A Conflict of Interest

[RaivenWings]

The following is a short interaction between a few of my characters, following a crucial roleplay plot from a few years ago. People who don't know my characters may find this more than a little confusing XD

A Conflict of Interest


     "I generally tend not to judge anyone based solely on their attire, dear, but you could use a little re-vamp of your human wardrobe. Isn't that... I don't know, a bit medieval?"
     Silhouetted against the bright daylight behind him in the cave, a tall figure emerged with his hands tucked neatly into the folds of his flowing cloak. "Don't speak unless spoken to, Orphia. There are very few reasons to let you go on existing." The figure stepped into a small ray of sunlight filtered from the gaps in the cave-like structure of roots and stone. He lingered at the edge of the den, for if he stepped in much further, he'd have to duck his head in order to go on.
     Ruby lips parted ever so slightly in a seductive smile. "Darling. Come on -- you know I'd never turn a blind eye to a masterful creature as yourself. I see you're in need, otherwise you would not have come to see me." The soft click of inhuman limbs were in time with the crossing of her arms across her chest.
     The man sneered slightly, merely a twitch of his upper lip and the side of his nose. His features were sharp but clean, his pitch black hair in stark contrast to the almost vampiric paleness of his skin. She was speaking like she had a leg to stand on. Or, eight, to be precise. He was about to speak again when she crawled further out of the darkness toward him, running her palm across his cheek, careful to stick to the shadows. If he was capable of it, he was sure he'd feel sick to her touch. "Tell me, what can I do for you, 'O dark lord?" She chuckled quietly, easing those hands across his collar as the rest of her arachnid body inched closer, the tips of her legs clicking against the stone.
     "If you think your actions will work on me, my dear. They won't." He said, lowering those scarlet slits to stare into the pure blackness of her eyes. There was something so intense behind them -- even he was having issues reading her intentions. She laughed huskily, her lips mere inches from his. "I'm well aware. I'm just enjoying myself." Orphia raised her hand up the back of his hair, her fingers curling around one of the dark horns twisting from those black strands. She prodded the sharp tip before withdrawing her hand, narrowing her eyes at him. "But if you really wanted me dead, I would be. And we both know that. Now, Azaelon, darling, speak your mind. What do you need?"
     Hands still in his pockets, the man's throat rippled with a quiet but rather canine-like growl. He felt disgust for his lowly creature before him, but she was right -- he needed something from her. He wondered... was she simply the 'black widow seductress' she always seemed to appear as, or was it merely a card she played to hide her actual prowess as a powerful demoness? After all, it was rare to see her 'type' in such a high-ranking position, let alone with such a following as hers. "I need a spell." He said after a few moments, to which she pulled back slightly, blinking affably at him.
     "Is that it? Just a spell? Why, if that's the case, then why all the fuss?"
     "I need a spell to open the gates."
     Now Orphia's dark eyes boggled slightly, and she pulled back more, dropping her hands at her sides. "To Hell. The gates to Hell. You're not serious... are you? Do you know the kind of power it'd take to accomplish something like that? You'd need--"
     "A Reaper? A Guardian? Yes, I'm aware. I simply need the spell." While he was often a master of his own power, spells and black magic were not his strong suit. Using your own natural dark abilities and conjuring up the power to create a portal to another spacial dimension itself is an entirely different thing.
     Orphia drew her finger thoughtfully across her jaw, tapping her ruby lips with a dark claw. "You are serious. Okay, I'm game, love." Ooooh, was she game. It was fun enough being out up top on her own, but what if her lovlies could come and be at her side? She could easy take a chunk of whatever land Fang was attempting to corrupt, and rightfully so for giving him such a spell. Well, she'd have to find it first, but that wouldn't be much of a matter.
     "Can you get it or not?" Fang growled quietly, exhaling slowly. Orphia's smile returned to her lips, and she dropped her hands to her hips. "Of course I can. It migt take a bit, hopefully enough time for you to get the pieces of the puzzle, the Guardian and the Reaper... but..." Orpihia slinked forwards again, drawing herself up against his chest and looping her arms around his neck. "...You will share a bite with me, right? Let me guess -- FeralHeart, right? That's where those pesky little mortals have been toying with you, hmm? Maybe even help me later down the road."
     Orphia felt her body jerk with a sickening crunch just before a shriek of pain left her lips. Azaelon had moved so quickly, kicking one of her front legs sideways and snapping it like a twig. Sickly yellow-green blood trickled from her broken arachnid leg, and her cry was cut short as one of his hands wrapped around her throat and pushed her slowly back toward the wall of the cave.
     "You'll get what I see fit -- nothing more." He said softly, glowering into her wide eyes. She was a slimy, filthy excuse for a demon afterall, so it seemed. And bringing up his weaknesses in FeralHeart only helped to push his patience with the vile creature.
      Orphia gagged but didn't dare raise her body to fight him off. She could probably defend herself, but what was the point of showing off how strong she actually was? Her leg would grow back. And what the hell was his problem? Was he really having such an issue with his foes that the mere mention of them threw him into a fit?
      "F-Fine, wha-whatever you say, Fang!" She cried out, adding extra notes of desperation to her voice. He didn't release her though, merely narrowing his eyes further at her. "Don't test me, Orphia. There is a reason you're a far lower ranking demon than me. It seems you've forgotten how to respect your elders." He continued to walk her backwards, pushing her into a shaft of sunlight. Orphia's scream was real -- the sunlight burned, sizzling and exposing tissue under her flesh. Fang waited a few moments before releasing her, watching her shivel and cower back in the shadows. He didn't wait for her to speak again, turning and heading toward the exit with his cloak flowing behind him.
     Orphia shuddered, fury rising to her chest as she watched him leave. She'd get his spell, all right -- but he was missing a crucial element. "Dolum. Come here, darling." She said as soon as Fang had vanished. A dark gray, earless, canine-like demon emerged from the shadows, dipping his head in a subtle bow before rising his red eyes to hers. "Yes?"
     "Go with Fang. Help him catch May while I find this spell -- but don't let him know I sent you." She said, rubbing her throat as the skin began to heal on her charred face. "And sweety? When he does get them open, report back to me his strength. Find my followers and bring them to me. When Fang's rule is over... we will take FeralHeart."

[FaintSilhouette]

Wow. This is explains a LOT. Nicely done Raiven! Filled in a lot of the cracks. ^_^

[Haruki]

[SuperNoodlePot]

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THE TENSION.... xD <3