[Rp Post] Blood And Water

[Urahra 5777]

There was one fact that Lorin knew better than anyone else – masked men were trouble. Most of the problems in her life were caused by men wearing masks. Whether they were beaked doctor masks or red bandanas tied over the mouth, masks were bad news. That was why she hadn’t trusted Kalameet from the moment she saw him.  That mask over the top half of his face – which blocked her view of his eyes – told her all she needed to know about his character. She couldn’t fathom why Codrik trusted what seemed like such a blatantly evil character.

 

What was worse, perhaps, was how he treated her. He gripped her chin and inspected her as though she were some sort of barnyard animal Codrik had for sale. The Chivays had a natural mistrust for mages and the fact that he was an illusionist did not endear him to her. Lorin had to suppress a shudder when Codrik told her that the abhorrent little mage would be accompanying her on excursions outside of the Green compound. Thankfully, Kalameet’s services were never required. Lorin got by on her own. A cloak, along with her newly curled and dyed hair, served as enough of a disguise whenever she left the compound. 

 

Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something wrong with him. Perhaps there was something wrong with the entire Green house. They all struck her as a bit strange. Allison was nice enough, but she, like her sister, was willingly marrying a man old enough to be her grandfather. While Codrik was kind and generous, he was distant and obsessed with work. Lorin couldn’t understand why he allowed unsavory people like Kalameet in his ranks.  The growing number of Teutons in the Green compound set Lorin’s teeth on edge as well. She remembered all too well how her uncles had struggled with them on Elysium.

 

While hiding from her husband in the Green compound, Lorin still wrote letters back and forth to her relatives at the White Rose fort. Her little cousin Rosie’s letters were full of ecstatic recounts of current events. Rosie cheerfully scribbled about all the goings-on in the base. She detailed all of her pretend games, told Lorin about every new book she read. One thing that caught Lorin’s eye, though, was the mention of a ‘Spider Cult’ in her letters. Rosie talked about it at great length, rapturously detailing how Adeon (her personal favorite Rose, it seemed) had raided them. The most unsettling thing, though, was that the Spider Cult’s base was located right beneath the Green compound.

 

A letter to Velwyn, who helped control the Rose’s intelligence, confirmed what Rosie had heard. Rosie’s stories weren’t just hero worship for her favorite Rose – there really was a Spider Cult. Lorin couldn’t say she was particularly surprised when Kalameet’s name turned up in connection with it. She clearly remembered the day Codrik brought her to him. “I need a place for my companion,” he’d said. And what if that companion had been a giant spider? Did Codrik even know?

 

The whole situation gave Lorin goosebumps. The swarms of Teutons buzzing about the compound made her jumpy. Did any of them know who she was? And if they did, would they hurt her? The specter of Tiberius Blackmont, her son, hung in the back of Lorin’s mind as well. If the Teutons discovered who she really was, would they kill her? Would she ever get to see Tiberius again if she stayed with the Greens? What if she fell prey to the spider cult?

 

It was too much.

 

~***~

 

Lorin gazed at herself in the dark mirror. All was quiet in the Green Manor. At this time of night, most of the family would be in bed. Lorin smiled to herself. When she first came to the Green manor, Allison and Sophia had helped her dye her hair blonde in an effort to disguise her. Lorin never got used to the sight of herself with blonde curls. It just seemed wrong somehow. As the brown dye settled into her hair, she nodded admiringly at her reflection. She was starting to look like herself again – like Lorin rather than her made up persona “Alexandra.” It was a relief to see a face she recognized in the mirror.

 

The Blackmonts were bad - Lorin could hardly stand them. But if she spoke to her uncles and sought protection with the Rose, she could live with being married to Augustus. At the very least, living with the Rose would be more comfortable than sitting atop a nest of Teutons and spider worshippers. Perhaps too, if she went back to the Rose, she’d be one step closer to seeing Tiberius again. It was a hard thing to realize, but there was likely no chance the Greens would help her see her boy again. If they actually did manage to assault the Dreadfort with their Teutonic allies, she doubted they'd spare the life of Augustus Blackmont's heir. Sighing, she left the washroom and slipped back into the room she shared with Allison. Folding her borrowed dresses and stacking them neatly on the dresser, she glanced toward the bed in the opposite corner. Would Allison be mad at her for doing this, just disappearing in the dead of night? The least Lorin could do was leave a letter. Picking up a piece of parchment, Lorin began to write.

 

Dear Allison,

 

I want to say that I’m sorry. I don’t think I can stay with you and your brother any longer. With the all the Carrion attacks and the Teutons hanging around, I’m nervous and concerned for my safety. I miss my family too. My little boy is still in the clutches of his father and I can’t rest easy at night knowing I’m free and he isn’t. I haven’t seen or spoken to my uncles in many weeks. Though I’ve been very happy living with you and your brother, it hurts too much to be separated from my family.

 

I wish the best for both of you. Maybe, one day in the future when I’m truly free, we can all meet again on better circumstances. I’ll always be grateful for the assistance you and your brother provided to me. But I can’t live happily til I know my son is free too. I feel so selfish, living here and having fun with you all when my family is suffering. I think I will just need to deal with Blackmont as best I can and hope that the Creator takes his life soon. I’ll be praying for you and Codrik and your new husband.

 

Thank you, Allison. You’ve been a wonderful friend to me.

 

-Lorin

 

Folding the letter and placing it on top of the dresses, Lorin picked up her few, small belongings and slipped quietly out of the room. Ascending the dark staircase, she slipped out into the cool, nighttime air. She made her way to the gate. The man at the lever nodded to her, giving the lever a crank and lifting the gate for her to exit. As the gate crashed shut behind her, Lorin glanced over her shoulder.

 

Allison told her that maybe, one day, Lorin would be able to have a new life with them. But those promises of a new beginning couldn’t erase what was already there. Lorin had a son – a son she loved, a son she needed to take care of. Blood is, and always will be, thicker than water.

[FlareGunCalamity 213]

(( this is extremely well written and very beautiful. Congratulations on your great work!))

[Timmeh! 154]

Allison frowns deeply as she reads over the note, she shakes her head slightly and mumbles towards herself "You were always a great friend..." she looks over at Lorin's bed and frowns once more before standing and walking around. She tucks the note safely away into her bag and continues on her packing of things.

[Rayna Star 167]

((I really enjoyed reading this even though it has nothing to do with me ^_^' Good job!))