Graceling

[Akira]

Shona shuddered when Kasta plunged the knife into Mila; cold-blooded. Earlier at dinner all she had done was sit quietly as everyone slowly agreed to the... proposal. She knew her gift would come in handy. And she could protect people she cared about. As little as she wished, Kasta was vulnerable to attack, even with al her skills. And so Shona could hide everyone. She could possibly confuse the Master. So she came along. Came along with Elliot and Kasta to the death and revival of a woman who had no choice. She stood there for a moment after Kasta had left, watching as the healer came- to revive the woman, only for her to be beaten down again. Closing her eyes for a moment, Shona turned away and followed after Kasta and Elliot.

[Cara]

Kasta had stepped away from the others. She needed some time to think and some space to breathe. After the incident with Mila there'd been... a commotion. Half of the people didn't think that Kasta's cruel plan would work.
She didn't turn when Lorn came and joined her. "The others are downstairs, waiting, and arguing."
"Let them talk," Kasta said softly.
Lorn was silent for a moment. "We will find a way," he said. That determined calm that had kept her sane through all the madness under her uncle's thumb. "But Kasta, did you really have to do that?" he asked.
Kasta looked at him. He was the only one she ever knew who wasn't afraid to speak his mind to her. "I did," she said staring coldly at the stone tiles. "I don't like Mila, and it's not just... I don't know. I can't really explain it. There's something about her, underneath all the manipulation that doesn't... feel right. It's--"
"Your instincts," Lorn finished. Kasta gave a weary smile.
"Yes. And my instincts have never been wrong, have they?"
Lorn laughed. "Well...not sure about 'never', but they sure have kept the two of us alive over the years," he said. Serious again, he said, "Kasta, really though. Your reputation is already shaky enough, especially here with your... history and everything."
Kasta sighed. "I am entirely too aware," Kasta said. "Fine..." she said, "but keep an eye out. You've always watched my back."

Seaten's gaze sailed over the ramparts of the castle, from the eyes of a hawk. He smiled to himself as he watched the scene with Mila. Mila had what was coming for her, he guessed. Total bitch, if you asked him, but she was the Master's favorite. The Master would not be happy...
He felt that familiar pull, as he blinked and saw he was back in his own body, seeing nothing through his blind eyes. He blinked again, as he saw through the large wolf that sat at his side. Time to tell the Master all that he'd seen...

It was dark, well past midnight. A figure darted forward, making easy passage around the many stationed guards of the castle. Light fell from a nearby torch so that if anyone had been there they would have seen the deep violet and green Gracelings eyes of Kasta.
Kasta made her way down to where the prison cells, sneaking inside past the drugged guards. She needed to speak alone with Mila, without everyone else. And she knew she wouldn't get a better opportunity than this!
Mila looked up as she heard the door open. She was securely chained to the wall. "Come to stab me again?" Mila said with a smirk. Kasta didn't respond. "What? Come to kill me for good?" she laughed quietly, her whispers echoing off the stone walls. Shadows flickered off from the flames of the torch.
Kasta knelt down so she was eye level with Mila. "If I had wanted to kill you, you wouldn't even know it. You would just be dead," she said. "You said earlier that you were the first. The first of what?"
Mila grinned, looking demonic from the deep shadows. "Kasta...." Mila purred. "Haven't you figured it out already? And I thought you were the smart one," she said, still grinning. She jerked as far forward as her chains would allow, so her face was only inches away from Kasta. "It's not me you should be worried about," she said. "It should be them!" she hissed. "My mother, the stupid woman that she is, will be at your back with a knife ready. I had to get my determination from somewhere, right?" she laughed. "And if you touch her, the distraught, old mother, you lose. Hurt me, and it's worse. They won't tolerate you forever," Mila said. "And meanwhile I will bide my time until the Master comes for me...and you." Kasta stared at Mila. Mila laid back against the wall looking relaxed. "You and I are more similar than you think. I will be enjoy when you are broken." Mila flicked her eyes up at Kasta. "You may go now," she said, dismissively. "Sleep well."

[Galadas]

Elliot couldn't sleep the whole night, his mind was too disturbed. Only the idea of resting made him angry, sad, and scared. He did not wish to fall asleep because it was sleep that could betray him. And by the end of the night, in the early morning, he felt weak and still on the brink of falling asleep. He wandered through the halls, hoping he wouldn't be the only night stalker. He stopped and leaned into a wall. Without notice, he fell down and closed his eyes.

A cold wind met Elliots black fur in the dept of his being, like it was about to blow him over, though it didn't really have much power or speed. He closed his eyes again before opening them to see his surroundings. A forest with tree as dark as the night, no sun, no moon, at some points it looked like there was nothing around him.
"Elliot?" a voice cried out in the dark, but he could not see where it came from.
He stood, shaded in the body of a wolf-like creature. His giant claws deep beneath the earth's surface. His breath was warm, giving little white clouds in the air. "Hello!"
A woman appeared in front of him, with short red hair, and a sad look in her eyes. She was a bit taller than his wolf-like form and was only a few centimeters away from him. She lay her hand on his fur. Dedelean!
He changed, his fingers finally moving from the dirt as he stood to shine full light on her. Her young face, the useless expression which had changed when he turned. He was now a man again, taller than her. "What are you..."
Dedelean pressed her finger against his lips. "Why won't you join me, Elliot? We can be together if you join me?"
Elliot shook his head. "We won't be really together, you're under a spell, I want to real you, not some follower of the Master!"
"But we can be together? What does it matter if we won't be able to feel it?"
Elliot looked at her with wide eyes. She wasn't Dedelean, she was the Master's toy, an empty shell.
"You don't want to be with me?"
"No!" Elliot answered abruptly. "Not like that!"
"Well, if you don't want to be with me, you're not going to be with anyone!" she screamed, next a blade appeared out of nowhere and was pushed into his stomach. He wanted to scream, gasped for breath.

He woke, jumping up from his place against the wall and launching himself against the other side.

[Cara]

Mila's words echoed in Kasta's mind, repeating over and over. She moved through the halls silently, moving with the predatory stealth her Grace gave her. As she made to take the stairs, she saw at the end of a hall a slumped figure. Curious, she walked down to see it was Elliot.
"Elliot?" Kasta hissed. When he didn't answer, she shoved him over with her foot. Elliot shot up, on the brink of shapeshifting to defend himself.
"Huh?" he said, confused, as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. "Kasta? Is that you?" he asked, squinting at her. Kasta put her hood down so he could see her face in the torch light. "What are you doing up?" he asked.
"I should ask you the same thing. Sleepwalking?" she asked, looking down at him, where he'd fallen asleep. He shrugged. Kasta nodded as she turned and started to walk away. She needed time to think, sort things out. It was like walking on the edge of a blade. One misstep would send you tumbling down to your dead.

[Galadas]

Elliot rose an eyebrow when Kasta walked away, he understood she didn't want his company, but what else was he to do. He was bored, and he didn't dare to sleep again. "Where you going?" he asked in an attempt to start a conversation.

[Cara]

Kasta stopped. She didn't have any one place to go. She had just planned on wandering around until dawn. Perhaps go and wake Lorn. That's what she used to do back in Rada, but she wasn't about to say any of that to Elliot. Kasta turned around. "To bed," she lied smoothly. Elliot gave her a look, as if he didn't believe it.
"Yea, just like I'm going to bed," he said with a snort. Kasta glared back. She wasn't used to many people talking back so directly. All her life, no one except Lorn had ever spoken to her so. Everyone was too afraid of her and her deadly Grace. Kasta found that the change was startlingly... pleasant?
"Fine, let's go for a walk," Kasta said, feeling the need to stretch her legs. Moving always helped her think through things. Perhaps Elliot might be some help. Everyone was ready for the Master now. There were extra guards, and the army at the ready. Kasta always kept her weapons hidden on her, out of habit. She didn't turn to see if Elliot was following, but she heard him move after her.

[Galadas]

It was probably the most quiet walk ever in Elliot's life. He walked behind her, watching her think, made him not think about his own thoughts. He had no idea where in the castle they were, but he didn't care much, as long as the endless walls would keep him from sleeping. He wished to hear Kasta's voice, to know he wasn't already sleeping. How long would it before the Master would attack? It scared him.

[Cara]

Kasta led them deep through the castle, as she walked the more quiet passage ways. After what seemed like hours to Elliot, they finally came to where Kasta had brought them. It was the palace gardens. A beautiful place filled with the perfume of the blossoming flowers. The moon was full, lighting up the place in an eerie blue light.
Kasta remembered when he was younger, before her life was taken from her, that she used to come here with her father...before she killed him. He had been the first person she ever killed with her Grace, though others swore she killed her mother during her birth. She would never know. It was also the time when she killed Aris's brother, Sarn, forcing Aris to take the crown. Kasta pushed away those bloody memories. This was one of the only places that she had remembered being at peace, and happy.
Sitting down on the cold stone bench, she looked at Elliot for the first time, who was standing at the edge. "I wish this was all a dream sometimes," she said, as if reading Elliot's thoughts. "That you could wake up, and realize it was just some horrible dream, a joke really. In a way, Mila's Grace is the closest it can be..."
"What do you mean?" Elliot asked, coming to sit across from Kasta.
"Mila can look into the hearts of those she touches and see their deepest desires and fears and then use them against them. She can make your worst nightmare appear before your eyes, make you dream it. I bet she could do the same thing for your happiest memories too though," she said. The thought of it make her curious.
Kasta paused, thinking again. About Mila and her words. How true were they? Was the Master really coming? What part did Mila have to play? And Kasta? Mila had said that he was coming for her too. It was all too real, and no where to wake up.

[Galadas]

Elliot nodded, not knowing what to say. He wished it as a dream as well, but he had been awake far too long. "We'll defeat the Master," he said, hoping he was right. What would it take to defeat a man so well protected? Lives, many many lives.

[Cara]

(ok, let's make this interesting )


Lorn woke with a start, his knife instinctively coming out from under his pillow. It was still dark out, probably a few more hours until dawn. Sighing, he laid there for a minute, before deciding to go and see if Kasta was awake. Usually on nights like these, she was. Dressing, he made his way to her room down the hall. As he pushed the door open, he saw that the bed was empty.
Seeing this, he decided to take a walk up to the ramparts and see how the men on the night shift were doing. Perhaps join them, as attempting to go back to sleep seemed pointless with only a few more hours until dawn.
As he climbed, Lorn thought over Kasta. They had shared so many secrets so many memories. His muted steps sounded like thunder to him, as he made his way higher. Lorn shivered, but not because the night was cold. He just didn't have a good feeling since he woke.
The night air was refreshing as it brushed against his face. The stars twinkled with their cold beauty against the black. Lorn fell over something lying in the shadows, falling into water. The torch fell and sputtered, but thankfully didn’t go out. Righting himself, he gasped. It was one of the guards that he’d fallen over. He pulled his hand back. It was covered in blood!
Lorn jumped up, his back against the wall, as he drew his sword. Taking a calming breath, he looked around, hyperaware of everything. He could hear voices on the other side, where he’d entered, only moments ago. It was one of the only exists from this particular tower.
On quiet feet, he made his way over and peeked around. There were two people there, whispering to each other. He watched for a moment, as they carelessly stepped over the bodies of the guards, kicking one even as they walked. Lorn couldn’t tell if they were Graced, but either way, if he got the better of them, he could probably raise the alarm. There was the huge bell in every tower.
Saying a prayer to the stars and their beauty, he attacked. His father hadn’t been the Weapon’s Master and taught him nothing. Other than Kasta, he was one of Rada’s most skilled fighters, in both the sword and the bow. He easily took down the first, with the second following shortly. Lorn brought the torch over to see their eyes. Both of them were Graced.
As he stood up, Lorn felt a weird sensation over come him. Like ice being forced through his body. He tried to move, but it was as if his body wasn’t his own to control. He could hear someone coming up behind him, but he was defenseless without control over his own movements. He felt himself moving around against his will. There were three others. They must have been on the other side and heard the scuffle.
“Look what we have here, boys,” a girl said, her hands up. “Trying to put a little pawl on our plans?” she said with a laugh. Lorn would have spat a reply, if only he could force his mouth to open and his tongue to move.
“Ain’t that Master Lorn?” the other said. The girl smiled, as she brought the torch closer to Lorn’s face. So close that the heat of it hurt.
“Why I believe so…” she purred. “Oh, this is just perfect!”

Kasta stood up, listening. She heard someone coming. The footsteps in themselves sounded hurried and awkward. Elliot and her turned to see Lorn swagger in.
“Lorn?” Kasta asked, smiling. Though she frowned, as there was a wildness in his eyes, a panic. “Lorn? What’s wrong?” she asked. Lorn shook his head, beconing them to coming with his hand. The movement was jerky almost, but urgent. Kasta and Elliot exchanged a glance, before drawing their weapons and following after Lorn who stumbled and ran back into the darkness.

“Lorn!” Kasta called after him, as she ran to follow. What was going on? Were they under attack? There was just something off about the way Lorn was… what? Acting? Perhaps he didn’t talk because of the risk that they might be overheard… Then again, he didn’t seem to be careful about the way he moved, and how that might give them away… She frowned. Her always suspicious, calculating mind whirled with ideas.
Suddenly she stopped. No! Something wasn’t right.
“Elliot…” she said, as he’d come to stop behind her. “Run, I think this is a tra—“
Kasta was hit from behind. She gave a cry, as she whirled about to face the invisible enemy.
She drove her blade into flesh, and heard a scream. She looked at Lorn who was just standing there, doing nothing as Elliot and her were fighting at least five attackers. “Elliot!” she cried. All he could do was stare, his eyes wide with fear.
Suddenly, Kasta felt a heaviness come over her, as if she couldn’t even control her own body. As this happened, she saw Lorn heave a sigh, and jump into action. Kasta couldn’t move. She turned and attacked Elliot, as she tried to force her limbs not to move. Her blade sliced into Elliot’s shoulder. He gave a cry. It was like Kasta couldn’t control her own movements! But whoever was controlling them, wasn’t the best either, as all her movements were jerky and sloppy.

[Galadas]

Elliot jumped back, crawling towards the wall on hands and feet while his body transformed as a reaction to the blood. He closed his eyes in second to think about what just happened. Kasta hit him! With a sword! He growled when four of the five Gracelings left began emerging again. He had no lost Kasta as a fighting source, but gained Lorn. His appearance had changed in seconds, from human to a lion like creature. He jumped over the Gracelings, one of them trying to set him on fire, and joined Lorn who tried to defeat an enemy he couldn't see, but know it was there.
Elliot took down the Graceling that used fire while defensive jumping around and slash around with his giant claws. He saw Kasta turning to Lorn, who had just managed to take out the invisible Graceling.

[Cara]

In the moment Elliot killed the Graceling with the ability to go invisible, everyone suddenly appeared, no longer under the power of that Graceling.
Kasta swung around to face Lorn, who looked at her, that hard determination on his face. He knew what was happening to her. "Kasta..." he warned, as he backed away, not wanting to hurt her. He also knew that in every fight they ever had, she always won. It was her Grace.
Kasta attacked, and the clash of their swords added to the sound of the fight. Lorn was on the defense, not daring to make an offensive attack, lest he seriously hurt her. "Elliot! Kill the Graceling!" Lorn cried, knowing that if the Graceling who was controlling Kasta was killed, she would have control again.

Elliot, growling, searched the dim light for the one who was away from the fight. He didn't see anyone. There! A ways off, standing above everyone, as to have the best view of the fight, stood a woman moving as if she were fighting an invisible enemy. Elliot leapt toward her only to see Kasta suddenly in his way, poised to strike. In a split instant, Lorn came up behind Kasta and grabbed her, pinning her arms to her sides. Kasta struggled against Lorn's iron grip.
"Now!" he cried, as Kasta seemed to free herself, as she dealt a hard blow to Lorn's ribs.
Elliot bounded the space between him and the Graceling, and in one quick strike, brought her down. Elliot turned to see Kasta drive her sword through Lorn's chest. With a flash of anger, Elliot finished off the Graceling, bringing his giant paw down on her skull.

Kasta felt the cruel steel of her blade cut into Lorn. She saw his eyes fly open, as she withdrew. All the while her mind screamed, trapped in her own body. She stumbled back, as she felt that sensation of being bound lift. In that instant, she was aware of two things: Elliot had killed that Graceling and she had killed Lorn. She turned and with a scream launched herself at the remaining three Gracelings.
Elliot stood with shock, as he saw Kasta for what her Grace really was. While he was with her, he had seen her kill, had seen her torture, but there was always every time, something held back. As if she wasn't really using her full Grace, her full potential. But now, she was like Death itself, as she ascended upon the poor fools who stood in her path.
Seeing that the battle was at its end, Elliot transformed back and loped over to Kasta, where she stood, pounding the body of a Graceling into a messy pulp. It was that gruesome brutaltality that she was capable of that rought terror into the heart. Elliot could really see why Kasta was so feared, why her uncle had used her as his hand of justice, to punish those who went against him.
Kasta was kneeling down, driving her fists into the body. Elliot laid a hand on Kasta's shoulder. She snapped around, as if to attack, and then seeing it was Elliot, just slumped down, deflated, tears mixing with blood. She crawled over to Lorn.
"Kasta, we have to raise the alarm. This is just one party of Gracelings. There could be others infiltrating all over the castle!"
She didn't look at Elliot for a moment, then whispered, "ring the bell."

"Lorn..." she murmered.
To her amazement, she heard a light whisper, "Kastaaa..."
"Lorn!" Kasta said, laughing almost hysterically. She pulled off Lorn's shirt, and wrapped it around the wound. She rested her ear against his chest and was overjoyed to hear the slightest heartbeat. She also heard the hissing of air escaping. She had pierced the lung, and there was serious internal bleeding.
Kasta heard the bell ring, the vibrations going through her very bones. She closed her eyes. The battle had begun.

[Galadas]

Elliot turned back in a lion after he rang the bell, he growled heavily after the sound and jumped down the stairs. His feet fly over the stones as he passed many steps. He ran down to the bedrooms, planning to wake Shona. He didn't dare to go back to Kasta and Lorn, although he feared for Lorn's life, he also feared Kasta's grace. Kasta was a great fighter, and they could use that raw strength and blood lust in the battle.

[Cara]

Kasta picked Lorn up over her shoulders and began to run. With every footstep, she could hear the bells all over Druett begin to ring. It reminded Kasta of the funeral processions that she saw, but never attended back in Rada. She rushed into the hospital wing, her heart pounding and breathing heavily from the effort of the fight and carrying Lorn.
Mech was standing there, as if waiting for her. Although, Kasta told herself, that everyone had been awoken by the bells by now.
"Mech..." she said. He took Lorn from her without a word, and laid him down on the table. He didn't comment on Kasta's disheveled, blood-covered appearance. Lorn was too pale. Almost as if death had already claimed him. Kasta squeezed his too-cold hand. "Come on, Lorn..." she said. I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!
Mech looked at her and then at the door. The glance said everything: leave. Kasta nodded. She knew that they needed her. Mech, for all his Grace could do, couldn't stop death if he was truly gone. Kasta stood there frozen, before she felt Mech silently guide her to the door and place her sword in her hands. She looked back at Lorn before Mech closed the door, cutting off her vision. Kasta turned and made way for the fortified inner castle.

Aris was there and panic was everywhere when Kasta ran in.
"Oh my god! Kasta!" she said. "There you are! We thought that they'd taken you!"
"It's hard to get the better of me..." she said with a shaky laugh. "What's the situation?"
"We don't have a full count, but I'd say at least 26 Gracelings and the rest is regular humans..." Aris said.
Kasta nodded. So the Master wasn't just after Gracelings. Of course not. He wasn't stupid.
"I want groups formed now. A squad of two Gracelings and five humans each. That's how they're working. Ranks won't work..." Kasta said, as she heard the other generals ordering men into ranks.
"Where's Elliot and Shona? Are they here yet?"
"No word yet, Mistress Sarce," an officer said.
"Fine... Let's gets Mila up here."

[Galadas]

Elliot knocked on Shona's door, he had changed back into human form, planning not to scare the girl if she opened up. Strangely, she didn't open. He transformed back and growled loudly while putting a few steps back. He jumped into the door and smiled happily as it broke under his weight the first time. He scanned the room, but there was no Shona. He searched the room but found nothing, she must've taken off when she heard the bells. He turned into a cat and sneaked on to the hallway, only like this he had a bigger chance of finding the others unseen.