusion, his humanity. The demon was winning the fight for dominancy, and soon the demon was all that was going to be left.<br><br><em>Bow your head so he doesn’t see us!</em> the dark unicorn panicked. He could care less about the knight’s current state of health. He just didn’t want to get killed!
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>15-10-2010, 16:23:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				“You mean he’s possessed? I knew it!” She replied scornfully and crossed her arms. When had he made this deal anyways? When he was already hovering life and death in the prison? Scowling, she gave a shudder as he explained what had happened and gave him a dirty look. “Well, maybe you should be thankful you lived this long! I could’ve let you burn!” She admonished and noticed the unicorn had not finished his sentence nor replied to her statement. Dread siezed her, following his gaze Xanthe eyes grew with fright and her hands grew clammy. Swooning, she probably would’ve fainted had Pessimus not picked her up and charged into the woods. The trees whipped by and the girl clung to the saddle for dear life, trying not to scream, she was sure she would fall off.<br>&nbsp;<br>As he slowed, she gasped for breath, one hand over her heart, unaware of the capability the creature had. Her blonde hair was disheveled and unkempt from the wind, and she ran her fingers through it, trying to untangle it as she hopped off Pessimus’s back. “He’s gotta be awhile catching up to us, right?” She asked between breaths and flipping her hair back, the poor girl felt another wave of terror to see that he was standing before them, truly a demon now. “No way! He’s going to kill us!” Her voice was shrill with panic and she turned to Pessimus, looking for him to save them once more.<br>&nbsp;<br>The princess nodded, watching as he turned his horn onto the demon, there was a blinding flash of light and she gave a gasp. Home. “It’s beautiful, hmm?” She said sadly to the unicorn, feeling nostalgia seize her; this was her realm, her sanctuary. The same marble pillars, beautifully pristine streets, adoring townspeople, it was all here. Ever faithful, the peasants had abandoned the usually bustling markets to stand and watch as their young princess was displayed.<br><br>Following him through the crowds, no one seemed to notice her; one, being she was invisible in this scene and two, they were all fixated on the carriage riding through the main street. Dreamily, her vision remained on the beautiful city and she gave Pessimus and odd look. “Met him? I don’t….think so. Truly, I don’t see where we even would’ve…“ She trailed off and held her hand to her mouth and giggled like a giddy girl. “Pessimus, it’s me!” She nudged him and pointed at the little heiress who was visible through the carriage window, she appeared to be bored, and the older maid beside her lectured the girl to sit tall and stop slouching.<br>&nbsp;<br>When the parade was interrupted by a small boy, Xanthe leaned closer to watch, she seemed perplexed. Was that supposed to be the knight? The little girl’s face grew alert as the carriage halted, and she peeked outside to see the boy’s body toss into the gutter. Her sweet face was twisted with anger and she pushed past her maid and gave the soldier a disdainful glare before raising her small voice and speaking to the guard. Back in the alleys, Xanthe preened with delight, glad even when she was young she was bold. “Aw…you go girl.” She cooed to her younger form, clapping her hands together. As the parade had continued on after the brief pause, Xanthe turned to Pessimus. “Oh shut up! He was just a child…” Defensively, she turned away from him and crossed her arms. Now that the memory presented itself to her, she remembered the poor shy little boy, and a familiar wave of pity washed over her. Xanthe had found it endearing then, and it still pulled her heart strings now. <br><br>That was when, hidden in the crowds, she saw the knight, or his true self. Almost dead, there was a foul thing on his back, and it appeared to be taking the life force out of him. Alarmed, she turned fretfully to Pessimus, seeing Matthew before he was wearing armor and bartering with demons had played on the girl’s sympathy. “My God, is that the demon? What should we do?” She wheedled, and watched as the unicorn hid, she was livid. <br>&nbsp;<br>“Bow my head? You disgust me with your cowardliness!” She exclaimed in a hiss, her fists clenched. “The hell I will! I didn’t have a village burned and risk my safety for some demon; I did this to save a human, not to have him killed!” She ignored Pessimus and stood, turning on her heel she eyed the beautiful building they stood beside, hiding within its alleyway. Standing on her toes, she found a loose stone from the structure, that was actually the kingdom’s library, she held it with both hands. Storming past the dark beast, across the street undetected, she maneuvered her way deftly through the crowd. She had no second thoughts or doubts in her mind as she had appeared behind Matthew, wielding the stone.<br><br>With a cry she brought it to the maw of the gargantuan mosquito with all her might, cracking it’s hard shell and piercing it’s vulnerable body. It gave a piercing shriek, and the princess grit her teeth in determination and attacked it once more, this time cracking it’s spine. A dark slimy green liquid sprayed from this wound and covered her arms, and the girl gave a whimper of distaste as the goo left trails sliding down her arms. Hitting it repeatedly with the same vigor, the creature had given another screech and fallen off his back and seemed momentarily paralyzed, wiggling it’s limbs helplessly. Her arms shook as she dropped the stone to the ground, the vision of her home faded from her eyes as she began to become more aware of her true surroundings, the sun fallen from the sky and it was dark once more. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>18-10-2010, 08:49:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Pessimus flashed his craggy teeth in a scowl when she called him a coward. He hadn't been a coward before he met the knight, and that man had to be the only one that frightened him. He had been the only human to actually be able to tame him. <em>And what is a weak, little girl going to do?</em> Pessimus retorted. The dark unicorn watched her tear a loose fragment from the wall and steal across the street.<br><br><br>As the illusion faded, Xanthe would find herself behind the devil. His fleshy tail was whipping right before her as his large hands went to grasp his horned head. His yellow eyes were wide with panic as his muscles trembled as the transformation was slowly being undone. <em>You bitch!</em> the devil spat as drool rolled from his beastly maw. The scales tumbled from his skin likes black, poker chips to clatter at his taloned feet that were slowly shrinking.<br><br>The devil staggered unsteadily around to face her with its face contorted in rage. <em>I was going to take you home! You gave that all up to save your oppressor?</em> He then bellowed an enraged howl as the black knight's body shrank back to normal size. His claws tumbled from his fingertips and the devil's thick mane down his shoulders. Matthew's feet settled normally on the ground and the creature's wings began to shrivel and dissolve like ashes.<br><br>Matthew lowered to sit on his rear as the small effects continued reverse. His head was bowed and eyes closed as his teeth and jaws reverted back to normal. The ruins on his skin began to glow a brief blood red when his humanity was restored. He was panting softly and almost soundlessly, resting in his shredded tunic that crossed his chest in strip-like rags and his disheveled black trousers. The runes ceased their glow and the black knight was silent, but for his panting.<br><br>Pessimus crept behind Xanthe with his large hooves vibrating the soil around her. He hid his large head behind her back with his black horn peeking past her right side. The dark unicorn was also silent, and demonstrated his anxiety with two snorts from his large nostrils as he wondered what would happen to them now that she freed the knight, or what he even had to say?<br><br>The dark unicorn's ears then perked when the black knight decided to rise, and without a word, he walked past them both. He started in the direction of the burning village without a <em>thank you</em>. If there were any visible signs on the man, they were exhaustion. There were still dark circles about his eyes. Whenever he chose to use such a dangerous spell, it depleted him completely and with what energy he had left, he was using to reclaim his gear.<br><br>Pessimus raised his head and watched the black knight leave. He flared his nostrils in contempt and then peered down at Xanthe. <em>There, and what did you get for saving him? Absolutely nothing. We should have just run away. I would have taken you home and you wouldn't have had anything to worry about.</em> the equine complained. <em>This entire situation was pointless. You should have left him to die and spared us this whole charade. You might have gotten your wish then.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>19-10-2010, 05:51:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Xanthe’s head shone with perspiration, the lovely image of her home was gone as quickly as it came, and she wasn’t terribly too happy to be back in the dark forests. Watching the creature contort with agony as it shriveled away, the girl scowled in distaste and merely crossed her arms and looked away, as though she was merely annoyed by the devil’s grand devastation and was waiting for the show to be over.&nbsp; <br><br>It was only when the demon turned to her that she gave any attention to it once more. She drew slightly back as it roared at her, sending her flaxen hair tumbling away from her face and down her back with the force he shouted at her. She almost regretted her actions but remembered what the unicorn said; <em>A devil will happily make promises, but it will eventually demand something awful in return</em>. Fluttering her eyelashes innocently at the devastated monster she rose her small chin to be eye level with the monstrosity. “Oh? Well, you should learn to watch out for sheltered twats; we all have an evil side, dear.” With that, Xanthe gave him a ta-ta wave and strode delicately away from him, triumphant.&nbsp; <br><br>When the unicorn approached here, Xanthe kept her ember gaze locked on Matthew, waiting for him to stir. She wondered if she could be lucky enough to have him so irritated with her he would have to take her back home, or at least have the dignity to place her in a civilized town near Azyul. <br><br>While he seemed weak, she truly didn’t seem to care much, he was alive and well and that was all she had set out to do in the first place. When the proud but obviously fatigued knight stood, Xanthe gave Pessimus a sidelong glance; she hadn’t expected him to show any gratitude, she just seemed glad that he was going about his business. “Fair enough, he goes to reclaim his things and watch the village burn to nothing, and I try and get a dark unicorn to pity me..” She thought and turned Pessimus, oddly optimistic.<br><br>“You call that fruitless? Pessimus, I, a dainty little darling princess, just defeated a demon with <em>a stone</em>. If that’s not ‘warrior princess’ material, I don’t know what is!” She said and clasped her hands on her hips, she seemed to radiate with light in the otherwise dark woods with her merriment. “Besides, I put my conscious to rest, that’s all that matters…” She continued more seriously, her eyes flickered back to the knight a moment before&nbsp; turning back to Pessimus.<br>&nbsp;<br>“So! I’m sure there is some absolutely stunning scenery back west of here, no black knights to order you around, <em>and</em> you’ll have a lovely companion to keep you company all the way…back to the fair Kingdom of Azyul?” She finished the last of her persuasion in a pleading voice, putting her hands together as though she was saying a prayer. “Plus, I think this needs to be your contribution back to society, since you have dealt some damage to the population of it…” She said in a more subdued meek voice, using every idea she could to conjure up to convince him to take her home. <br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Dark Deception</strong> on <strong>21-10-2010, 02:07:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Pessimus grimaced at Xanthe as his lips drooped and his left, horsey brow arched at her boasting. <em>You sound like the knight</em>, he returned, it sounded insulting enough, especially to her. <em>Besides, you were only able to kill it because of my great magic. If I had never casted that illusion, you would have never defeated it with a rock. I'm sure it would have raped you in half, guzzled your guts, or something along those lines</em>. He sounded so careless.<br><br>The dark unicorn proudly walked a slow circle around Xanthe. His head was held high and he marched the circumference around her, inspecting her. No matter how much she tried to convince him, he was a dark unicorn and he felt no obligation. The only reason he didn't flee was because the black knight was still alive and surely he would be found. The princess was so desperate to return to this <em>Azyul</em>. All that he knew was, if she came from that place, then it must have been a nightmare—a bunch of annoying, whiny princesses everywhere always causing trouble. <em>Why do you want to return so badly? To escape all that you've been through? If I were a human as ridiculous as you, it would be hard for me to return to my old life as the same person...</em> He thought for a moment. <em>No matter. I will take you home, but then I will return to the knight. It seems that he is no longer the same person either, and I think it's best you return.</em><br><br>Pessimus lowered his head to allow her to take his horn so that she could climb up onto his saddle with his assistance. He was a very tall creature and possibly the tallest stallion in all the land (and probably currently the plumpest). Once she was on, the dark unicorn broke into a trot down the path. He was unsure of where he was going or where this Azyul was, but he also thought the princess would give him directions. <em>I hope you know where you're going because I don't. I suppose a princess knowing anything about navigation is too much to hope for.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: The Sacrifice (Lingo and Dark Deception)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Lingo</strong> on <strong>22-10-2010, 03:49:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Pessimus had hit a nerve, and the girl’s pleasure drained from her face and she was resisting the urge to take the rock she had just dropped and hurl it at him. “Stop saying that! I’m not a thing like him, in fact, I’m the opposite!” Xanthe had raised her voice significantly, her words were defensive and&nbsp; biting, but her eyes expressed a nagging uncertainty. Giving a whine of dismay, the girl looked one more ‘black knight’ comment away from throwing a tantrum.&nbsp; What he said was true, but Xanthe had though it had been gutsy of her still to attack such a disgusting creature, though she was in the wrong company to celebrate with…flesh eating dark unicorns…and pillaging knights. <br><br>Uncomfortable, Xanthe tugged on her hair self consciously as he circled her, trying to think up ways to convince him to pity her, if he could even feel pity. She appeared to be the epitome of a lady as she pasted a gracious smile on her face and held her hands together in front of her in a delicate manner, yet her eyes didn’t follow the charade but instead followed Matthew, who was now disappearing over the hill to his belongings. Her face was unreadable, she bit her lip and took a deep breath. “Nothing has changed. I’m still the only next designated ruler of the land regardless, captive or free, dead or alive.” She said calmly, as though she was reciting what she had been taught growing up. The princess had mastered self denial a long time ago, and if there was anything she wanted pretend hadn’t happened, she would sooner or later. Still, the troubles she might’ve had earlier in life seemed petty compared to being stolen from home, she truly wondered how it would affect her. <br><br>“Hmm? Let me guess; he’s even more hostile? Aggressive? Something like that?” She asked dryly and gave the unicorn a queer look; he wanted to be the knight’s horse? To have a master? The princess climbed on top of the unicorn’s back, twirling her hair mindlessly as he began to trot down the dirt path. As he paused, her eyes widened and her fingers paused looping her tresses; Xanthe had absolutely no idea where they were, or how to even begin getting back home. “Um….uh well…oi vey.” She murmured fretfully and glared at him. “You think I would ever travel out here? Of course I don’t know where the hell we are!” She snapped and crossed her arms, she pouted and looked around. “Do you remember how we got to the village in the first place?” She whined softly and widened her eyes and looked down at the unicorn.&nbsp; <br>
			</dd>
		</dl>
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