Post by kaderin on Mar 18, 2013 14:48:22 GMT -5
Memories can be fragile. Fleeting as a whisper one moment, powerful as a scream the next. And when the memories come back, it is then you shall know... For life restored is not given without a price.
Crystal Beach, The Water Court
Five years ago...
Unimaginable pain.
Kaderin stood there, unable to move. Her gaze dropped down, only to find the hilt of a sword pressed against her skin. Red stained her clothing, warming her already chilled body. Vaguely, she realized that red liquid was her own blood. She heard a scream, though it sounded like it was miles away. Red hot fire scorched her veins as the sword was ripped from her chest, her body collapsing onto the white sand under her. She heard another scream, a man's this time, but it was abruptly cut off. She stared up, the pain in her chest keeping her from moving.
"KADERIN!!"
Pain blossomed in her chest once more as she felt her body being lifted, a hand pressed her her wound. Through hazy vision, Kaderin saw Carrow above her, clutching her as she wept.
"Stay with me Kad!! Don't leave me!!" she cried. Kaderin opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She watched as Carrow drew her head back, shouting to the heavens.
"RIORA!!! HELP HER!!! SHE IS ONE OF YOURS!!! PLEASE!!!!"
Her eyes closed and darkness fell over her.~*~*~*~
Kaderin cracked open her eyes and found herself atop an altar, staring up at a furious goddess. Somehow, Carrow had managed to call upon the goddess Riora, who had brought her here. She tried to move, but pain roiled inside her body. Her hole in her chest... never had she imagined such agony.
"You call upon me," Riora, patron Goddess of the Fire Court said to Carrow, "and desecrate my alter? You court my wrath, young Duiecite."
Carrow, covered in Kaderin's blood, said, "What can you do? Torture her? Murder her? She is already in worse pain than the first, and about to succumb to the second without your aid."
"I could murder both of you."
In answer, Carrow pursed her lips, looking as if she were sizing up Riora for a good ass-kicking. Kaderin struggled for consciousness, labored to speak. "Don't hurt her, please... my fault, my fault..." But her words were drowned out by a rumbling bout of thunder. It was said that the Goddess's realm was constantly wracked with thunder and lightning. Apparently, it was true. If Kaderin weren't fighting to live, she would truly be in awe.
"Why call for my aid? You are Duiecite, Aster would have been more appropriate," Riora asked Carrow.
"Because Kaderin is of your Court. She is a huntress born under your star," Carrow replied. Curiosity flashed in the goddesses amber eyes. Eyes almost the same color as Kaderin's. Her gaze moved back to Carrow.
"For one so much, just coming into her gift, you dare much, Duiecite," she remarked.
"For Kaderin, I dare this and more," she bit out. Riora looked over the girl before coming closer to Kaderin.
"You're friend does not know when to keep her mouth shut," she goddess said.
"Please, do not hurt her. The fault is mine, and mine alone," she begged.
Riora regarded Kaderin's battered form impassively. "You worry for her? When she will be spared? You, however, will not last the hour."
"I know," kaderin whispered, "Unless you help me." She caught Riora's gaze as she pleaded--a mistake to look directly upon the great and terrible goddess. Meeting her fathomless eyes brought on the sorrow and fear of all her prey over the ages. It sunk over Kaderin like a burning wave. "Please..." She tried to move, but in doing so, the wound through her chest welled with blood, flowing over her sides. A fountain of sticky warmth coated the altar beneath her, surrounding her battered body, but it quickly cooled on the chilled stone. Each drop lost left her shuddering harder, even more desperate. The pain of her injury maddened her.
"You made your decision, girl," the goddess said in answer, "And reaped what you sowed. Why should I help you?" Because I've only lived twenty years.. But she knew that wouldn't sway the goddess, a timeless being who could scarcely comprehend death--or youth.
"Because I'll do... whatever you ask of me," Kaderin said at last. The shuddering what getting worse; the alter beneath her was so cold. "P-pay any price."
"If I saved you, I would impart my essence to you. A being like you would bear mark of my favor and be tied to the bow forever," Riora said, strolling to and opening, over looking her realm. Thunder boomed once more, the sound seeming to sooth the goddess.
"Where my followers have sacrificed to become expert markswoman, you would simply be gifted with my hunting skills. An unequaled archer, better than them all. Why do you think you're worthy of that?"
"I'll s-sacrifice anything, Riora." Anything to end this pain.
"Gifts from the Gods always come with a price. Are you ready to pay mine?"
"Y-yes..." The goddess did not face her, through red-hot rage seemed to seep from her.
"The God Crom, the Broken Bloody One, will rise soon. His five hundred years are nearly up, and with him, he shall bring hell to this world. Unless... he becomes your bane, and you his jailer," she said. Dread settled deep within Kaderin. Crom, the god of death, sin, and procreation. He was the devil of their world, a being who bathed in blood and ate the meat of his victims.
"Let me live to face him." Lying to a goddess? But Kaderin was desperate. Riora's face took on a thoughtful mien.
"Yes, I have decided to heal you and make you an Archer. Yet any time you miss a target, you shall experience the pain you are about to suffer. You shall always remember what brought you this low and never repeat this fall from grave. That will make you one of mine."
Dizziness overwhelmed Kaderin. She was so confused. "About to suffer?" This torment could not be worse?
"Yes, pain to hone your mind. Agony to sharpen your resolve like a blade stone." as she placed her tanned hands over Kaderin's torso, Riora murmured. "Ah, young Kaderin, in the end, I believe you shall wish I'd let you perish." The goddess's palm began to glow with red light.
Brighter, brighter... Suddenly, Kaderin convulsed, shrieking as her wound pulled taunt, purging blood and infection. Her fingers clenched tight, her back arching--like a bow.
"You'll be my weapon," Riora cried, her face becoming a frenzied mask, "You'll be my instrument!"
On and on, the light burned, until abruptly, there was none. kaderin was healed--but changed. A bowstring coiled around her body like a serpent. And in her trembling hands, a black ash bow and a golden arrow had appeared.
"Welcome back to life--your new life. You are now an Archer." Riora met her eyes, and Kaderin felt the weight of overwhelming dread, just as a thousand other souls had before her.
"And, Kaderin, you shall be forever nothing more."
