(This occurred Wednesday night mostly. With bits from last night. Was too tired/busy to get it written sooner. @ikara-esho and @jonahsage for mentions.)
It had been nearly a week since she had last gotten a full night’s sleep. Her mind was just so overburdened. Yet she kept pushing her body every night as hard as she could before exhausted sleep claimed her. Regardless of the worried looks Daisy would give her every night she entered the training room an called on her fairy companion.
Every night she fell asleep in that training room. Though only two of those nights did she wake up an find herself still asleep there. The house was safe. Or at least safer then her own home. An the training room provided an outlet for the pain and mental agony.
How she was still standing… Still functioning… It was hard to say exactly. She was only a shadow of her normal self. Yet she could still preform the duties expected of her.
Another night curled up asleep sitting against the far wall of the training room. Eyes too heavy to resist. Body too fatigued to continue practicing spells. She allowed another round of exhausted sleep claim her. Hoping for a dreamless rest.
The dreams were nightmares. However they had evolved. No longer did she see the sneering faces of Imperials moments before claiming her life. Now she saw the faces of the two from the Brume attack. The bodies of those she cared about laying unmoving on the cold hard ground as snow drifted from the sky. A bitter cold seeping into her bones as she hugged herself. Looking up she would find Nate approaching. No not Nate. It wore his face but that sneer was anything but Nate. In the distance was the cold face of an older Ishgardian man. Ordering her death. Behind her the long drop of the witchdrop. She would wake screaming and panicked after being pushed over that edge by the ghost that looked like her dear friend.
For a time she would sit there and cry. At least until she either fell back to sleep or got up an found something to keep her busy. Anything to keep her distracted from the nightmare. Yet there was something different about this night.
There was the soft sounds of another person in the room. The sounds of a man. A blade whistling through the air with speed. Destiney’s eyes drifted open half way. Her body felt heavier then normal. A blanket had been draped over her where she had fallen asleep. Weary eyes looked up through that half mask to see who was in the room with her.
She recognized him almost immediately despite his back being to her. Despite the fresh looking injuries that could only be a day or two old as he practiced shirtless. Sweat dampening his skin and hair as he moved fluidly with his sword. His movements precise and clearly practiced for years.
Her eyes widened slightly as she looked off to his left a bit. Surely she was hallucinating with as exhausted as she was. There stood another familiar form. One she had not seen for years. Not since his death. His eyes however were watching the moving form of her cousin as he practiced. Still clad in that flamboyant bard gear from the day he died. It was as if he knew eyes were upon him though. Pale green eyes found hers. A smirk tugging at the edges of his lips. Lips moving yet she couldn’t hear him. The smirk quickly changing to a frown. The vision of him slipping away from her like sand between her fingers.
Her eyes grew heavy again just as Lance stopped his motions with the sword. His face turned towards her. She could have sworn she heard him say her name as sleep claimed her again. Barely aware of her cousin coming over to pick her up off the floor, cradled in his arms like a child.
Lance’s hands reaching for her mask roused her for a few moments. She was in her bed of her room at the company house. She felt his hand brush over her head soothingly.
“Go back to sleep.” Lance spoke softly. Destiney reached up to grab his hand as she stared up at him with tired eyes.
“Stay with me? Just for a little?” Destiney pleaded softly. Her heart longed for Leon. The comfort his presence used to bring. Seeing him for just a few moments… Lance was not Leon. Yet he was still family. He had been there for her when she had needed someone to save her. Right now she needed her family. Both that of blood and those she had chosen to make her family.
“I’ll stay. Go to sleep.” Lance said as he sat down on the edge of the bed, still holding her hand. Destiney nodded an closed her eyes, knowing Lance was still there. Knowing she was safe. She allowed herself to drift off to sleep again. Thinking of Leon and his pale green eyes.
*~*
Lance had been gone when she had woken. She had gone about her day as she had been for this entire week. Keeping busy. Practicing. Eating at times. Barely stopping.
She had encountered Ikara when she had gone out of the training room to get something to eat. They had spoken for a bit and the younger mage had offered to give her a night of dreamless restful sleep. Others had come by as well. An then Nate came home… No not Nate. The monster that wore Nate like a second skin.
Destiney fled the room at a hurried walk. The mission the night before still left her hurting. Watching Nate behave the way he was. Watching him shamelessly behave like he was around Chloe. She knew Chloe was acting but it still hurt. She was jealous. Did not want to admit it though. It was hard to hold back. Hard to keep from ruining the careful planning to try an set Nate free of whatever was possessing him. She had had to leave the room.
She had never been more glad then that night for a dreamless sleep. To know Ikara said Leon was there with her. Watching over her. Her smile was tired but glad to know he was annoyed with her for the lack of sleep she had been getting. Typical Leon. He had never really coddled her. It was always gentle careful pushing.
She left that spell claim her tired mind and body easily. For the first time in nearly a week she slept peacefully. A slight smile still on her lips. The ghostly form of Leon sitting where Lance had been the night before. Watching over her like a guardian angel.
Destiney had had enough. Everything was pushing her towards the edge. Tara, Nate, and now a death threat. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Should have told Rhisi. But… Her mind was not in the right place. There was too much pain. Too much hurt. She just needed out.
Tara’s words tonight when she had asked if there were any injuries tonight… Nate’s cold distance… If she didn’t get away something was going to break. Most likely her heart. There was only one other problem to focus on. One that didn’t threaten to crush her soul.
Her hands trembled slightly as she removed the crumpled letter from her pocket as she stood in Ishgard. There was only one place this letter could have come from. Or at least one city. The words had been clearly meant to cut like a knife. One with a jagged edge. Meant to rip and tear, causing as much damage as possible. Yet they were still only words. They didn’t cut near as deep as the way those close to her had been treating her recently.
Half breed bitch. You deserve to be witch dropped as a heretic. Messing with things no proper Ishgardian would ever touch. Your mother is a shameful creature. Laying with a filthy Gridanian hyur and producing half breed bastards. No wonder you consort with such people. You are no better then that bitch of a mother. No better then a blood thirsty heretic. Charlatan! You will get what is coming to you. You will be damned to the seventh hell. Halone can’t save you. You disgrace the blood that runs in your veins. Your death is coming.
Destiney crumpled the note up again. Nate had managed to read it when she had thrown it at his head in anger. He knew the words on the page. He had even mentioned that it was a death threat out loud in Rhisi’s presence. Well not that the letter was but he had mentioned death threats. Thankfully she had gotten out before Rhisi had had a chance to remember wanting to speak with her. She did not feel up to explaining this. This was her problem.
Yet… For Nate seeing the letter… He had been oddly cold about it. There had been a lack of emotion from Nate. No jokes about being her knight and protecting her. No real concern other then attempting to get Rhisi involved. An that hurt more then any words on a page. She felt alone…
“Hitoride wanai…” Destiney muttered the phrase that was the motto for the Order. But it felt so hollow to her right now. There was a feeling of hopelessness. Loneliness. A pain that was spiraling her back down into the darkness. Her hand gripped the green stone pendant that rested against her chest. A deep breath of the frigid Ishgard air. Masked face looking skyward to the softly falling snow. “Not alone… I can’t be alone.” The words were soft, a whispered plea.
With a heavy sigh, the healer headed off to seek answers. If any were to be found. She had a feeling she knew who had sent that letter. However he would deny it if she confronted him directly. The only other option was to ask questions. See if anyone remembered him dispatching someone with that letter that was delivered to her house. Or if anyone had seen him sending it via moogle mail. Someone had had to have seen something. Even if it was only something small.
Asking around produced the results she feared though. The bastard was clever. Making sure to leave no tracks. This didn’t surprise her much. No answers to her query. At this point all she could hope for was that it was a scare tactic. Something to make her afraid for her life. Hopefully send her packing back home to hide with her mother. No that was not what she would do. There was no way she would risk darkening her mother’s doorstep with this possible trouble.
Lance had just finished his shift of duty for the day. Could finally breath a sigh of relief that life was normal for the time being. There had been no further questions from his father or grandfather lately. Though in a way… That was just as bad. So much for that feeling of relief. It had been a fleeting feeling.
“Hey! Lance!” One of his fellow knights waved to him to get his attention. A letter in his hand.
“What is it?” Lance eyed the envelope with curiosity.
“Dunno. Was just delivered for you. You know I don’t read others mail.” The man handed off the letter to Lance before walking back towards his post.
Lance turned the letter over in his hand before finally opening it. The note was short but it’s meaning was plenty clear. A frown creased his brown as he read it a second time. “Tara.” If she was writing to him about his cousin she was obviously concerned. The fact that his cousin had left the Order for at least a day or possibly more concerned him. Something definitely did not sit well with him now. A nagging feeling.
“Halone have mercy…” Lance uttered the prayer softly as he picked up his service sword and shield. He had to find her. Something was clearly wrong. Tara knew about the dangers Destiney faced. This was the first time the wilds healer had warned him of his cousin’s actions. If he ignored this… No he wouldn’t ignore this. He couldn’t entertain the idea of what might happen if he did.
There was no parting words for his comrades in arms today as he hurried away from Skyfire Locks. He was a man on a mission.
Destiney had stayed the night at the inn in Ishgard. Resuming her search for answers in the morning light. Hoping that different hours might lead to a different result. Yet it was not to be. Still no answers came to surface. Her questions dismissed.
Her mind drifted back to the letter at first. Then back to the behavior of the man who had become her dearest companion. Thoughts on anything but where she was. The pain in her heart kept drawing her back to Nate. There was so much fear that she was losing him. It felt like hell. It was so akin to the pain that losing Leon had been.
Leon… She tried to let her thoughts drift to the duskwight. Memories of the joy he brought her. However her mind could not seem to grasp an hold those. All it recalled was pain right now. Ripping at her heart. Trying to tear open the scars and create new as well.
“Not the best of places for a pretty lass eh?”
Destiney blinked mask hidden eyes as the sound of a heavy voice brought her attention from thoughts. Her eyes settled on a rough looking man leaning against a wooden pillar. Brume thug by the looks of him. Had she really ended up in the Brume while thinking? Not good. Best to keep walking. Ignore the man. It was the best in this situation.
“Hey I was talking to you. You just ignore us like the rest of those high born bastards eh?”
Destiney quickened her steps but did not run. No she wouldn’t give this man the satisfaction of running her scared. The bow on her back had apparently not been enough of a deterrent. Glancing over her shoulder to check if the man followed had been a poor choice. She ran straight into another person. Her speed of purpose when she hit that solid body had nearly sent her falling backwards onto her backside. She swallowed hard as she looked up at the smirking face of the man she had run into.
“Now ain’t she a pretty thing. Didn’t ya mamma ever tell ya not to wonder the Brume? Bad things happen to pretty girls.” the new man sneered at her as she took a step back.
Shaking hands reached for her bow. Attempting to make herself seem a threat. Fight or flight. Eyes darting between the two men. looking for a way out. Those sneering faces though… Flashbacks through her mind. Those sneering faces of the Imperials… Her breathing quickened as she drew her bow forward. Willing herself not to give in. However she knew she was beginning to tremble. She wasn’t ready. Not yet. Not for this.
A hand reached out to grab her arm. Frozen like prey caught by a predator. They couldn’t see the fear widened eyes as she stared at that hand. Panic was slowly setting in. With a panicked shriek she ripped her arm from his grasp an turned. The other man still there but she was a prey trying to escape. She dodged his attempt to grab her, ducking to his left. Freedom beckoned to her. The steps leading out of the Brume taunting in the distance.
Her foot caught a broken shard of rock as she made for freedom. Felling her to her hands and knees. Eyes squeezed tightly shut as she heard their laughter. Their heavy steps approaching.
“Twelve save me…” Destiney whimpered softly as she moved to force herself to her feet again. Only to give a soft cry of pain. The knee of her left leg was torn. She could see the red of the blood even with the torn dark fabric.
Destiney couldn’t look. There was the sound of running feet. Another here to probably join them. Another to add to her pain and suffering. If she turned could she kill to survive? Or would the darkness consume her? She wasn’t sure. Indecision warred inside of her as she reached for her bow where it had fallen before her.
There were several grunts of pain. The solid thunk of metal meeting flesh and bone. The softer tinkling of metal, the movement of chainmail. A fight had begin behind her. Yet she waited in silence for the verdict. It seemed to last forever yet only took minutes. Thuds of two bodies hitting the stone ground.
“Destiney!”
The voice made her heart leap. She knew that voice. Teary masked covered eyes finally looked back towards where the men had been approaching. Now they lay on the ground in various states of pain an suffering. Before them stood a familiar face. Now she did give into the tears.
Lance moved forward, dropping to his knees beside his cousin. Leaving his sword and shield on the ground. Close enough to grab again if needed. His strong hand gripped her chin gently as he looked at her. The metal of his gauntlet cold as winter. “Are you okay?”
Destiney shook her head before throwing her arms around her cousin. He had come to her rescue. His surprise was plain on his face as she hugged herself to him. It had been unexpected to him. He gently wrapped his arms around her. Giving her a moment to try an calm herself. His eyes went back to the thugs who groaned softly in pain.
“Come on. We need to leave here.” Lance tried to pry her back from him gently. Her body was still trembling from the fear and tears. A frown creased his brow. He quickly secured his sword and shield before moving to pick his cousin up. It surprised him that she didn’t put up a fuss as he cradled her against his chest. Instead she merely buried her face against him. It worried him to see her like this. “Let’s get you home…”
Lance fully intended to take her away from Ishgard. There was no way he was letting her linger. He had a feeling those thugs had been hired to harass her. No second chances would be given if they tried again. The anger towards them had been deep. Remembering a time when he had once fought thugs like that with a man who had once been his friend. No these ones had not been targeting him this time. They had targeted his cousin who couldn’t physically fight back. This was clearly worse. Clearly deliberate yet he still had no proof. The game had continued forward.
No one was around when he walked through the doors. Well except the usual hall servants who worked for the Order. Thankfully one of them had opened the door for him. Somewhere along the way Destiney had dozed off in his arms. Putting her down would probably have woken her. He asked for the help of the elezen man who had opened the door. Needed help getting her into the back where her room was. He thanked the man as he stepped inside with his cargo.
Her room was warm and inviting. Clearly well cared for. Books scattered on the table with papers. A pillow on the floor nearby her work table. Probably for her wolf pup or the dragonet she had mentioned to him before.
Lance set her down on the nearest of the two beds. It looked like the one she slept in. The other was neat and clean. Not that this one was not but it showed more signs of use. Once she was safely down he moved to find supplies. He only knew basic first aid but her knee needed cleaned. Being a knight for a nation that had been at war for so long.. First aid had seemed like a good thing to learn. Not only to care for his own wounds but to help his fellow knights. He had no real training in aether though.
His cousin being a healer was a good thing. In the drawer at the foot of the bed he found what he was looking for. A clean cloth and some bandages. Gauntlets were ditched on top of the furnishing. He moved to the tub to wet the cloth and borrow the soap before moving back where she slept. His hands were gentle as he worked to clean the dried blood.
Sky blue eyes looked up to see if she still slept. He could not tell with that mask on her face. He could only recall seeing her in that mask a few times. None of them good times for her. He was beginning to wonder if it was some sort of symbol. Swiftly he had the shallow wound cleaned and bandaged. Hands reached up to remove that mask from her face and sit it aside. When his gave returned to her, cerulean eyes met his.
There was so much pain in those eyes that stared up at him. He was unsure how long she had been awake. Or if she had been awake the whole time. Yet beneath that pain was a flicker of the flame he was used to seeing in her.
“Destiney… What happened?” His voice was gentle, filled with concern. This was the side of the woman he was not used to seeing. He was used to the spark and vibrancy. Something had to be gnawing at her like a rabid beast to leave her like this.
There was only silence between them. She eventually rolled over. Gaze broken between them. He heaved a heavy sigh as he rested a hand on her shoulder. The only comfort he could offer her if she would not speak to him.
“Thank you…”
He had almost missed the words. They had been soft and barely above a whisper. “Of course. A knight lives to serve. To protect. To sacrifice.”
He was a bit shocked when she curled up an began to softly cry once more. Concern creased his face. He was unsure how to help her. Yet something needed to be done. Something had to give. An he needed to check into the attack. His eyes fell on a crumpled ball of paper that had fallen from her pocket as she had rolled over to her side. He allowed her a moment to cry as he examined the paper. Concern changed to anger.
“I’ll be back later to check on you. Please remain here, cousin.” Lance stood and gathered his gauntlets once more. He needed to check into this letter himself. He wasn’t sure this was entirely what rattled his cousin so much. Yet without her speaking to him… There was little he could do. He would find the lady of the house though an show her both the paper and ask her to talk to Destiney. Then he could do some searching of his own. He paused at the door an looked back once more. Wishing silently that there was more that he could do.
One step at a time. He would find Lady Rhisi and then deal with this problem in his own way.
(Dest. Dest. Dest…. She has the most triggers out of all my characters. The one with the most emotional instability. The one who tends to break the easiest. Partly because she was already broken. So there are things from her past that still trigger her breaking point. The way she responds or acts depends on what event we talk about.
If we are talking about fighting people or going near as Castrum… Well those are some pretty rough triggers. They dredge up the nightmares/flash backs, shaking, near mental meltdowns. She is trying to find a way past these right now though with the help of Nate.
If we talk about arguments with people she cares about or failing at something… Well that is mostly hurt feelings and feeling as if she isn’t good enough. Usually this causes her to disappear off to the Shroud to hide or drown her hurt in drinks. Which she is a lightweight so it doesn’t take much. However! Depending how hurtful some of the words said are… She may end up with injuries. Sometimes preferring the physical pain over the mental so she won’t heal them right away. The injuries are never truly on purpose though. She is just reckless while emotionally upset. Which more often then not ends up with her getting injured somehow.)
(Lance can be a fairly strong character when it comes to withstanding against things. Of course he is far from invincible. Just does a good job not letting things show. He has gotten pretty good at wearing a mask with the way his family is. The thing most likely to trigger his breaking point will be family or failing in his duties to Hallienarte. Family means a lot to him. Even if there is little love from his immediate family. His service to Hallienarte also means a great deal to him. I actually have something planned in the near future that will test his breaking points. So we will see just how bad things get before Lance finds that breaking point.)
Spirit of the Warlock 