Dark Secrets

Velash'avel used subtle magicks to speed and silence his steps as he ran for the spire, taking the shortest route possible. The mistress was pretty lenient with the time of things, but even so, it was possible to be late if she was feeling whimsical, and she didn't like tardiness. Not that she could do much to punish him, but even so, he didn't want to give her reason to be upset with him. He must have made it to the spire door all the way from his home in fifteen minutes flat, and that was a dead run. He took a few seconds to catch his breath, then stepped inside.

Chains jingled and glistened, setting a stark contrast to the ebony hips on which they were placed. The mistress turned around and looked Velash'avel up and down. "A cloak? Odd attire for you. Come, let me help you remove it." She strode over to him and placed her hands against his chest. "You made good time. We have an important matter to discuss regarding your last mission."

Velash'avel didn't step back. If she wanted to touch him, she had a good reason, and even if she didn't, he was her servant, so he allowed it without question. He let her undo the buttons of it, watching her hands work in their slow, sure way. "You want to talk here?"

"I'd rather not," she said. "We could speak in my room. It is peaceful there, and less chance of prying eyes and ears." She finished with the buttons, and slid the cloak off, then folded it in her arms.

Velash'avel's eyebrows went up slightly, but he nodded agreeably. "Very well then."

She smirked, having made a small victory. "Follow me." She strode toward her room through a door leading out of the main room. Her hips swung back and forth gracefully as she walked. "It would seem that little spot you left on your last assignment has caused quite a deal of trouble," she said. "I thought you said you had taken care of it?"

Velash'avel followed her down the hall and then up a staircase, and made sure to memorize how to get back. He didn't like the idea of going into the lady's room, but what the Council ordered, he did. "I...have. What's all this trouble he caused?"

Selvissera didn't say anything till they reached her study. She motioned for him to enter before her, then closed and locked the door behind her. "Have a seat."

Velash'avel got a tingling sensation between his shoulderblades and fought the urge to scratch at it. He wouldn't be able to through the leather armor anyway, and it'd always meant something bad. So he took it for the sign it was, and found a chair to get comfortable in. Straight backed, thick cushions, and hard wood, it wasn't all that comfortable, which was good, because it would help keep him alert. He regarded her silently, waiting for her to speak.

She sat down next to him and thought a moment before speaking. "What did you do to the one who saw you?"

Velash'avel held the breath he'd taken the moment before and paused. Could he lie? He could try to, but she would be able to tell. So he let out his breath and told the truth. "I found him in an alley after he fled the house, and I took him home to keep an eye on him."

Whatever Selvissera was expecting, that was clearly not it. Her eyebrows almost flew into her hair, and she let out a soft noise. "Well, this complicates things a bit. I trust you have no affections for him. The family from your last house-call came and reported the murder, as well as the fact that their servant has fled."

"I thought they might. Have the authorities started their investigation yet? I only intend to keep the boy until they can find a plausible suspect or give up on it. Or...are you going to smother this one?" he asked slowly. "The man was a traitor, after all."

"We'll see how it plays out. I want you to know we may end up having to kill the boy. I'd rather avoid unnecessary blood shed." She gave him a meaningful look. "If you're going to keep him as a pet, I would think it best to keep him indoors. Since Ilhiel was a traitor, he possibly has underground connections around the area."

Velash'avel nodded his understanding. He'd known that much when he'd taken Ayderen in. "I don't think the boy knows anything, and I can't just come out and ask." He let out a soft sigh. "You want me to search for any connections Ilhiel might have had?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment. "If you can get away with it, yes." She stood up. "Remember, keep Kittles hidden from view if you can, and don't make yourself so noticeable." She still held Velash'avel's cloak. "Now that we have the important things out of the way, care to keep a lonely lady company for a while?"

He stood as well, and was reaching for his cloak before she asked her question. He paused, glancing at her eyes. "I should get going. You know I can not stay simply because you are lonely."

She gave her best serpent-grin and handed over the cloak. "I'll get you yet my pretty. Do take care of yourself. I'd like to see your lovely... face again."

Velash'avel gave Selvissera a strange, vaguely confused look, but took his cloak and slid it back on. He bowed his head respectfully, and left the room.

Liehnaner was busy shouting at a guard about his uncle's death when he saw Velash'avel enter the main room. "You there! You know something of this don't you? I know you all are hiding something, out with it!"

Velash'avel stopped, bright turquoise eyes widening in shock. So many surprises today. He frowned, and shook his head. "I have nothing to tell you."

The man stood there, enraged. "Liars! All of you liars!"

Seléhashvir grabbed his cousin by the arm and gave him a hard, single tug. "Stop it," he hissed in his long ear, "you're going to cause us trouble."

Velash'avel didn't have to stay for this. 'Let the family of a traitor destroy themselves,' he thought, 'maybe it will root out more.' He ignored the pair and the old Council member that was coming down the adjacent hall to talk to them, going straight for the front door.

He heard the old man raise his voice over the ruckus of the brother and cousin as the door closed behind him. He took a deep breath, and walked on. Perhaps he'd visit their home again, raid Ilhiel's desk for clues of contacts. He nodded to himself. 'Yes, that's a good a place to start as any.' Only this time, he wouldn't need to break in. As he wove through the streets toward the house, he discreetly glamoured his face to look a little bit narrower, rounder, with a pointed chin. A bit more generic-looking. As he got closer to the house, he glamoured all his earrings away, and thinned his body frame. He buttoned his cloak up, actually glad he'd taken it to conceal himself from Ayderen earlier. It looked like it was going to rain again later. He approached the front door the house he'd broken into just the night before, and pulled the bell chain. He could hear it ring inside the home, and waited.

The door was opened by a thin girl; Ilhiel's daughter. "What is it? What do you want?" She demanded. Her face was discolored, as if she'd had an emotional outburst earlier.

Velash'avel nodded to her slightly. "Good evening, madame. I'm here to take a look at the crime scene." He even showed her an official badge, given to him for just this sort of occasion.

"But someone came and looked at it already," the girl said. She blocked the door as best she could. "Go away. Daddy's dead and we don't need you defiling his last resting place."

He bowed his head a little, seeming apologetic. "I understand. But I've been sent on order of the Council, and I can not leave until I've done my job. Unless you want to explain to them why you wouldn't let me in...?"

She hesitated a moment, then conceded and stepped to the side. "Don't take anything," she warned.

Velash'avel moved past her into the house, and hesitated briefly. "Can you show me the room please?"

"Alright," She was almost pouting. She led him up the stairs and into the study. "He was found on the desk." Suddenly, the girl looked like she was about to start bawling again, and she fled the room. "Take nothing!" she warned again as she ran.

He watched her run back downstairs, and let out a soft sigh. Treasonous he may have been, but apparently Ilhiel was a good father. He hated revisiting the homes of people he killed when they had family. He hated seeing the torment they all went through, and would much rather drown himself in alcohol or drugged incense. He pushed the thoughts aside, and went into the study once more. The carpet was still damp from the squall that burst through the window, and dozens of papers littered the floor, their contents forever lost in the blurred ink. If he hadn't been so convinced the slave...Ayderen...was going to catch him, he'd have closed the window behind him to preserve the room. As it was, all he could do was search the drawers of the desk.

He found a small journal that fit in the palm of his hand, bound in brown, hard leather. He opened it, and his brows nearly shot to his hairline. Lists and lists of names, some he even recognized, and ways to contact them. Small details were scrawled next to some names, such as 'pays well,' and 'trustworthy,' and 'secure.' Others had more sinister notes, obvious plans of murder or manipulation. He glanced up at the doorway to make sure the daughter hadn't come back up, and pocketed the book without taking his eyes off the door. She probably wouldn't notice it missing. He rifled through the rest of the desk, finding nothing as incriminating as the notebook, but plenty of papers that held questionable content. Transactions that were unclear in just what was being bought and sold. For these, he had a rectangular silver mirror. With a press of magick, he made it record pictures of these papers, and when done, slipped it back into his pocket. Satisfied with his findings, he made to leave the house.

---

It was another hour and a half before Velash'avel finally got home. He leaned against the front door for a minute, closing his eyes and enjoying the peace. He removed his boots before heading to his room, wondering if Ayderen was already in bed.

The boy had heard movement, and was sure he'd locked up. He had woken to relieve himself, and the noise startled him. He peered out and whispered, "Who is there?"

"It's only me," Velash'avel responded tiredly from next to his door.

Relieved, Ayderen stepped out to greet him. "Should I draw a bath or prepare something to eat?"

"A bath would be nice, yes. I'm not really hungry." He moved on into his room, leaving the door slightly ajar. He draped his cloak over the edge of the bed and began to undress, dropping his array of weapons on the bed as well before stripping out of his fitted leather.

Ayderen went to go ready the bath. He walked out to get some fresh towels when he caught a glimpse of the gleaming tools laying on Velash'avel's bed. He pretended to see nothing, but started to wonder what was going on.

Velash'avel walked out of the room moments later, nude, long wavy hair unbound around his shoulders and brushing the small of his back. "Thank you, Ayderen," he said as he passed by and into the bathroom. He shut the door behind him, and slipped into the hot water with a relieved sigh.

Ayderen tried his hardest not to stare as Velash'avel walked past him. He'd never seen such a firm, built form before, his own being on the scrawny side. "I'll ah... I'll return to bed."

Velash'avel dunked his head under the water, then put his face just above the surface and soaked for a while. He never regretted having a sunken tub installed, and the smooth marble always felt nice against his skin. He washed up after what he'd guessed was about fifteen minutes, taking his time. He drained the tub and dried off, combed and braided his hair back, and went back to his room. He left the door cracked open, not enough to peek through, just enough so he could hear more easily through it. He put up his weapons and cloak, pulled the mirror and notebook out of it and plopped on his bed. He rolled onto his front and propped himself up on his elbows, going over the information again, slower this time.

Ayderen lay in his bed. He couldn't get comfortable, and as usual, his mind was racing. What was on the other man's bed? Where had he been? What did he do? He was ever curious, but he knew it was better not to know. For all he knew, this man hunted people down for their organs to sell on the black market.

Velash'avel's eyes caught on one name, having a page all to itself, with some very interesting notes written under it. 'Irisek; Ymensatill contact, trades slaves and treasure for information. Works with a bastard half-breed, unnamed. Not sure of his motives, but he seems to be experimenting on something unwholesome.' The remainder of the note gave up the meeting place of Irisek and the deceased Ilhiel, and Velash'avel grabbed a pen and pad of paper from his nightstand to write the information on. He'd take it to Selvissera some time tomorrow, and see if she knew anything about the ymensatill. This sort of thing was going to get messy very fast if any reporter caught wind of it.

In the other room, Ayderen could no longer stand the restlessness. He sat up and rubbed his head, then walked to Velash'avel's room. He knocked softly on the door. "Hello? Is it ok to enter?"

The heavy darkwood door swung open slightly at the knocking, and Velash'avel looked up. "Yes. What is it?" He tucked the mirror and notebook into the top door of the nightstand and flipped the notepad he'd written on.

The smaller shad stepped in. "I..." He hesitated a moment. "I can't fall asleep. Is there anything I could do for you?"

Velash'avel blinked slowly. It was still early in the night, so he could hardly expect Ayderen to just go to bed. He thought for a few moments. His back was a bit sore still from a fall he'd taken several days ago, but he wasn't sure he wanted the other maryshad touching him just yet. "Have you been to the end of the hall yet?"

"No, sir." Ayderen shook his head. "What's there?"

Velash'avel smirked. "Books, mostly. Do you like to read?" He rolled off the bed and went to the dresser and pulled out a semi-sheer white rectangle of cloth and tied it around his waist at the hip, and it barely reached mid-thigh. He moved around the bed for the door.

The younger shad lit up a little. "I do. What kind of books are there?" He stepped out of the way.

"A little of everything, excluding cheap romance novels." Velash'avel strode on past and down the hall till they reached the last door; the innermost room. It clicked and swung open, revealing a study that was almost like a small library. Two bookshelves each were pushed against the side walls, filled with books of various sizes and colors. At the back wall was a simple polished stone desk, set to face the door, and a plush, fat leather chair tucked in the corner next to it.

On the desk sat a small lab kit, complete with vials and beakers and mixing tools, but lacking any kind of ingredients. "I use this room mostly for research, and dabble in potion-making. Salves and healing agents, mainly."

Ayderen's eyes sparkled. He loved to daydream, and he loved reading other's daydreams even more. He listened to Velash'avel, and after a moment, asked, "Why would you need to make potions? Do you get ill often?"

The bigger maryshad shook his head, sending his braid swishing gently. "No, but sometimes I get a bad injury," he said, tapping the tattoo on his cheek, "and you can't use healing magick on yourself. Plus it's sort of a hobby, since I'm no good at art or music like many other people."

Ayderen nodded, and walked towards one of the bookshelves, scanning the titles. He was shaking a little in excitement. He wasn't allowed to touch the books in his old master's home, seeing as everyone was picky about how well kept they were, and he was thrilled that he wouldn't have to sneak around to do something enjoyable.

Velash'avel smiled softly. "You're welcome in here whenever you like. Just don't move anything on the desk, alright?"

"Yes sir," Ayderen said. He gingerly pulled a book out of the shelf and opened it. At once he was absorbed, and the rest of the world seemed to disappear.

"I'll leave you be," Velash'avel said softly, and turned to go back to his room. He shut the door and went back to his bed, and pulled the notebook and mirror back out to study for the remainder of the evening. When he felt sleep finally press against him, he turned the ceiling lamp off with a thought, and pulled up one of the thin sheets. He listened for sounds of movement, then after a while, decided Ayderen must still be in the library, and let himself drift off to sleep.

---

The ymensatill tucked his stark white wings close to his back as he walked briskly down the narrow hall, the skirt of his robe flowing around his legs. He held a thick book to his chest with one arm, the embossed runes on the cover shining dimly. His aged face was carved in a perpetual frown, and pale yellow eyes glinted with aggravation. He paused at a turn in the hallway to look back at his nephew, who was carrying a drugged and unconscious young female ymensatill in his arms. "Keep up, Tikel. We can't afford to be late again." He peered around the corner. It was clear as far as he could sense.

The younger man nodded. He whipped his white and blue braid out of his face, and readjusted the girl he was carrying. "For a little thing, she's really heavy," he said to no one in particular. Sweat was beginning to bead on his dark skin. "Do you know who is picking this one up?"

Irisek kept his eyes on the hall. "Ilhiel said he'd be sending his son." After a few silent seconds, he gestured with his head to follow, and continued his brisk stride down the hallway.

A spot on the right wall of the hall shimmered, and a mirrored black door materialized. Irisek stopped there and lightly gripped the doorknob. He went in, Tikel following close. Irisek's yellow eyes fell on the long-haired youth standing up from a plush red velvet and brass couch.

Seléhashvir bowed a greeting to them both from the waist. "Greetings, Irisek," he said formally, standing upright again. "Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you."

"Oh boy," Tikel shifted the girl. "If it's about you not being able to make payment, we're gonna have to take the girl back"

Seléhashvir frowned, and regarded Tikel quietly for a moment. "You must be the half-blood father told me about. Hmp." He promptly turned his attention back to Irisek. "I only wish the news were as simple as that." The door swung shut with a click behind the pair, and disappeared into the wall. "No, father has been murdered."

Irisek's eyebrows rose. "I see. Have you found his killer?"

Seléhashvir shook his head, sending long white braids swishing around his waist. "The assassin bypassed our security and dismantled our wards, snuck in, and walked right past us without any of us noticing."

There was a moment of silence, and Irisek slowly started to speak, softly. "Might this be the man I had been told might be a myth? The 'wraith' the Council is rumored to harbor?"

Seléhashvir tilted his head slightly. "You know, I had not thought of that, but now that you mention it, it seems plausible. No ordinary assassin could get into our home without us being alerted..."

Tikel didn't take kindly being referred to in such a manner. "Well that's a damn shame, sorry for your loss. Looks like this one's going back in a cage then. Don't cry at the wake." He turned around promptly and readied himself to leave.

Irisek made a warning noise in his throat. "No. We will leave the girl, as agreed. Whether or not this assassin is the one I was told about, he is still a threat to us, and must be dealt with." He looked pointedly at his nephew. "You understand what that means, boy."

Tikel sighed. "Do you want a souvenir?"

"Only as proof." There was a hint of warning in Irisek's voice.

Seléhashvir watched the exchange, then after a moment, said, "Leave the girl on the couch, please. I will handle her now. What is her name?"

Tikel set the girl down. "Ahailia. She's a water element." He then turned to his uncle. "Alright, when should I get busy?"

Seléhashvir nodded, and began examining the girl. Irisek watched for a moment, then looked to Tikel. "As soon as possible. I'll take you back here, but you'll be on your own after that." He looked past him to Ilhiel's son again. "Excuse me, I didn't catch your name..."

"Seléhashvir," the maryshad responded.

"Yes. Seléhashvir. Might my nephew contact you if he finds anything of note?"

The young man shrugged casually, checking the girl's teeth now. "Yes. Same as my father's information."

"Thank you." Irisek bowed curtly from the waist, and made to leave. "We must be going now. If you would?"

Seléhashvir waved a hand and a new door reappeared in a different section of wall, opposite the one where Irisek stood. "It'll take you directly outside," he said casually. "Farewell."

Once Irisek and his nephew were outside, and the door vanished behind them, he scoffed. "Insolent boy. I though Ilhiel would have taught him better than that." He turned to face Tikel, who stood just a few inches taller than himself. "I want you to find him and kill him, and keep Seléhashvir updated on anything important you uncover while searching for him. The information can be used against the Council, and that means an advantage for us in the long run."

"All over it." The halfblood nodded. "What would you like for a souvenir? The usual eyeball?"

Irisek nodded. "And any special weapon or trinket he or she may have."

Tikel grinned. "Okay. I'll be ready before dawn."

Irisek nodded slowly, pleased. He held his free hand in front of himself, palm out, and sung a few soft words. The sound of paper being shredded echoed in the muggy night air, and a shimmering black portal opened before him. He stepped through and vanished, and it remained open just long enough to allow Tikel through. Tikel followed, and the portal closed up, leaving the space exactly as it was before.