192:

So . . .Maxical got snowed! This chapter stood out among them all! It seriously did! Her internal monologuing was dripping with emotions of doubt and confusion, all because of Malan! Outstanding, indeed.



Like certain "teenage," vampires? UGH!!!!

On the story again: Maxical is struggling, yes, but she is making progress. Good progress as she starts sorting out what Malan is up to. Hopefully next time they meet, she won't be naive as to fall for his schemes . . .again. Then I would totally facepalm myself. It goes to show that vampires cannot be trusted! Their nature is unpredictable, especially if they already have manipulative qualities like our dear Malan here, which by the way, is drowning in hate right now. Give the guy a break, all he wants to do is use Maxical and others around him to bring back his long-dead lover . . .

As I said, this was a good chapter and things certainly look more dark and gloomy, a welcome and appreciated change from the comical side of things, which I don't have anything against, mind you. It just seems that the style has shifted into a darker mood with Maxical's string being pulled by the puppetmaster.

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@ King Of Beasts - Thank you so much KOB! ROFL - you had me dying laughing with that “Malan packed up Amiela and left.” You are def correct about Malvulis being a back-up in Malan’s original plans - that was when he was still planning for Janus to share his dark gift with either Maxical or Malvulis, and he would take whichever was immortal and transfer Amiela into them. Unfortunately for Malan, Janus has been a thorn in his plans since day one. Janus’s eyes were burned by his own juices - that is what the red rings around them were from, lol. Thank you so much again, KOB!

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@ Elisabeth - To quote the real Foxy (the RL man behind Sir Damien), “You ain’t seen nuffink yet!” Malan is about to show his true colors now that Amiela isn’t inside Maxical anymore. You’ll see those tips real soon, lol. Thank you so much Elisabeth!

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@ McBadgere - It is so nice to see you back here, your comments always make me smile! Thank you so much McB!

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@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian! All I can say is, you named it in one of your choices. And everyone will def get to see the instructions Maxical wrote for Eyja, lol. I was really playing with that task, had her spilling ink all over Uriel’s chambers, etc. - had to cut it out to keep the word count down, lol. Thank you so much again, Acadian!

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@ King Coin - Thank you so very much KC! Eyja was already there, and Maxical never knew she owned the lair too, so never withdrew her permission. You are exactly right, if Malan had done this right, Maxical would not have had the nature’s help on her side. Thank you so much again, KC!

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@ Lycanthropic-Legend - (chapter 191) Thank you so much DE! Malan is a master manipulator. With Maxical he’s been charming, romantic, and fun to be with. Add to that the nature working on Maxical and then there is her own Khajiit nature - Khajiit are loyal and devoted to whoever they are mating. Maxical has the seal from Azura that should keep her from mating anyone but Gils, (but ancient vampires interfere with the seal). So yeah, she was fighting a losing battle against having her heart turned. Thank you so much again, DE!

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@ Grits - Thank you so very much Grits! I am so glad they are useful - to be honest, they helped me summarize what I’ve gotten out so I know where it is headed, ROFL !! Maxical really is getting Uriel’s lessons into practice now, (maybe a little late), but not lighting into Janus as Acadian pointed out, and fighting back the shock over Fathis’s possible fate on her own - she has def matured some through all this. I’m really glad it came through! It is one of the names that has been bandied about in conjecture, it won’t be long before everyone knows. Thank you so very much again, Grits!

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@ Darkness Eternal - (chapter 192) - Thank you so very much DE! You made my day with your kind words - that meant a lot to hear!



ROFL !!! It will get a lot darker now, because all that pleasant Malan (Maxical has come to know) will be gone with Amiela, and the side of Malan no one sees till right before he kills them is about to come out. Thank you so very much again, DE!


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Chapter 193: Two Can Play That Game




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Attn: Eyja

The residents of the Imperial City felt you should have the below instructions. We hope you will use them in the future.

How to polish a sword:

1. Lay blade on flat even surface
2. Using heavy emery, sand blade with firm even strokes, repeat with fine emery till sword gleams.
3. Apply polish in short vigorous strokes using fine steel wool
4. Buff to a high sheen

A concerned citizen.


**********************************




“BWAAHAA! SKREEEK!“

Eyja’s braying and shrieking echoed loudly around Uriel’s chambers till he emerged from his room demanding to know what was going on. Eyja held the card up, then handed it to him.

“HA!” Uriel barked out a short laugh, then raised his eyebrows at me. “Well?”

“It’s safe to talk, Azura’s seal is burning me in two. Sire, the reason Malan hasn’t moved on the Palace yet is because he promised Amiela that she‘d be by his side when he takes the throne. He tried to raise Amiela last night, but his nature protected me and stopped him. It threatened to eliminate Amiela so he’d remove her. Sometime in the night while I slept he took her out of me. He’s come too close to his dream, Sire. I’m sure he’ll grab some woman in this Palace to stick her in, then make his move.”

“The Battlemage floor.” Eyja frowned. “Janus might be able to detect her.”

“Wherever she is, Malan will be with her. One more thing, Sire. His nature turned on him last night. Afterwards he told me about Janus’s spell on Fathis. He wanted me to hate Janus, I think because we both hold his nature he’s afraid that teamed against him we’d be a force.”

Uriel nodded, pointing at Eyja. “Bring Hassildor in for briefing.” He turned to me next.

“Get down to the Battlemage floor now. If your seal stops burning I‘ll want to know where. And Maxical, go armed with a fire spell.”

“Yes, Sire.”






***


I wasn’t hunting for Malan without that vial of my virgin blood for protection. As soon as I entered the Battlemages quarters my Detect Life ring showed a line of giant pink forms lining the inner hallway. I crept down just far enough to ensure Evangeline’s door was shut so she wouldn’t be hurt, and then cast the Enemies Explode spell into the row of giants blocking her door.

KABOOOOOOM!

The ones I didn’t hit just stood there as if nothing happened, it was eerie. They had to be thralls. Malan must be nearby controlling them, or he ordered them not to abandon their post even under attack. That meant Amiela must already be here. I blasted the spell again and wiped the rest out.

BAAAABOOOOOM!

My first thought was getting Evangeline to safety. I lurched toward her door, but was brought up short with a jerk on my arm. My Life Detect ring picked up the pink outline of Malan’s invisible form beside me, he’d appeared as if from nowhere.

He started tugging me back up toward the Royal quarters. “I need to talk to you, it’s important.”

“Let me go! I have to make sure Evangeline is okay, some of your army were outside her door!“

“She’s more than okay. She is bedding one of my high officers as we speak…unless your blasting out here scared his mating ability away.”

“What were you doing here, watching? Why is your army guarding your high officer’s trysts inside this Palace but not you and me, your supposed chosen? And why was I left unguarded while I slept?“

“They only guard where I sleep.”

“You sleep with me! Why do I have no guard?”

“They guard where I normally sleep.”

“Do they guard an empty bed, or have you been sleeping with Evangeline?”

“NO! My high officers have their own guard.” Malan tugged my hand. “There‘s some things we need to talk over.”

“Yes, there is.” I know a lie when I hear one. My stomach churned into a twisted rage thinking about him harming dear Evangeline. He better not have.

It was possible I was wrong, Evangeline was known to enjoy a guard here or there. But I couldn‘t forget how free and easy Malan was walking into her bedroom when he was impersonating Sir Damien. And Evangeline was Uriel’s second in command after Ocato…and her mind was weak.






***


I could feel Malan’s nature gathering momentum for battle inside me and had a dread fear that it would confront Malan. Coming at him head on would be suicide, but it already had control over me before I could blink. It opened the vial and sprayed me with my blood. I heard Malan inhale on a gasp.

It was like watching a scene unfold, I couldn’t stop the nature as it tugged the front of Malan’s loincloth playfully, whispering up to the pink outline of his face with a mischievous expression.

“Hurry, Malan. The nature just showed me a secret using the ‘kiss of fire’. Something about polishing swords, but we’ve not much time. Uriel wants me in his chambers. Give me your juices so I can show you before he calls me.”

A whopping amount of testosterone filled the air and already red droplets of vampire juice were dribbling and spattering the stone floor beneath his pink outline. No doubt his nature knew Malan’s jaded palate and lust for new sensations would make him malleable, but…was it manipulating him or me? I wish I knew what it was doing.

It kept the teasing expression on my face while tugging him around playfully by the loincloth till we stood centered under the arched door frame to the Royal quarters that had been blown open by the blast of my spell.

When his back was to the Battlemage floor I whispered, “Now,“ pretending to reach up for the juices while moving back from him slightly.

When he took the step toward me I felt an odd sensation within me, like a tumbler clicking into place. The circle of his nature locked into a closed band that began expanding inside me.






***


Malan’s eyes were bulging so drastically that even invisible it could be seen in his pink outline. He’d felt it too.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”

“I’ve made you my chosen, Malan. You vowed that’s what you wanted last night, remember? See, Khajiit consider promises as binding contracts too.”

“There isn’t a new ‘kiss of fire‘?”

“No, I lied. Two can play that game, Malan. One good poaching trick deserves another.”

“You tricked Dagoth-Malan?”

“You shouldn’t toy with Khajiit hearts, Malan. You made vows to me and broke them. You promised I’d have all the privileges of a chosen. Maybe now your guard will remember whose door they should be in front of.”

“AAAARRRRGGGHHH!”

“OH! Need I remind you that the Royal quarters and Theryon are both MY lairs now? Make sure you remember that well, Malan. I‘d best not find Amiela’s soul in either of my lairs if you value her safety. It’s just the nature of the beast, Malan. I‘ll see you when your heart grows fonder.”

For the first time in my life I got a taste of revenge against a legendary foe. For a brief second I savored the sweetness of it.

At Malan’s hands I’d lost everything I’ve ever loved…everything I ever loved about myself. I wanted to scream “For Fathis and Gils” in his face like a battlecry, but somewhere deep inside me a voice was crying “For me.”

The revenge soured instantly at the emptiness that cry echoed through. Inside me felt like a gaping tomb, cold and hard…empty. For the first time it struck me…I had no memories of a time Amiela hadn’t been inside me. I didn’t even know if anything about me was really mine.

With a sinking stomach I remembered practicing swordplay as a child, how familiar the blade felt in my hand the first time I touched it. A child. Practicing with my eyes closed, learning master moves…like it was nothing. Amiela was a Blademaster…it had all been her. Inside me it felt like something was dying. What else did I think was mine that was really her? I had a sickening feeling that nothing would ever be the same in me again.

They say war never changes; maybe it doesn’t. But it changes the people in the center of it. I’d never hated in my life, but I did now.







***


Just as suddenly as the nature had taken control from me, it dropped it. I stood like a dummy listening to Malan’s roaring rage echoing off the stone walls around me, watching his pink outline’s contortions and waiting for the nature to move me before I realized…I needed to run.

I shot back up through the Royal quarters and pounded on Uriel’s door screaming. There was no answer, they must be in the soundproof vault. Inside me was a suffocating feeling of doom bearing down on me, danger. I darted into my room, slamming the door bolts across just as a massive force crashed into it with the sound of a bull‘s bellow. Dear gods.

A scream rose in my throat when Malan suddenly appeared in my room despite the bolted doors. I forced it back, not wanting to die a coward. And there was no doubt he was here to kill me. His eyes blazed a hatred I’ve never seen in anyone, not even opponents in the Arena.

For a split-second I considered casting the Enemies Explode spell I’d used on his guard earlier, but no. Malan was all but immortal with all those souls stuffed in him. In this rounded and domed room…I would be the only one that would die from it.

“How’d you get in here?”

“Recall.” He was rapidly descending on me. I already knew there was no sense trying to outrun him.

“AKATOSH! PROTECT YOUR CHAMPION!” I shouted, holding one arm and pointed finger straight up like a lightning rod.

The bluff worked, Malan ground to a halt. “Why’d you do it?”

For the first time I realized he hadn't called me “Lass” once since he grabbed me on the Battlemages floor, even before I tricked him. A chill froze the length of my spine at the cold emotionlessness in his eyes. I was looking into the eyes of my murderer.

My hands were shaking too badly to open the vial of virgin blood, my entire body quaked with fear and my voice was barely recognizable in the bluff I attempted.

“Battle strategy, Malan. You took both my husbands because I might avail you. Are you done with me now? Tossing me to the street like all those Lost Children of Cyrodiil? You owe me for what I’ve lost if you‘re finished using me.”

“Why don’t you tell me what it is you seek?” Malan looked steadily at me. If I said Fathis he‘d never give it, I’d just be killed quicker.





“I saved your life, Malan. You promised me your protection. Eleven years I trusted you, felt safe with you and believed in you. You were there when I needed you, we had a connection between us, I felt it. Everything changed that night in the Bloodworks, what happened, Malan?”

“Amiela saved me that night, you don‘t have it in you to save Dagoth-Malan. Everything good in you left with her, you know it. You’re naught but the illegitimate get of a slave without her in you.”

“You put your nature inside me, my heart is turned toward you now. You knew that would happen, now here I am. I’m ready to house Amiela for you now, Malan. I want our union, I don‘t want to lose what we have together.” I grasped at straws, willing my voice to ring true. It didn‘t, instead I sounded terrified and desperate. I was.

“You lying sack of fur! Thought you’d hogtied Dagoth-Malan, did you? That I‘d give up my chosen, and centuries of a dream for the likes of you?”

“I‘m your chosen now, Malan. You put your nature in me, made me belong to you. Here I am, bring Amiela back and I‘ll do whatever you wish. And your duties as Arbiter are still before you.”

“Aye, my duties as Arbiter.” His arm shot out in a blur, his fingers closing over my throat in a strangling grasp that lifted me off the ground. Instantly I felt the weightlessness of the Recall spell taking me, and heard Malan’s voice echoing with the rushing of the void.

“Meet the Arbiter of Death, Khajiit. You won’t be my chosen long.“







***

This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 3 2013, 06:41 PM

NO! NOOOOO NOOOOOOO NO!

Let go of her, you pale, bald creep!

RAAAAH! MALAN MAKES ME SO GODAMN ANGRY!

The only things in between me and strangling him are the computer screen, and the fact it's not possible to jump into a story.

He's the biggest a**hole in existence! Can't wait to see when he's flung into the darkest, deepest pits of the void.

As I've probably stated before, I'm usually a villain guy. I've never hated a villain so much. Never. The hatred I've developed for Malan is inconceivable. You've definitely done a fantastic job creating the perfect villain, and the fact that you've managed to get me to hate him is an outstanding feat.

Thank you for the chuckles spawned by Maxical’s tips to the master swordpolisher herself. They made for a welcome opening scene right before the emotional roller coaster ride that followed!

It was downright inspired how you had Malan’s nature fully control Maxical for a time. Then the feeling of power and hope that quickly yielded to a terror-filled attempt to escape.

The full malevolence and ugliness of Malan really displayed itself at the end. Yikes!

Stunningly good, mALX!

LOVE Maxical’s letter to Vilja! And I love that she didn’t say anything about sending it when Uriel was shown what it said.

They better watch out for that randy old woman… forgot her name. Evangeline? YEAH! They better watch out for her. Malan’s proved to not be too picky. I bet he’s going to try shoving his wife in HER!

And Maxical, go armed with a fire spell.” “Yes, Sire.”
Oh no, there goes the palace!

Oh my… tugging of loincloths, kisses of fire, and juices dripping everywhere.

That… was amazing! Claiming his lairs like that! What did she do to make herself the ‘chosen?’

Oh man, Malan wants her dead now! Not that he didn’t always want her dead, but now a little more direct. She’s the chosen now isn’t she? So Malan can’t actually directly harm her right?

She must come to his lair of her own free will, walk under her own power into it (not be carried over the threshold), they must enter the lair together, and he must have the full vampire out as they enter his lair.


Malan was expanding his lair down into the Battlemages floor. The nature knew the boundary to Malan's lair at that moment was still the doorway into the Royal quarters.

The natue/Maxical got Malan to let his full nature out to produce those juices for the kiss of fire.

The nature sprayed Maxical with the virgin blood to disorient him, then playfully tugged him around by the waistband of his loincloth till he stood in that doorway (making promises of a treat he couldn't resist).

When Maxical leaned forward to get the juices from him, she stepped back and he had to step forward to reach her mouth. That fulfilled walking into the lair together with the full nature out and both parties willing. Malan was had.




Since Malan was poached, (Maxical wasn't the "marked" chosen for Malan's line), it will take a little while for the nature to turn Malan's heart (just like it did with Maxical) - AND - Malan will be fighting against his heart turning just like Maxical did, but Malan has the power of thousands of souls behind his fight.

For her own protection she'd need to trick him somehow to get him to stop fighting it, or weaken his willpower.


The reason the nature tricked Malan into becoming Maxical's chosen was to protect her, to make it where Malan couldn't harm her.



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This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 3 2013, 08:12 PM

As a wise man was once fond of observing - Ooooh 'eck!!...

*Pulls blanket up to eyes*...This place has got proper scary lately...

Malan's right gone from one extreme to the other now hasn't he?... ...

Excellently done that though!!...

Blimey, I was right with my guess about Evangeline...She's not had it easy in this story has she?... ...

Loved the use of Enemies Explode...Brilliant stuff...

Looking forward to more...

Awww hell yeah!!...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...

PS...I love the way you explain everything...Really shows how much you think about - and obviously care about - what you're writing...*Applauds some more*...

Oh my wow... there's alot to get through... better get cracking

Like what I see so far, Maxical is my kinda girl Can't wait to see what spin you put on the main storyline of the game!

EDIT: OOOOH, a summary! That'll certainly help then I won't spend forever catching up! I will obviously read as much as I can from beginning to end, but the summary will really help!

This post has been edited by Eva: Feb 5 2013, 06:00 PM

I'll have to think about reading the summary. It might help boost me to the current parts, but it would also be spoilers.

So I admit I've had this thread open on the same page for weeks. I guess I'm dreading the cagematch more than anything. I love Owyn and the gang, but I hate the arena. Can you imagine that? It's not the fighting for entertainment part that get's me, it's the fact that all fights are to the death. (Granted, that's also the way it is ingame.) It just feels wrong, and think about the economics! All that pr-work, all those hopefuls who end up dying and having to pray that the fresh meat holds the latest gem.

On top of that, I have a hard time fitting Maxical into it. She's a prankster, a bit of a romantic, very good-natured and sometimes comes across as naive. And despite that she regularly kills random people for money, not necesarily evil ones, to entertain a crowd. She must have a very strong mind not to think about it too much. That, or she's just too preoccupied with Fathis/Gils. Love makes people blind afterall.


And I reached the chapter with Uriel! I like how the 'you're the one from my dreams' is brought in at a slightly more appropriate time. And the time-limit means Max can prep herself for heroing rather than being dumped on the streets in some old junk found underneath the city. Well, assuming the bad guys don't move too fast just to spite prophecy.

I'm also impressed you had the courage to turn Ocato into a plotter who works with the Mythic Dawn. And finally, the Imperial City is becoming vampire central. This can't possibly end without someone being chased by the guards.

There definitely is spoilers in the summary.

You have pegged Maxical’s personality well!

The Arena: She is kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place as far as the Arena goes.

When she came to the Arena, she was naïve enough to think it would just be staged combat, getting paid for playing with swords all day long - in her mind the ideal job.

She signed the contract with the Arena under that assumption, and she's bound to them by that contract now.

She's been on injury status since (Chapter 8, Page 4), she only fought one fight since then (Chapter 65, Page 28).

I hate writing fights, and I’m not good at writing them at all. So throughout this story there are very few actual battles.

When Owyn brought up that Cage Match Maxical had just barely got through the attack on her - did not want to do it. She was terrified and dreading going back into the Arena to fight.

Gils reminded her she was locked into that contract with the Arena - they own her, they set fights up and she has to go out there. (Chapter 28, Page 11):



That is when/why Gils decided to buy her contract out, so she wouldn’t have to fight anymore. (Chapter 59, Page 25)


Maxical wants out of that contract badly so she doesn‘t have to fight again, but can't do it on her own.

Gils said he will buy out her contract, (but Agronak has control of him, so Gils can’t really be relied on to keep any promise).

Fathis dropped her off at the Bloodworks and never gave her the option to stop fighting. She has a lifetime history of trusting Fathis, but he gave her no hope of breaking her contract with the Arena.


Not sure if that gives you any indications without giving any spoilers away, which I know you don’t want.


** On Ocato - yeah, I figured that had to be an inside job to get that close to Uriel and his sons, be set up in escape tunnels only the highest security clearance would know of. The only one that benefited from Uriel's death was Ocato (who had the rule of Tamriel after Uriel's death + had the highest access to top secret information).



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This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 11 2013, 06:27 AM

Easier than polishing a spear, I say! Malan has his own gang of thralls? Why am I not surprised? The showdown has come! Oh my and it drips with suspence as Maxical runs for her life.



This was a powerful line alone. It shows that Maxical finally has taken action and truly stands up for herself despite trusting Malan before. The courage she has now drives her into a full-blown confrontation with him! The lack of "lass" shows that Malan is not in his most confident self, and now his true emotions towards Maxical comes to light. Vampiric rage!!

Eleven years, Max. Eleven years you trusted that fiend(whom I admire, by the way,) and I hope you make the decision to do what you believe is right!



Right! Definetly some jungle fever here!



So, the man's true colors . . .his brightest colors has shown! His antagonist-self has shown here tremendously! And damn, what a climax to this chapter. Arrh! Maxical can't meet her fate! Not yet.

Oh my gosh, what a stunningly awesome chapter!!

What a powerful and heartbreaking moment. I have to admit I am crying my eyes out here. Time to refill the tissues and get another cup of tea. *sniff*


Oh crap! Malan was breathtaking in his anger, and he sure knows the most hurtful things to say.


Double crap and oh no!!!

I am left wondering how Maxical will accidentally get out of this one. But then I remember that she has allies, so now I'm wondering which one comes through.

(Maybe Cliff comes back as a zombie after he's been hanged?)

This post has been edited by ghastley: Feb 8 2013, 05:49 PM

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@ Elisabeth - ROFL! Thank you so much Elisabeth!

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@ King Of Beasts - Thank you so very much KOB! What you said really made my day!

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@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian! Your kind words mean so much to hear, I appreciate that a lot!

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@ King Coin - Thank you so very much KC! You’ve pegged a few things here! You are about to find out what happens when Malan tries to hurt her now. Thanks again, KC!

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@ McBadgere - No one sees Malan’s evil side till they are on the receiving end of it, then that charismatic jovial guy they’ve known completely disappears.



I really do care, tried to think this plotline through carefully - it means so much to me to hear you say that! Thank you so very much McB !!!!

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@ Eva - WOO HOO! Thank you so much for stopping by, hope you end up staying and liking! You came just in time for the chapters summary, I posted that like a week ago, lol. Hope it helps!

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@ Jack Cloudy - Your assessment of Maxical was spot on, and I loved your comments on the plotline. Not sure if you saw my response to your questions, so I’ll PM them to you. Thank you so very much Jack!

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@ Darkness Eternal - Thank you so very much DE! Your comment, your kind words - this meant a lot to me! You made my day, thank you so very much again DE !!!!

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@ Grits - Your comment touched me so much Grits! Thank you so very much for your kind words, they mean the world to me!

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@ Ghastley - And thank goodness for those allies! Thank you so much Ghastley!


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@ EVERYONE:






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Chapter 194: Beginnings of Battle


My mind was screaming, “STOP! MALAAAN, STOP! AKATOSH HEEELP!” The words could barely be heard as airless gasps through Malan‘s crushing grip on my throat. I dug my claws into Malan’s neck and tried to cast the Enemies Explode, knowing it would kill us both. Immortal or not Malan couldn’t survive headless, he‘d die here in the void. We both would.

At first I thought Akatosh really had interceded, so great was the power of the devastating force that struck both of us at the same time. I felt the overwhelming sapping of all strength and magicka all but paralyzing me with weakness till I could barely flail at his neck with ineffectual pats. Not even a sizzle of the spell oozed from my palms.

Malan‘s strangling grip on my neck loosened so quickly that I was nearly dropped into the void in the seconds before the Recall spell landed us in Theryon. The expression in his eyes was shock, then defeated rage.

Whether the nature caused him to grab me or he did it by reflex, Malan caught me by the arm I had just been trying to claw him with and held tight till the floor was beneath us. When he released the arm, his massive form crashed almost on top of me as I crumpled to the floor.

It felt like a weight of tons crushed me down by my chest. My lungs ached for air to fill them, but couldn’t expand to take in more than tiny gasps that scraped painfully over my crushed and bruised windpipe.

On the floor beside me Malan lay prostrate, gasping for air as badly as I was. His eyes burned hatred into mine, his lips mouthed soundlessly the words, “Damn you” after each whooping straining breath.

It took me a full minute of staring at him in terror to realize he couldn’t move either. The same debilitating weight of weakness I was feeling, he was too. That’s when I realized it was Malan’s own nature that had saved my life, not Akatosh.

Through wheezing ragged breaths and a voice that barely hissed the words I asked Malan, “Heal…heal;” finally dragging his hand back to my throat. “Heal me.” He did, then rolled over onto his back with visible effort and lay sprawled like a dead man.






***


Malan didn’t hide how much he hated me now that Amiela wasn’t inside me anymore, but to his nature…to his nature I was the sacred chosen and it wouldn‘t let Malan kill me. Beyond that I didn‘t know, but for right now that was enough. Malan couldn‘t kill me.

Even through the pressured gasping breaths I felt the relief of that. Maybe for the first time I realized the extent of how huge a mistake he’d made by placing his nature inside me. It knew every thought he was thinking, every one of his intricate plots. It knew where Amiela was. It could take down Malan through all those thousands of souls that gave him his super strength.

Maybe Malan wasn’t as omnipotent as everyone thought. Looking back on the last months since Malan started this war, his error count was gaining in momentum the closer he came to that throne being realized. But the grossest mistakes all centered around Ameila and his conviction that she be by his side when he takes the Palace.

He could have had the throne by now had he acted, he’d come within a hair’s breath of it. Centuries of planning and anticipating it…but that wasn‘t his main goal anymore, Amiela was.

We would never have known of her existence at all had he not been so overanxious and impatient to see her, excited to show he was keeping that promise to her. Rousing her inside me that day without any preliminaries, not waiting for the right timing…that was when all his plots began unraveling.

He‘d been off balance since, scrambling to adjust his plots. He wasn’t thinking anything out thoroughly anymore, but reacting in defense of his plan because he was obsessed with it…obsessed with Amiela. Amiela was his downfall.

Malan’s labored breathing continued long after mine had eased, and no doubt he was still consumed by the almost paralyzing draining of his strength just as I was or he would have risen from the floor. His mind was plotting though, that could be seen in his eyes and felt in the air. It was an aura that rose off him and surrounded us.






***


Without caring what I said, I talked to break his concentration. The more distracted he was, the less chance whatever he was plotting would prevail.

“How long will we be pinned to the floor?”

Malan looked like he was going to ignore me at first, just lay there struggling to breath. Finally he answered.

“Till the nature lets us up.”

“Do we have to make peace with each other or something?”

Malan barely shrugged one shoulder.

“It wasn’t a lie, Malan. I want Amiela back. I don’t know who I am without her, she’s been there as long as I can remember. I need her back to feel whole again. Please, Malan. Everything feels empty and out of balance inside me without her there. I don’t even know if I can wield a sword without her. I need her back.”

“Aye, couldn’t wait to rid yourself of her till you realize the blade skills were all hers. Watching you practice, it could have been her. Closed eyes, listening for the sound of the sword leaving the sheath; all of it her. Everything good in you left with her. You’re nothing but a mangy cat without her there, you’ve the right of that.“

“MANGY!“ I nearly choked trying to swallow my rage. I tried pleading again.

“Don’t do this to me, Malan. Put her back. I’ll even let you make me immortal if you want, just not a vampire. Please?”

“You had your chance, Maxical. Now thanks to that trick you pulled on Dagoth-Malan, can’t anyway. Necromancy is considered harm to the chosen.” It sounded like he fought spitting when he said the word ‘chosen’.

“Malan, I‘m sorry I made you mad, but it was your own nature did that. It was fighting for our union, I couldn’t stop it.“

“Liar. You wanted this, said it yourself.”

“It’s true Malan, but you caused this when you took me and made me belong to you! You’re the only man I’ve ever mated, I don’t want another now. Bound or not, we Khajiit fight for our mates. I fought for what was mine like any cat would.” I reached over and stroked his arm gently. “Malan, why don’t you call me Lass anymore? I liked it when you called me that.”

He brushed my hand off his arm with as much strength as he could muster. “It wasn’t you, was always her. She’s the only Lass I’ll ever have. You think, Maxical. You’ve been to school, know what Khajiit are in Vvardenfell. Aye, we took their pleasures sometimes, but they had their place and knew it. You think, and you’ll know it would never have been you.“






***


If I could have leaped up I would have, but the nature still had me pinned to the floor. I seethed silently, burning with pain and rage at my own stupidity. I’d been right originally in thinking I’d been naught but a decoy, a diversionary tactic. Malan had someone else in mind to use all along. I’d been an idiot, falling like a fool into thinking it was me he wanted. Believing him when he said it was.

“Why’d you stick her in a Khajiit then? She was so precious to you, why stick her in the child of a slave?” I all but spit the words at him, the venom I was feeling releasing in my voice.

Malan‘s lip curled back, his mouth hung curved open like he’d just tasted sour meat. He spoke with slow emphasis on each word as if they were boring through him an old rage from his memory of that day.

“Dagoth-Malan didn’t. Never would have.”

How I longed to rake my claws across his face at the disgusted tone that dripped in his voice. “Who did then? I need to know, Malan. My body was used for fifteen years to house her, I deserve to know why.“

Malan turned his head away from me. I waited a while before finally realizing he had no intention of answering. I needed to keep him talking, find something he would discuss. I changed tactics.

“You said the night Vicente attacked me you cleaned house, why then?”

Malan‘s head turned back to me, his eyebrows furrowed down in irritation. “You just answered yourself! He left Amiela in danger he’d been warned of! Getting a chosen is a privilege, a gift. Man don’t protect the chosen don’t deserve to have her.”

“HA!” I struggled with my temper before finishing. “I mean…wasn’t your plan for Janus to make me immortal first, then come for me?”

“Aye, planned to.”

“How could you let Janus mate me while Amiela was inside me?”

“She was dormant then, supposedly. Thought I could stand it. Needed to stand it so she’d never die again. Sacrifice had to be made for her.”






***


“So originally you did plan to use me, Khajiit or not.”

“Aye, then.”

“What changed, Malan?” He didn’t answer, didn’t have to. He’d found someone better. Uriel’s second in command. A Breton like Amiela, and weak minded enough that Amiela would rule her easily. I prodded him again.

“Supposedly dormant, what does that mean?”

“He swore she’d be dormant till awakened, should have known ‘twas lies when I saw your swordplay. Then…“ When he didn’t continue, I prompted him.

“Then?“

“She gave signs. Then I knew. Couldn’t go through with it. Changed everything.”

“Signs?”

“She saved Dagoth-Malan’s life, turned to me for solace and begged for my help. Said she felt the bond of ages between us. She knew ‘twas me under the illusions, recognized my soul beneath the disguises of both your Fathis and Sir Damien. Ancients see the souls inside and remember them for eternity. Those are signs, Maxical.”

“Those were all me! It was me doing all those things, not Amiela!”

“That’s a lie. You don’t have that kind of good in you, proved that. What did you do to Dagoth-Malan the second she was removed? Deceit, trickery against me. You’re lying and sneaky, can‘t be trusted. Evil cat.”

“EVIL! I can’t be trusted? Your own nature did that, I didn’t!”

“You tried to kill me with your exploding spell! My nature saved me from you, that‘s why you can‘t move now!”

I gaped at him. “It was self defense, you came to kill me first! And it protected me from you, that’s why you’re pinned to the floor, Malan!”

“Where you hate, she loves. You smothered her away from me the whole time we’ve been together. Jealous of her, planned to kill her. Vile beast.”

“JEALOUS! Your perception of everything is distorted in your own favor! You can‘t pick through everything I’ve done and attribute all you liked to her, then say I did the rest! They were all me! AND VILE! ARGH!” I fumed.






***


Malan glanced pointedly from the burning rage in my eyes to my ears pinned so tightly against my head that it felt like they may leave dents in the scalp. Then he made a deliberate show of watching my tail beating the floor with loud rapid thumps. His smirking expression clearly showed he viewed my temper as confirming his theory. I choked back my rage and held my tail still before he could vocalize what he was obviously thinking, point it out as evidence. I wasn’t sure if he was serious with this or just manipulating me to anger purposely.

“He swore she‘d be dormant? He who?”

“Don’t ask what you already know.”

“Know? I don’t know!” Suddenly it hit me. “Mannimarco?”

“Aye, Mannimarco. You said it true that night in the Temple of the One, it cost dear.”

There was no way to stand what I was about to hear. There is a vast difference between finding a soul has lived inside you and hearing the details of the necromancy performed on you. I suffocated the sickness roiling in my stomach, forced myself to listen.

“Er…you…met with Mannimarco?”

“Aye. Left the Arena just after that explosion. Thought Hassildor would protect Amiela as he should now that he’d accepted his chosen. Flew back in that morning that I found you in that cave with the Khajiit women.”

“That was you? I thought it was Jak the bird.”

“‘Twas me. You left the cave, walking alone. I followed to keep Amiela safe. Almost killed Janus for leaving her out there unprotected. City full of ancients, a virgin walking alone. Came a hair from killing him the night Vicente attacked her, immortal hope or not.”

“Vicente attacked me, not her. She didn’t have virgin blood, remember?”

Malan propped one hand under his head like a king lounging comfortably, but his shallow breathing showed he was still pinned to the floor. I had the eerie feeling he’d come to a decision in his plotting, now was ready to just toy with me till the nature released him.

“So…er. You said Mannimarco is in…uh…Tamriel?”

“Aye, in Cyrodiil. Up almost on the Skyrim border just west of Bruma. Took over the old Echo Cave on the border. Quite an operation he’s got there, Dagoth-Malan funded it.”

My nerves tingled a warning. If he was giving me information he wouldn’t want carried to Uriel, then he didn’t plan for me to make it out of here to carry tales. Dear gods, did he plan to put me in his dungeon?




*

This post has been edited by mALX: Feb 15 2013, 02:46 AM

Sheesh! Now how are they supposed to kill each other with the nature trying to make them play nice? XD

I find it funny that Malan is calling MAXICAL evil...

Not funny, Ironic.

Then again if you look at it from Malan's Point of View, Maxical is evil.....

But I'll stick with staying on Maxical's side




Yup....Malan has to die now

Grrrr...Ever heard of muscle memory Malan?... ...

I'm so hoping that Maxical hasn't forgotten everything she learned...And uses it to great effect...

So looking forward to what you bring to the party next... ...

Nice one!!...

*Applauds heartily*...