Post by Pocono Pariah on Apr 21, 2013 20:14:19 GMT -5
Originally an old rp between myself and Giu now open to the public.
The full moon rose to its highest peak. Its silver glow bathed the landscape in silver light that painted the hills and chilled the castle walls. The snow was beginning to fall heavier now, in large puffs that seemed to fall in slow motion. Soon, the entire territory would be covered in a thick blanket of white.
Portchester Castle had been closed to the many human tourists. A rumor spread that the museum was damaged by a busted pipe, leaking water and growing dangerous mildew over its cobblestone paths. This however, was not true. The medieval castle, built within a former Roman fort at Portchester to the east of Fareham in the English county of Hampshire, was perfect, despite its strong walls were crumbling.
Inside the abandoned castle, a crowd grew. Some of these men and women were dressed as royalty, such as their birth right was as noble men and women. It seemed to take the castle back in time as these people entered its chambers. Other men and woman were dressed in modern day clothes...hooded sweat shirts and jeans.
One of these men wore dark denim jeans, black boots, and a leather vest. He chewed on a toothpick contently, leaning against the wall towards the back of the room. His dark chocolate eyes were tired, lids red rimmed from lack of sleep. Between his eyes, a black scar in the shape of an x formed. Was this an old wound? No, for he was not human...only in a humans form.
He, like a great majority of the beings filling the room, was a mythical beast, a shape shifter. It was required now, in modern times, to hide in the shape of a human. His long black hair was tangled and unruly brushed to one side of his head, like a mane. He of course, was a unicorn in his true form...but we're not talking white pretty ponies with silver manes, pink hooves, and spiraling purple horns, no...he was one of the nine great unicorn killers. Even more so...he was their leader.
His army?
There was the Archaic Unicorn, a goat-sized horse with a billy goat beard, lion’s tail and cloven hooves. The Northern European variety: a riding horse of pure white, aloof and willing to do battle with lions. The El Alicornio and/or El Unicornio: a Western European, Spain in particular, which has wings on its feet.
The Central European: a smaller, pony sized, shy but docile and even friendly to maidens...but only virgin maidens.
The Alps and Carpathian: Grey speckled and more robust than the Central European type with many sure-footed goat-like traits.
The Eastern Europe (Slavic or Russian) Pony sized but very fleet.
The Chinese/Japanese Unicorn, slender like a viper, with deadly poison coming from his horn.
The Gaelic Unicorn with its heavy coat and thick horn.
The Black Unicorn: black fur, red horn and hooves, and an incurable blood lust. And finally, the Pegacorn: a Unicorn with wings (also called Unicus).
But what was he? The Karkadann... the size of dragon with cloven hooves, thick fur like that of a mammoth, and a horn made of twisted hard wood. He could crush his enemies with one stomp, spear any beast in half with his horn, and rip the flesh of the unprotected twit with his fangs. He picked at his last meal stuck between his teeth with his toothpick. Kark wasn't as violent as his brothers and soldiers in arms. No, his blood lust wasn't as aggressive as the rest of the herd. He was a general, often cool and collected; he thought things through before acting upon his emotions...unless you picked at his extraordinary temper.
Kark was summoned her on behalf of his race to attended this great meeting of all mythical creatures. He was curious as to why the mythical leaders were gathering, and so he waited patiently. He glanced towards the front of the room where a human was standing. His hair was a dirty blond that reminded him of the desert sands he ruled over, and the humans eyes were a green color like that of the forest floor. They were hazel, a mix of golds, browns, and greens. Kark shifted the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other. His eye sight was his greatest power, which made up for his lacking sense of smell and his ears which were going deaf to old age. But he could taste the humans scent on the wind and his eyes could see the flaws of his body. The human was young, in his early twenties, and visible nervous to be surrounded by mythical beings. Oh yes, Kark could tell the boy knew he was not among his own race.
There was a tap of a silver spoon against a crystal glass. The rumble of the crowd came to a close and silence soon followed as many turned to gaze upon the woman beside the human. They stood at the head of the main dining hall, and waited patiently. Karks eyes drifted up and down the female, and he had to admit...he did not know who she was at first.
Her hair was a deep crimson color, like that of fresh blood, and it was pin straight until it reached her shoulders. Then, is twisted and curled as if it was a falling cascade of fire. Her eyes were an unnatural golden color, and her lips were small and thin. Her tall and curvy body was dressed in a black gown, as if she was in mourning. “My fellow Lords and Ladies...Kings and Queens of all mythical races...” she began to speak and her voice was young. Kark's browns came together in confusion as she spoke. “My name is Fiona Faulkner...and I am granddaughter to the high Queen Lady Esmeralda Faulkner...”
Kark rubbed his chin in thought. So, this girl was the granddaughter of the High Queen...the queen of all the races, and the oldest mythical creature of them all, the Fire Phoenix. He noticed now, as the girl...Fiona, raised her arms. They were not simply human arms, they were also wings and they portrayed the colors of fire, orange, red, yellow, and even flecks of green and blue. “I call you all here this night to announce...the passing of my grandmother...” There was a cry from the crowd and suddenly the buzz of demands, questions, and accusations spread like wild fire. “Please! Please!” Fiona tried to speak, but the roar was growing louder.
Kark grumbled, shifted his fist into that of one of his power hooves, and he bashed it against the wall he leaned on. Three loud, powerful and ear splitting thuds silenced the crowd. “Thank you, Lord of Unicorns...” Fiona called to him and he waved his hoof until it became a hand in a gester that said, 'please continue'.
“With the passing of my grandmother...a great and powerful object was stolen. An object that keeps us young, forever immortal, and strong. This object protects us from the dangers of the modern world that often threatens us and chases us back into legend where we are nothing but fairy tales and legends...” she called out. “If this object falls into the wrong hands, I fear that the power of it will overtake it's host and will be used for selfish reasons. Only an experienced and ancient Phoenix can control the power of this object, and so it is I that summons you, lords and ladies of all, to help me reclaim this object before it is too late...”
Fiona called out to the crowd, which whispered amongst itself. “I will be sending an immature Phoenix home with all of your today. They will search the lands of your races and then report back to me in one months’ time. If damage comes to my birds, you will be suspected for treason.” She stated firmly and there were a few shouts in the crowd. The Phoenix heir waved her hand for silence and from the windows fire birds of all colors fluttered about, picking the leaders they would return home with. These birds could not speak, but that did not mean they were not unintelligent. No fire bird revealed itself Kark.
“May I see the representatives for the Unicorns please?” Fiona called over her shoulder. “All are welcomed to stay and attended the rest of the meeting, for it shall end in a great feast and ball,” she announced to the others. Then, the phoenix heir took the hand of the human and went into the next room, a grand room fit for only the royal during war times. It was there that she waited for Kark.
The Karkadann raised a brow to this call, but obeyed. He snorted, much like a horse, and shuffled through the crowd. Guests began to socialize, others partook in the food, and many took their leave.
Fiona waited quietly in the abandoned throne where human kings once sat. Her head was in her hands and she looked very tired for a young phoenix. The human that was beside her offered her food, a drink, and a damp cloth, but she took none of these and the young man frowned. He was upset that he could not help his mistress.
Kark pushed through the doors first before he firmly closed them shut. He was a man...well, Stallion of few words. He stayed at the door, leaning against it so he could hear if anyone ease-dropped on their conversation. He folded his arms and waited for the heiress to speak. His eyes wandered to the human servant, and he wondered why a mythical creature as powerful and as old as a phoenix would need a human.
“Thank you for coming,” Fiona rubbed her brow. “The object that is missing is a gem of sorts,” she began and leaned back in the thrown. She sighed deeply then folded her hands together.
“I will get straight to the point. I do not trust the crowd here tonight. There are many new heirs and young leaders who have no yet overcome their greed, nor showed their loyalties. That is why I've called you here,” she began to explain and smoothed out her dress. “I was requested by my parents to find the object that was stolen from my grandmothers dying grasp. However, I have no abilities to track such a fine object…” She turned to the Unicorn leader, “...King of Unicorns. I know your heart. You tame the mightiest of killers and you've all the power in the world if you wish to claim it, but your heart is nowhere as black as the stallions in your army.” She went on. “I can trust you to be our guard during this search, and I know that your greed will never touch the gem we may find. And if it proves to be too tempting for us in our travels and search, that you can overpower any for the greater good of this world.” She stated.
“A mighty burden to bare.” He grumbled deeply.
Portchester Castle had been closed to the many human tourists. A rumor spread that the museum was damaged by a busted pipe, leaking water and growing dangerous mildew over its cobblestone paths. This however, was not true. The medieval castle, built within a former Roman fort at Portchester to the east of Fareham in the English county of Hampshire, was perfect, despite its strong walls were crumbling.
Inside the abandoned castle, a crowd grew. Some of these men and women were dressed as royalty, such as their birth right was as noble men and women. It seemed to take the castle back in time as these people entered its chambers. Other men and woman were dressed in modern day clothes...hooded sweat shirts and jeans.
One of these men wore dark denim jeans, black boots, and a leather vest. He chewed on a toothpick contently, leaning against the wall towards the back of the room. His dark chocolate eyes were tired, lids red rimmed from lack of sleep. Between his eyes, a black scar in the shape of an x formed. Was this an old wound? No, for he was not human...only in a humans form.
He, like a great majority of the beings filling the room, was a mythical beast, a shape shifter. It was required now, in modern times, to hide in the shape of a human. His long black hair was tangled and unruly brushed to one side of his head, like a mane. He of course, was a unicorn in his true form...but we're not talking white pretty ponies with silver manes, pink hooves, and spiraling purple horns, no...he was one of the nine great unicorn killers. Even more so...he was their leader.
His army?
There was the Archaic Unicorn, a goat-sized horse with a billy goat beard, lion’s tail and cloven hooves. The Northern European variety: a riding horse of pure white, aloof and willing to do battle with lions. The El Alicornio and/or El Unicornio: a Western European, Spain in particular, which has wings on its feet.
The Central European: a smaller, pony sized, shy but docile and even friendly to maidens...but only virgin maidens.
The Alps and Carpathian: Grey speckled and more robust than the Central European type with many sure-footed goat-like traits.
The Eastern Europe (Slavic or Russian) Pony sized but very fleet.
The Chinese/Japanese Unicorn, slender like a viper, with deadly poison coming from his horn.
The Gaelic Unicorn with its heavy coat and thick horn.
The Black Unicorn: black fur, red horn and hooves, and an incurable blood lust. And finally, the Pegacorn: a Unicorn with wings (also called Unicus).
But what was he? The Karkadann... the size of dragon with cloven hooves, thick fur like that of a mammoth, and a horn made of twisted hard wood. He could crush his enemies with one stomp, spear any beast in half with his horn, and rip the flesh of the unprotected twit with his fangs. He picked at his last meal stuck between his teeth with his toothpick. Kark wasn't as violent as his brothers and soldiers in arms. No, his blood lust wasn't as aggressive as the rest of the herd. He was a general, often cool and collected; he thought things through before acting upon his emotions...unless you picked at his extraordinary temper.
Kark was summoned her on behalf of his race to attended this great meeting of all mythical creatures. He was curious as to why the mythical leaders were gathering, and so he waited patiently. He glanced towards the front of the room where a human was standing. His hair was a dirty blond that reminded him of the desert sands he ruled over, and the humans eyes were a green color like that of the forest floor. They were hazel, a mix of golds, browns, and greens. Kark shifted the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other. His eye sight was his greatest power, which made up for his lacking sense of smell and his ears which were going deaf to old age. But he could taste the humans scent on the wind and his eyes could see the flaws of his body. The human was young, in his early twenties, and visible nervous to be surrounded by mythical beings. Oh yes, Kark could tell the boy knew he was not among his own race.
There was a tap of a silver spoon against a crystal glass. The rumble of the crowd came to a close and silence soon followed as many turned to gaze upon the woman beside the human. They stood at the head of the main dining hall, and waited patiently. Karks eyes drifted up and down the female, and he had to admit...he did not know who she was at first.
Her hair was a deep crimson color, like that of fresh blood, and it was pin straight until it reached her shoulders. Then, is twisted and curled as if it was a falling cascade of fire. Her eyes were an unnatural golden color, and her lips were small and thin. Her tall and curvy body was dressed in a black gown, as if she was in mourning. “My fellow Lords and Ladies...Kings and Queens of all mythical races...” she began to speak and her voice was young. Kark's browns came together in confusion as she spoke. “My name is Fiona Faulkner...and I am granddaughter to the high Queen Lady Esmeralda Faulkner...”
Kark rubbed his chin in thought. So, this girl was the granddaughter of the High Queen...the queen of all the races, and the oldest mythical creature of them all, the Fire Phoenix. He noticed now, as the girl...Fiona, raised her arms. They were not simply human arms, they were also wings and they portrayed the colors of fire, orange, red, yellow, and even flecks of green and blue. “I call you all here this night to announce...the passing of my grandmother...” There was a cry from the crowd and suddenly the buzz of demands, questions, and accusations spread like wild fire. “Please! Please!” Fiona tried to speak, but the roar was growing louder.
Kark grumbled, shifted his fist into that of one of his power hooves, and he bashed it against the wall he leaned on. Three loud, powerful and ear splitting thuds silenced the crowd. “Thank you, Lord of Unicorns...” Fiona called to him and he waved his hoof until it became a hand in a gester that said, 'please continue'.
“With the passing of my grandmother...a great and powerful object was stolen. An object that keeps us young, forever immortal, and strong. This object protects us from the dangers of the modern world that often threatens us and chases us back into legend where we are nothing but fairy tales and legends...” she called out. “If this object falls into the wrong hands, I fear that the power of it will overtake it's host and will be used for selfish reasons. Only an experienced and ancient Phoenix can control the power of this object, and so it is I that summons you, lords and ladies of all, to help me reclaim this object before it is too late...”
Fiona called out to the crowd, which whispered amongst itself. “I will be sending an immature Phoenix home with all of your today. They will search the lands of your races and then report back to me in one months’ time. If damage comes to my birds, you will be suspected for treason.” She stated firmly and there were a few shouts in the crowd. The Phoenix heir waved her hand for silence and from the windows fire birds of all colors fluttered about, picking the leaders they would return home with. These birds could not speak, but that did not mean they were not unintelligent. No fire bird revealed itself Kark.
“May I see the representatives for the Unicorns please?” Fiona called over her shoulder. “All are welcomed to stay and attended the rest of the meeting, for it shall end in a great feast and ball,” she announced to the others. Then, the phoenix heir took the hand of the human and went into the next room, a grand room fit for only the royal during war times. It was there that she waited for Kark.
The Karkadann raised a brow to this call, but obeyed. He snorted, much like a horse, and shuffled through the crowd. Guests began to socialize, others partook in the food, and many took their leave.
Fiona waited quietly in the abandoned throne where human kings once sat. Her head was in her hands and she looked very tired for a young phoenix. The human that was beside her offered her food, a drink, and a damp cloth, but she took none of these and the young man frowned. He was upset that he could not help his mistress.
Kark pushed through the doors first before he firmly closed them shut. He was a man...well, Stallion of few words. He stayed at the door, leaning against it so he could hear if anyone ease-dropped on their conversation. He folded his arms and waited for the heiress to speak. His eyes wandered to the human servant, and he wondered why a mythical creature as powerful and as old as a phoenix would need a human.
“Thank you for coming,” Fiona rubbed her brow. “The object that is missing is a gem of sorts,” she began and leaned back in the thrown. She sighed deeply then folded her hands together.
“I will get straight to the point. I do not trust the crowd here tonight. There are many new heirs and young leaders who have no yet overcome their greed, nor showed their loyalties. That is why I've called you here,” she began to explain and smoothed out her dress. “I was requested by my parents to find the object that was stolen from my grandmothers dying grasp. However, I have no abilities to track such a fine object…” She turned to the Unicorn leader, “...King of Unicorns. I know your heart. You tame the mightiest of killers and you've all the power in the world if you wish to claim it, but your heart is nowhere as black as the stallions in your army.” She went on. “I can trust you to be our guard during this search, and I know that your greed will never touch the gem we may find. And if it proves to be too tempting for us in our travels and search, that you can overpower any for the greater good of this world.” She stated.
“A mighty burden to bare.” He grumbled deeply.
Crackled black flesh moved carefully over an obsidian forged desk, his fingers were drawing with the various colored charcoal that resided on said desk. His script was blocky and ancient, his drawing was that of the city he was in the outskirts of. The creature bore simple working clothing that consisted of brown pants and a white tee. Barefoot, he stood upon fiery hot earth without a care as he continued to construct and build his home. His concentration showed through every stroke and cut of his wrist, backwards hands were skillful at the craft he devoted himself to. As he was constructing the walkways from the other areas into this new zone, the small charcoal shaft snapped.
Molten lava eyes stared at the broken piece, unknowing of the omen that was presenting itself with a precursor. Sighing deeply, his other hand brushed back the granite colored hair upon his head back once more to his neck. Gabriel’s flesh was more red here underneath the earth’s surface, more like the magma before it dried while on the earth’s surface. His mind suddenly shifted, a light smile glowing on his face as he thought of someone special, Sharyn. It was odd, how she suddenly popped into his mind as he moved to grab another piece of charcoal from his cup his heart threw itself into his ribcage.
A backwards hand clutched as his chest as he dropped to a knee, then the other, and finally falling with the other hand pressed against the molten floor. A haggard inhale into his lungs as he finally remembered to breathe, he felt like someone had just stabbed him in the heart and twisted the blade for their own enjoyment. Trembling like the earth in the middle of a quake, he looked up in a panicked state. “…Sharyn…?” He questioned, was this about her? Why did he feel like his heart had been crushed underneath a thousand feet? Why did he feel like a rejected fool?
It took him a while to get up, but when he did the word was already buzzing through what little of them were left. Gargoyles had been hunted down throughout the centuries because of natural gas that leaked from their flesh. They were once considered great guardians who walked the earth with most mythical beings, but because of their toxicity were exiled. The species was most vulnerable during rainy times, their body would move much slower because of their heated flesh cooling down and hardening much how a reptile looses its strength in the cold. Regardless, the gargoyle’s flesh is one of the hardest, if not the strongest. There were less than one hundred of them left, and he was a fool for not loving one of his own.
Gabriel changed, he had a horrid feeling as his heart pounded furiously in his chest. Leaving and entering were no problem for him, he built the entire city, but it was the fact he had to be extremely careful when on the surface that bothered him. His logic was pushed aside as he thought of nothing more than Sharyn and this horrible feeling in his heart. The words he was told made him feel lower than the core of Gaia, his body shook and trembled uncontrollably as he marched himself to the surface to see for himself. If he could not have her in life, he would at least see her in death up close.
The gargoyle king, it was something he argued with and fought not to have but was stuck with it, traveled to the surface and found himself looking upon the castle that once housed the woman he adored more than the things he built. His body was covered in a dark maroon cloak, his top a button down dress shirt with various red and black velvet vertical stripes, his pants black, feet bare, and a black vest over the shirt. His flesh had become human to a degree, he could not hide the splotches and lines of the granite he was carved from even in human form. So light green and brown designs decorated his ghost white flesh, with the oncoming rain his body radiated enormous heat. Steam rose from his body as he walked around the castle as he searched for the door he required.
The sound of hundreds of voices inside the castle reverberated about his skull as if he were the castle itself, the arguments, the questions, her death. His bare feet hit the stone without a care, it was normal for him to walk upon such things but it was not the normal stones from home. The monster left scorched footprints upon the stones as he walked towards her body. He could smell her, he could smell the sweet scent of burning cinnamon and fire. His heart began to pound again, his cloak dragging behind him upon the cool stone, sizzling angrily at the heat.
Gabriel opened the doors, his hands melting the metal handles a bit, and he was careful not to completely damage them. But when he saw the stone pedestal, the corpse upon it, he couldn’t help but grasp the metal handles of the double oak doors. The room was a massive circle, if it wasn’t for his state of mind he would admire the architect who had constructed this wondrous building. There was a hitch in his throat as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple feeling rather large as his now orange eyes began to water up.
The normally strong man who kept his emotions in check, was finding that the dam was breaking and he was going to be in a flood of torment. His heart just stopped, his mind running to the letters they shared with one another. He sent them through a fire serpent known as Apep, for he was safe for the Queen to be around. Gabriel’s jaw twitched as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t find what to say, so he slowly walked over to her.
He was afraid, afraid to touch her, to harm her, but could he really at this point? Her body was cold as the ice, the smell of cinnamon was dieing away as his face began to crumble, tears rolling down his cheeks as he walked around her, circling her. Gabriel took in every curve, every line, every muscle, every fiber of her being as he circled the creature he wanted to be next to but could not. Stopping at her head, he looked at the fiery hair, her beautiful ivory face, she looked no more than thirty.
The tears continued as his hands pressed down to the stone beside her head, his reversed hands burning into the stone as he looked at her face. He had never been this close before, and now that he was he didn’t want to leave, but she was gone. She had left and he was alone here. His eyes shifted through their blurry state as they came upon a golden necklace around her delicate neck, it was a piece of obsidian carved in the shape of a phoenix he had carved for her.
The tears couldn’t stop at this point, the human whites of his eyes completely red as his knees caved in to the stones. His forehead pressed against the pedestal as he began to tremble and try to breathe with growing sobs. All he could think about was her words, her letters, and her and her alone. His emotions began to override his humanoid state. The miasma his body naturally exuded was beginning to pour out rather than leak like it had been. The room flooded with the toxin as his body shivered like in the cold, the earth around the castle held a light tremor in reflection, as if crying with him.
His body threatened to burst into flames, burn down the entire building, but he rose, barely. Gabriel’s elbows were upon the stone as shaky hands moved to grasp her face. She was a phoenix, his touch would not harm her, his heat would not burn her, but she was now a corpse. He was afraid to ruin the beauty that was before him, but he wished for one kiss. If not a kiss of love, at least give her a kiss of goodbye.
The gargoyle king leaned in with new tears, hovering above her lips, wanting nothing more than this to be a horrid nightmare.
any of the immature phoenix were flying about the castle, they were the first guard and were on alert since the death of their grandmother. One of the tiny birds flew past a pair of opened double doors, squawking in surprise, the young bird panicked looking at a demon upon his grandmother. Giant wings of poison encircling the room, horns growing from his head, and a sinuous tail wrapping around he and the pedestal. The poison was flooding the hall, the young bird flew as fast as it could, already being affected by the deadly gas.
It squawked painfully as it began to fly slower, it was lucky enough to quickly leave for it would survive for it’s little exposure. The young one flitted through the rooms, crying out about the distressful situation. Worried about the monster in the room with its grandmother. Once it reached the hall, it dropped to a table knocking over some trays. Crying out, the other phoenix hearing its pained cries.
Molten lava eyes stared at the broken piece, unknowing of the omen that was presenting itself with a precursor. Sighing deeply, his other hand brushed back the granite colored hair upon his head back once more to his neck. Gabriel’s flesh was more red here underneath the earth’s surface, more like the magma before it dried while on the earth’s surface. His mind suddenly shifted, a light smile glowing on his face as he thought of someone special, Sharyn. It was odd, how she suddenly popped into his mind as he moved to grab another piece of charcoal from his cup his heart threw itself into his ribcage.
A backwards hand clutched as his chest as he dropped to a knee, then the other, and finally falling with the other hand pressed against the molten floor. A haggard inhale into his lungs as he finally remembered to breathe, he felt like someone had just stabbed him in the heart and twisted the blade for their own enjoyment. Trembling like the earth in the middle of a quake, he looked up in a panicked state. “…Sharyn…?” He questioned, was this about her? Why did he feel like his heart had been crushed underneath a thousand feet? Why did he feel like a rejected fool?
It took him a while to get up, but when he did the word was already buzzing through what little of them were left. Gargoyles had been hunted down throughout the centuries because of natural gas that leaked from their flesh. They were once considered great guardians who walked the earth with most mythical beings, but because of their toxicity were exiled. The species was most vulnerable during rainy times, their body would move much slower because of their heated flesh cooling down and hardening much how a reptile looses its strength in the cold. Regardless, the gargoyle’s flesh is one of the hardest, if not the strongest. There were less than one hundred of them left, and he was a fool for not loving one of his own.
Gabriel changed, he had a horrid feeling as his heart pounded furiously in his chest. Leaving and entering were no problem for him, he built the entire city, but it was the fact he had to be extremely careful when on the surface that bothered him. His logic was pushed aside as he thought of nothing more than Sharyn and this horrible feeling in his heart. The words he was told made him feel lower than the core of Gaia, his body shook and trembled uncontrollably as he marched himself to the surface to see for himself. If he could not have her in life, he would at least see her in death up close.
The gargoyle king, it was something he argued with and fought not to have but was stuck with it, traveled to the surface and found himself looking upon the castle that once housed the woman he adored more than the things he built. His body was covered in a dark maroon cloak, his top a button down dress shirt with various red and black velvet vertical stripes, his pants black, feet bare, and a black vest over the shirt. His flesh had become human to a degree, he could not hide the splotches and lines of the granite he was carved from even in human form. So light green and brown designs decorated his ghost white flesh, with the oncoming rain his body radiated enormous heat. Steam rose from his body as he walked around the castle as he searched for the door he required.
The sound of hundreds of voices inside the castle reverberated about his skull as if he were the castle itself, the arguments, the questions, her death. His bare feet hit the stone without a care, it was normal for him to walk upon such things but it was not the normal stones from home. The monster left scorched footprints upon the stones as he walked towards her body. He could smell her, he could smell the sweet scent of burning cinnamon and fire. His heart began to pound again, his cloak dragging behind him upon the cool stone, sizzling angrily at the heat.
Gabriel opened the doors, his hands melting the metal handles a bit, and he was careful not to completely damage them. But when he saw the stone pedestal, the corpse upon it, he couldn’t help but grasp the metal handles of the double oak doors. The room was a massive circle, if it wasn’t for his state of mind he would admire the architect who had constructed this wondrous building. There was a hitch in his throat as he swallowed, his Adam’s apple feeling rather large as his now orange eyes began to water up.
The normally strong man who kept his emotions in check, was finding that the dam was breaking and he was going to be in a flood of torment. His heart just stopped, his mind running to the letters they shared with one another. He sent them through a fire serpent known as Apep, for he was safe for the Queen to be around. Gabriel’s jaw twitched as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t find what to say, so he slowly walked over to her.
He was afraid, afraid to touch her, to harm her, but could he really at this point? Her body was cold as the ice, the smell of cinnamon was dieing away as his face began to crumble, tears rolling down his cheeks as he walked around her, circling her. Gabriel took in every curve, every line, every muscle, every fiber of her being as he circled the creature he wanted to be next to but could not. Stopping at her head, he looked at the fiery hair, her beautiful ivory face, she looked no more than thirty.
The tears continued as his hands pressed down to the stone beside her head, his reversed hands burning into the stone as he looked at her face. He had never been this close before, and now that he was he didn’t want to leave, but she was gone. She had left and he was alone here. His eyes shifted through their blurry state as they came upon a golden necklace around her delicate neck, it was a piece of obsidian carved in the shape of a phoenix he had carved for her.
The tears couldn’t stop at this point, the human whites of his eyes completely red as his knees caved in to the stones. His forehead pressed against the pedestal as he began to tremble and try to breathe with growing sobs. All he could think about was her words, her letters, and her and her alone. His emotions began to override his humanoid state. The miasma his body naturally exuded was beginning to pour out rather than leak like it had been. The room flooded with the toxin as his body shivered like in the cold, the earth around the castle held a light tremor in reflection, as if crying with him.
His body threatened to burst into flames, burn down the entire building, but he rose, barely. Gabriel’s elbows were upon the stone as shaky hands moved to grasp her face. She was a phoenix, his touch would not harm her, his heat would not burn her, but she was now a corpse. He was afraid to ruin the beauty that was before him, but he wished for one kiss. If not a kiss of love, at least give her a kiss of goodbye.
The gargoyle king leaned in with new tears, hovering above her lips, wanting nothing more than this to be a horrid nightmare.
any of the immature phoenix were flying about the castle, they were the first guard and were on alert since the death of their grandmother. One of the tiny birds flew past a pair of opened double doors, squawking in surprise, the young bird panicked looking at a demon upon his grandmother. Giant wings of poison encircling the room, horns growing from his head, and a sinuous tail wrapping around he and the pedestal. The poison was flooding the hall, the young bird flew as fast as it could, already being affected by the deadly gas.
It squawked painfully as it began to fly slower, it was lucky enough to quickly leave for it would survive for it’s little exposure. The young one flitted through the rooms, crying out about the distressful situation. Worried about the monster in the room with its grandmother. Once it reached the hall, it dropped to a table knocking over some trays. Crying out, the other phoenix hearing its pained cries.
