Demise: Demise estate

[Honor Demise]

Tossing her skirts high up her silk-stockinged thighs, she ran up the hill leaving Cordelia struggling to keep up with her sovereign lady. Her laughter rang out over the grassy hills like a tremor, pummeling with carefree abandon against Vahn's heart.

They skittered like children down the hill, cavorting through the pastoral setting with abandon. Bloodstained satin tore as she climbed over an ivy covered gate onto the edge of her ancestral manor. Their rollicking antics caused the Demise house guard to be taken aback, not sure what to make of the unconventional sovereign's tumble through a hedgerow in her mad dash towards the private door. Young ladies giggled and clapped while older courtiers gasped at the most undigified rampage.

Honor shrieked seeing her brother reach the door a heart beat ahead of her, tugging at him as Vahn opened the door, pulling out a dagger in one swift motion cutting the lacings of her bodice free. "Ladies! Attend your mistress," she shouted, cheeks flush from excitment, climbing up the stairs. She peeled off the gore-splattered garments dropping them where they lay. Her attendants closed the door hurriedly as Cordelia closed the gap, wrapped her mistress in a black satin robe ready to wisk Honor off to her chamber for a bath.

His sister shared with him a parting smile, intoned. "Rest. Reaquaint yourself with our home, dear brother. We will speak at your leisure this evening. I want you to know that I have sent the Blackthorne's a letter of my intentions of governing our own territory. We must do what we can to insure the legacy of the Demise family," she gave a pregant pause watching his reaction, "Including a possible arranged marriage." Not clarifying whether she mean herself or him, Honor smiled once again as she turned the corner leaving Vahn to mull over the possibilities.

[Vahn Demise]

His vintage eyes watched Honor as memories ran through his head. Memories of a life gone by, back before they were seperated. Like a casualty he had been caught up once again. Listening to her words echo through his head the gears turning. A dark smile crossed his lips and he stroked his chin. Vahn turned and walked through the halls of their home, some of which was different. A marrige to whom and which of them would be doing the deed? Vahn stopped at the doors to his bed chambers pushing them open. The doors swung in to the dark, cold, room which one could tell by the smell had not been occupied in some time. Vahn walked in and looked around at what he used to be. For now he'd become more, he'd grown over the years of being trapped in the mirror realm.

Now he had a mission, one which had purpose and would carry him to the ends of the world no doubt. He looked at the Demise ring upon his finger and sighed. " Well my dear Honor it looks as though you haven't changed so much, still lending me strength to carry on." He was alone in the room, but thinking out loud. Looking out the windows of his room he could see that the rains had began once again. Ahh those cold, hard beating, rains which made one run inside for shelter. Vahn walked through the estate and out the door looking up at the grey sky. The cold rain pattered upon his skin, he laughed. Stepping out onto the muddy ground he made his way through the woods towards the town. Like a ghost he walked, seeming to walk in slow motion.

Emerging from the thick brush Vahn looked towards the town and smiled. Walking down to the busy city streets, he mingled into the crowd. The darkest soul which walked these streets, moving through them like a shadow. He would be surprised if any remembered him, for he'd been gone for a long time. However some still held onto the memories of when he was their lord. He would be their lord once again, their shepard and they his flock. As their shepard he would guide them through the thick distractions of life and show them not to fear death. Vahn spotted a man sitting on a barrel, the man was shirtless in the rain. He was bald and had a short beard, he had scars along his back and was muscled. Vahn walked through the mud in the common section of town.

The man looked up to Vahn and grunted giving a swift nod of notice. Vahn asked, " what is your name sir?" the man replied back " Sidius Morrow " the man went back to looking down at his feet. Vahn remembered the Morrows, the man's grandfather had been Vahn's bodyguard. Vahn gave him a bag of gold and said, " buy yourself some new clothes, get a bath, eat, buy a good weapon, and report to the Demise estate. Don't try to run, because I'll have fun hunting you down and showing you worse then you've already seen." The man grunted and gave a glared to Vahn and then smiled going off to do as he was told. Vahn headed back to the estate now that he seen enough to remind him.

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn stopped by the ruins of the theater which had burned down years ago apparently. Like a flashback in time his eyes saw the theater as it once was. The people congregating outside it's doors awaiting their tickets for the show to come. The voices of the diva's rehearsing ringing out into the city streets while the people caught a hint of the show through them. Vahn walked into the theater watching it reconstruct itself from his memory like a ghost. The thick smell of smoke charred wood filled Vahn's nostrils, yet he did not notice. When Vahn would come to the theater to watch the shows of intrigue and deception. Finding amusement in the people's act of playing out his evil deeds. They never knew their biggest critic lay within their midst like a serpent. Watching them and noticing each mistake they made in his ruin of a kingdom or murder of true love.

Vahn's vintage eyes lighted with interest as he stalked these dusty ruins. The rain poured down through holes in the roof, looking up he could see the decorations still adorned the theater in it's ruin. Vahn thought of his family and their history, of how things went so wrong. He could remember the abuse at the hands of his older brother. How he always had to keep his things hidden or look each and everyway to avoid a hard beating. Nearly beat to death many times had he been only to defy his brother's wish for his death. Vahn knew death more intimately then his brother even now did, he'd been there only to come back on numerous occasions. Right at death's gaping door, looking into the abyss. Yet his determined lifeforce refuse to let him give up.

The disappointment on his brother's face to see Vahn's bloody and bruised form rise again and again. Looking down to the floor of the theater he noticed something odd. A footprint not like any he'd ever seen before, it bore humanoid resemblance, yet something more. Vahn followed them down into the depths of the theater, feeling the same pull he felt towards the man he just hired. Ahh the souls of his entourage were still bound by his blood oath. They would come back again and again till he released them, he'd almost forgotten them all. He'd watched from the mirror as they carried on his mission without him. They were all caught and executed, still holding on to his dreams and ambitions to the end. Tears feel from his eyes at their loyalty, they never gave up on him.

Vahn found the owner of the footprints almost too soon as a hiss came from the darkness. Vahn stepped back into the light drifting in from one of the holes above. " Sssspeak your name human..." Vahn saw two green and yellow eyes light up in the dark. He'd read of such creatures, snake men or reptile humans as they were called. Though he'd heard they'd been banished to a far off realm. One apparently still haunted this theater, hiding from the watchful eyes of man. Vahn smiled and said, " I am someone forgotten, someone who has brought ruin to all I touch." The voice hissed back and said, " you sspeak in riddless perhapss you want to be my next meal." Vahn again smiled and said, " why should I be your meal when there are much better ones beyond this theater for you to dine on?"

The voice spoke back, " I can't leave thiss place for there are too many of you and only one of me, I may be one, but I am not ssstupid." Vahn extended a hand, " then come with me and you shall not be harmed." The darkness did not return a reply for sometime and then the sound of something scurrying off made Vahn realize the speaker had left. Vahn did not worry for he knew the speaker felt the same pull towards him. It would only be a matter of time before he came to join Vahn. As he left the theater he could feel eyes upon him already. The speaker did not trust Vahn completely, but something about him cause him to leave the safety of the shadows. Vahn felt those eyes on him all the way back towards the estate. After a few hours at home and a nice long hot bath, Vahn went to the study.

There he was greeted by Sidius in his new attire, the man carried a longsword and a whip at his waist. Vahn smiled for the man's family were devious with whips. " Sidius I have a job for you, I need you to find me a woman, one of strong spirit not easily broken. I'm sure there is one within town that fits this description, probably with the last name Ravenheart. I want you to tell her that the man who killed her father is alive, and lead her here. I'm sure she'll want to kill me for the curse I placed on her family, but I have a use for her." Sidius looked to Vahn and grunted then quickly nodded as he went off to find the women. Vahn remembered his old nemesis Falcon Ravenheart well, the man whom nearly destroyed Vahn's plans years ago.

It was unfortunate that Falcon was found dead, though Vahn had nothing to do with it. He had cursed the man's family yes, but the death was not his work. In fact Vahn was certain the one who killed Falcon exposed him to the Darkthornes whom exposed him to Mythocles. The line of betrayal was an easy one to follow when you were skilled at drawing such lines.

[Honor Demise]

At the manor house, Honor threw the stiletto to Cordelia, she stabbed into a book on her lady's dresser as they both laughed in unison to the rain pelted  the lead glass windows. Handmaidens buzzed around them both while Cordelia took the pearls threaded through Honor's midnight tresses, all the ladies were a buzzing furiously with curiousity about the newest edition to the royal court.

"Is he really your Majesty's brother?" they begged. "Is he engaged?" Giggles errupted from the pack.

Their mistress smiled and shook her head no, slipping out of her robe and waiting for Cordelia to untie her corset. Her denile got them twittering. The lovely confidante finished with Honor's hair and began working on the lacings of her corset, shushing the ladies to give their lady some peace. Josephine, the oldest of her attendants, opened the door to her bath bowing deeply before leaving the pair alone.  

"Mistress. Are you seriously contemplating an arranged marriage for yourself or your beloved brother?" Cordelia sounded incredulous that Honor would liberate Vahn to only put him back in bondage. Marriage was not a word that she had ever heard her mistress use for herself, so Cordelia would not, could not imagine Queen Honor voluntarily surrender her divine sovereignity.

Pulling the chemise over her head, Honor did not answer the question immediately, stepping down into the pool and exhaled a relaxing sigh before completely submerging for brief moment. Rising out of the water, Honor gracefully leaned against the edge of the pool, black tendrils bleeding into the water. The lady sighed with the hint of meloncholy, "If the opportunity arose to be profitable, we would consider it."

She closed her eyes listening to the rain, contemplating the future. What sort of man would finally be her equal? Cordelia began washing her hair, massaging her temples. She stretched out her arms resting them on the edge feeling cautiously optimistic about Vahn's rescue. Part of her felt that he was too much of a renegade, she could remember how Vahn use to the first to climb to the top of the most dangerous ruins and dare the gods to bring him down. Honor laughed softly.
 
The lady raised an eyebrow, "Mistress?"

"Nothing." Honor waved a dismissive hand, leaned her head back into the water and rinsed the lather from her hair. A stray thought fell out of the blue: Vincent was. She frowned grabbing a wash cloth and scented soap, vigorously lathering her body as if to erase the memory physically. Irritated over her own momentary weakness, Honor hurried the rest of her bathing ritual foregoing her usual methodical care.    

Use to her mistress's mecurial mood, Cordelia anticipated her glorious lady's whim, laid her lady's dress out, calling in her attendants. One handmaid was unfortnate enough to pull the Queen's hair in the process. Honor sucked in a breath and backhanded the poor girl soundly across the cheek. The attendant yelped, dropped to the floor and began to apologize profusely. She declared, "Get out! Everyone,"  her tone softed a fraction, "-except you Cordelia. You may stay."

The ladies could not get out fast enough, picking up the girl off the floor, to catch one last view of their beautiful, conflicted lady raise her hand to the window pane as if to touch something that was not there, dragging fingerstreaks against the cold glass. Cordelia gave her mistress a concerned look as she closed the door behind her. Was it a memory or an error in the Cosmic Tapsetry? The confidante could not say for sure.

Honor stared sightlessly out the window at something that could not be seen. The Queen's voice quietened to the merest whisper, "Cordelia. Find my brother. We must talk now. There could be...complications."  

Cordelia nodded and bowed knowing that whatever her lady was seeing, it was holding her attention, "Yes, mistress."

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn awaited Sidius's return to the secret grotto hideout which was sort of a summer home. Vahn sat by the fire drinking one of the many expensive wines he'd collected letting the savory flavor linger in his mouth. Suddenly the door came crashing through and the form of Sidius went falling down onto the floor. He looked to be badly bruised, but alive, behind a shadowy figure. The female walked in and drew her rapier, her crimson red hair cascading down her shoulders. " So the devil does live, you killed my father and cursed my family you bastard prepare to return to the hell you sprang from!" With that she advanced towards him lunging at him, quickly like a striking cobra he parried the attack with a dagger and casually sat still drinking his wine. Her sword had gone into the lavish chair he sat in, becoming stuck in a wooden desk behind him.

She reached out a hand, but was splashed in the face by the wine. Her wrist was caught in a tight grip and twisted, as her form was pushed back. Sidius grabbed her as she was flung by Vahn who had a smug smile on his face. " I would have thought someone bent on revenge would have trained themselves better in both sword and self-control." Vahn moved towards the fire as he spoke to her, extending his hands out to warm them. " I didn't bring you here to fight, I brought you here because I have questions about your father's murder. You see I didn't have the pleasure of taking his life, only cursing it. Though whoever did take his life, betrayed me to the wolves." She spit at him yelling " liar!" Vahn wiped the spit from his shirt with his hankerchief and smiled walking over and slapping her across the face.

" Now look here I could care less if you live or die, I could have had you killed if I didn't have questions. If I'd killed your father then what would be the point of bringing you here and telling you I didn't? I may be a bit eccentric, but I'm not insane. I tire of this, Sidius string her up and lash her until she answers me." Sidius began tying her hands behind her and then led her by rope to a rafter which he strung her up from. He tore her shirt off and stepped back taking his whip from his belt. " Now tell me who did your father meet with the night he was killed?" The woman shouted a profanity and struggled, Sidius lashed her across the back. A beautiful crimson line appeared across her back as she screamed in pain. She began to sob so Vahn had Sidius lash her another time.

" I don't know..I was only a child when he died....he ..he kept a journal it's at our estate...you bastard burn in hell!" Vahn smiled, she had spirit, he nodded to Sidius and he lashed her again and again until she finally lost consciousness. Vahn had Sidius remove her from the rafters and take her out into the woods and toss her down like rubbish. When she awoke she'd have a new respect or hatred for Vahn either he would accept. Vahn and Sidius made their way back to the Demise Estate where Vahn was informed that his sister requested his presence. Vahn dearly hoped his sister hadn't been spying on him, he knew how she didn't approve of some of his activities. Vahn made his way alone to where his sister awaited him, gently tapping upon the door before entering. " You summoned me dear sister?"

[Honor Demise]

"Yes, Vahn, you may enter," her voice was soft through the strong oak door.

Honor's apartment was her sanctuary from the court, spacious and private. The heavy velvet curtain were down covering the french doors that lead to the private balcony. His boots barely made a sound as he crossed the threshold, a richly embroidered carpet stretched the length of the main parlor. The hearthfire was already burning warding off the impending chill of the evening, a warm crackling fire cast long shadows over the room reflecting in the guilded trim of the massive bed that dominated the chamber. Dark wood, light gauzy silks, and brocades covered every square foot. On her dresser was the knife embedded in a book called "Peace of the Republic" next to a portrait of the pair years ago, sharing the same secret smile.

"The artist was particularly talented," Emerging from a side door, she noting the picture with a hint of amusement. "l would ask the artist to commission another if he were still alive." His sister's movement was graceful with a sensuous vitality that other ladies could only envy. She glided toward him wearing a gown that left her neck and shoulders bare, created from yards of sapphire silk. Honor's hair was pulled up, held up with a small silver crown and letting it tumble down again in a cascade of silky raven ringlets. "Fashionably late, as usual." Those piercing blue-grey eyes that missed so very little, studied him from head to toe. She sighed in disapproval. "And the least you could have done is get a bath before tracking in mud on my carpets."

Motioning him to have a seat on the sedan, Honor took a seat beside him with an inscrutible expression on her serene face, reached for Vahn's hand raising it up to her full lips, brushing them across his knuckles, caressing his hard features with her other. Honor looked deeply in his eyes and inquired with a salacious smile, "What are you up to, my dirty little boy?"

[Vahn Demise]

In the winter in Vahn's black heart was pierced by her touch, her voice. His vintage eyes watched her remembering all the games they played together. The cold rain outside became silent in her presence, for heartbeats it seemed the world had disappeared. Vahn would go down with the ship, if Honor were by his side. Slip into the deep blue of the unknown to face death and fear head on. " As to what I've been up to...heh...as usual I'm getting myself into trouble. Trying to find out who set me up, though the trail has been cold for years now. If only I'd been free to pursue those who..." Vahn looked to the window, no angels were here. Turning back to look at Honor's lips, Vahn moved closer to her. Getting close enough for their lips to nearly touch, Vahn had been lost for so long.

" I'm glad you found me Honor and I'm glad I found you again. Without you the world was not enough, with you..it's like I can do anything." Vahn's hand came up to brush away a stray strand of hair from her face. Angels would envy the beauty of his sister, for she was perfection. The only perfection he'd ever seen in this world so cold and ugly. His eyes looked into the pools of radiance which were her eyes. He finally felt whole in this moment that seemed forever. The memory of his sister protecting him from their wicked brother. How Vahn was delighted to here of his death and that she would do such. She was the only thing that made him want to live at all. When Vahn was with Honor he could feel flames again, he wanted to be in this moment forever. It almost seemed as if his life was a lie, but Honor brought truth to it.

" This marrige you spoke of, just who did you have in mind. I'm not sure I could see you with another, especially one of them. And I fear I would just not do, they'd fear me before love me." Vahn kissed his sister's lips gently closing his eyes, before moving back to look on her again. She had plans and he wanted so much to hear them, she was being a tease. " And to be more clear on what I've been doing. I've been trying to recreate the old days of our glory. To bring the past back to the present, the task is great, but with conviction I'm sure to pull it off." Vahn stretched his arms and made himself more comfortable as he watched her eyes.

[Honor Demise]

" This marrige you spoke of, just who did you have in mind. I'm not sure I could see you with another, especially one of them. And I fear I would just not do, they'd fear me before love me." Vahn kissed his sister's lips gently closing his eyes, before moving back to look on her again. She had plans and he wanted so much to hear them, she was being a tease.

Honor sighed deeply and smiled chiding him. "An arranged marriage is business and feelings have no place. It is not my concern if you married and your wife was terrified of you. If she did fear you that would be in your favor, you would have her obediance." Her stormy eyes look out the window. "Love is much more fickle. If  I were to ally with the Blackthornes or any other noble house, mark me, it would only be for the betterment of the House of Demise."  

" And to be more clear on what I've been doing. I've been trying to recreate the old days of our glory. To bring the past back to the present, the task is great, but with conviction I'm sure to pull it off." Vahn stretched his arms and made himself more comfortable as he watched her eyes.

"Of course. I want to be clear with you on my intentions, lest we find ourselves working at cross purposes.Vitus is already in production of  new warmachines, ones that are immune to magic. Much better than the father's old war golems. The problem is we are a very small country, in terms of power. We have lost most of prestige when you allowed the Blackthornes become take over guardianship of our lands." She patted his hand reassuringly. "Do mean to say that your choice was wrong? No, I was too distracted and allowed it to happen. In truth, I should have been more focused on the land. The beauty of our mistakes is that we are allowed to learn from them."  

Honor rose up, gliding over to the wall across from him and pulled back the velvet curtain, allowing him to see the Mirror. "Behold, a war is coming to Velusia. War is good for business and for us. My concern is that if we ally ourselves too closely with one side; we might miss a more profitable opportunity, or worse, create enemies that refuse to negotiate. I do not want you creating overt discord with any faction. Demise is not strong enough to sustain a full siege upon her lands, at least until Vitus perfects the production of our siege machines. We need more resources. Resources that other lands, other dimensions can offer. We need to create the opportunities and relationships. That is why I need you at your most charming. If personal revenge can be mixed with business, more the better, but I will not allow you to place Demise in jeporady."

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn smiled as his said, " and so it comes down to the political agenda of Demise..I'm glad to see you've become quite the student since our mother's death." Vahn sighed, for in part she was right, yet she had not the knowledge as he did. " However dear sister, there is only one side we can ally with and expect trust and that is Blackthorne. For no matter how much I hate them and despise them, they keep their promises. They strive for the good fight.....however I've already been betrayed by the Darkthornes. I know them more now then I did before. In fact I think they knew I was plotting against the Blackthornes for sometime. One of my fomer servants stole my journal with all my secrets in it. He was found dead in the darker district of our fair city. It seemed he had been planning on my demise while serving me which amuses me."

" I cursed his family to only produce female offspring with no son's to give their noble house an heir. They seem only allow men to rule in their lands which amused me as well, which is why I placed the curse. Their lands dissolved without an heir and the family went into poverty, but still they swore to hunt me down and kill me. Thinking that my death will end the curse I've laid which it won't. Anyway I digress, the descendant of this man told thought I killed him. But I had agents who reported seeing someone kill him and flee towards the lands of Darkthorne. I know they played me well, letting me get them close to what they wanted. Then once they had what they wanted, they found a way to cut me out of the picture."

" I'm not amused at the fact they did not reveal themselves as my enemies until it was too late. Had I planned better perhaps none of that would have happened. Father was always trying to pit me against you, to teach me his ways. To show me that the world should be ruled with an iron fist and the poor walked upon to escape the mud of humanity. I unfortunately let some of his influnece in that aspect lead me astray." Vahn looked towards the windows with a sort of depressed look upon his face. " I know now that somethings are better left alone, but I am who I am. Though I can channel that energy into the rise of Demise, for you my dear sister. I never wanted this life, though...." Vahn's train of thought seemed to escape him.

" Yes if revenge can mingle then so let it be, the only question is will the bride die by the same knife which cuts the cake?" Vahn smiled so evil that it almost made him monsterous.

[Honor Demise]

A ghost of a smile appeared on her face when he mentioned being a student since her mother's death. Honor listened without interrupting, as if she was absorbing his every word, empathsizing with him, soothing him. He needed her to reassure him, as she always did. She closed the distance kneeling at his feet.

Clasping his chin gently, she turned his face to her own. Her fingers stroked his jawline, down his neck, whispering softly "Precious brother, did I say for sure that you would be the one marrying?"  she asked evasively with the sweetest smile on her rosy lips. "My illustrious father let his ego blind him. You are smarter than that. You have learned from your experience, Vahn. We are bound together stronger than our father's version of  loyality, the old fool. Tell your devoted sister want sort of life you want."

On bent knee like a supplicant before him, Honor looked like an innocent goddess. Fingers dragging over his heated skin, teasing his flesh, evoked dark, sensual thoughts.

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn looked to her, his senses teased, " I've live a long life, have done many great things with that life. Now I fear there is nothing left for me to do, which brings me to my point. I have traveled far too long and it's time to put that wandering spirit to rest here in Demise. I want to focus on just being a Demise, to live my life here. No longer following in the footsteps of fools and madmen. It's come time that I put my attention where it is needed here on the home front. Everyone who'd betrayed me is dead and vengance has grown old and cold. I fear it would not satisfy me enough and only drive me to wander again."

Vahn touched a hand to her face, his fingers memorizing the smooth curves and structure of her face. " Besides sister the two of us have to stick together to ensure the survival of our noble house. If not the pool shall become stagnant with us and there shall be no future Demise. We have a legacy to uphold and protect, if we seperate again it might never come to fruitation. And if the rarest flower was to not bloom then how could anyone see it's beauty? I've looked into the reflection of madness, explored the realm of dreams, and fought my own devil. One could say I've been to the hells and back, but it's not the story it is the journey. The journey is all that mattered for through that journey I grew into a man that not even father could have out shadowed."

" I fear I want children to pass this legacy down to, children who will have a life that I never had. And through them I shall heal the wounds done to me by our family's dark and tortured past. And again I shall grow into someone whom I could never like as I am now. But that person will be strong for they shall have been in the darkness and the light and embraced them both. Our family curse is the darkness Honor, if we stare too long into it the darkness shall stare back. I'm not saying I intend on giving up my gift or all of my goals, I'm saying perhaps it's time I focus on being a noble and noble gains rather then selfish gains which father would have done."

" If I allow myself to give in to what I want then I'll merely become our father. When you mentioned marrige I did not think you meant me, but as I thought about it.. I realized the things I have not done yet, I've never truly loved, nor have I attempted to enjoy the other qualities of life. Perhaps I've missed out on things which might be enjoyable to one as dark and cold as I. Maybe it's something I need in life to find the whole of my self and become complete. Or perhaps it's just something I need to experience to see whether or not it holds any value to me. The feelings and thoughts your suggestiong brought up have left me bewildered."

Vahn lightly kissed her lips and looked into her eyes, " Demise has many enemies and I can pick and choose those enemies and their down falls. As for the others, perhaps becoming their greatest ally will ensure the destiny of Demise and what shall come of it. After all the world is like a game of chess and if I were to play the pieces right we might just have a checkmate." Vahn smiled almost glowling for once in ausement of his thoughts and metaphors.

[Honor Demise]

Honor's expression did not mirror her brothers. In her eyes was a hurt as she turned her face away from him, rose to her feet and glided to the mirror, pulling down the thick velvet drapery.

"At your tender age, it heartens me to see you finally taking an interest in your future. If it is your wish to marry, we will find you a wife befitting your station, perhaps then you can find true love."

She was on the verge of telling him that she approved and was amused, then he broke her heart by confessing that he has never truly loved. All the years that Honor suffered in silence to protect him. A lecherous father that was taken with his young, beautiful daughter. A sadist brother, Reagan, who exacted his revenge on his older sister by having his personal guards hold her down as he cruelly raped and sodomized her, then flogging her until she was nearly dead. Her mother seethed with jealousy knowing that her husband lusted after his own daughter, victimizing Honor more, causing a miscarriage of a forbidden offspring, ultimately cursing Honor with a barren womb.

Hiding the shame behind a smile, Honor concieve the perfect plan of revenge, orchestrating the destruction of her despised family. She was Vahn's protector, his guardian angel; she thought he loved her and repayed her with lies.

"I suspect that since you were out exploring that would not have a chance to bathe before dinner. I took the liberty of having one drawn for you, through those doors," Honor said coolly as she skimmed across the floor to her black satin draped bed and reclined into the mountain of pillows, feigning interest in the book she retrieved from her nightstand, twirling a piece of her thick, raven hair through her fingers, her full lips bowed into pouting frown.

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn ever the tricky sort enjoyed teasing Honor's emotions from time to time. Simply for the fact he enjoyed her reactions to each and every tease. As he walked to those doors he said a few words, " Love...ha love is merely a reaction the brain has due to centuries of survival instincts. It's merely lust masked under a different name so one can ensure the survival of their race. The love you and I share is not like that, don't forget that Honor even if I never tell you I love you it's not like I don't. I just don't like saying it is all, for the use of the word merely takes away it's meaning ever so slowly."

Vahn walked through the doors and closed them behind him not waiting to hear any response she may have. After all that was part of his game, it would drive a sane person mad, but Honor was different. She shared much of the same thought process as he did. Vahn had become good at driving normal people insane, but his sister as always was tough. His game was merely his way of keeping her tough outer shell alive. For if she became soft she would become hurt again and Vahn could not protect her from emotional hurt all the time. In fact it was another goal of his game for if she could resist other's when he was not around it made his desire to keep her safe easier.

Vahn slowly began to disrobed as he made his way to the bath discarding the clothing upon the floor with disregard. As his pale foot touched the water's surface causing it to ripple he watched his reflection. It distorted as the cruel smirk he wore seemed to mock him. Humans were such a simple easily manipulated lot, bound by their own emotions and chemistry. They were slaves to their nature and it was and would always be their true enemy and downfall. One could make man believe anything, but Vahn's kind were not like humans. Maybe at one time they had been similar, but destiny and time had erased all similarities. Vahn wanted a child simply so the future of Demise could be carried on and secured.

If Vahn had wanted love then he would be weak just like the humans he tormented. Slowly gliding into the pool he laid his head back letting his schemes roll through his mind, trying to expect any outcome and iron out any chaotic factor from the equation.

[Honor Demise]

Anger the most potent of energy of all fueled Honor's indignation. Ungrateful brat. She should have left him in-between dimensions.  Her eyes glowed with noble pride, anger dilated her nostrils, and while a scornful smiled flitted over her lips, her face was flush. How he infuriated her!  He knew exactly how to irritate her to the point of distraction. Honor laughed to herself, feeling alive for the first time in years. Vahn was wrong, of course, but she would not shatter his illusions of reality.  He could call his feelings whatever he liked. Vahn was so secure in his superiority. A very troubling reaction, Honor sighed, shut the book as she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. It seemed that he had learned very little in his time of confinement.

The anger was short lived giving way to her constant ennui. The manor was magnificent, and in modern taste; the furniture fashionably elegant in all the gloss of novelty. Not a single luxury omitted; not a fault could be found by the most fastidious critic. These beauties were too familiar to Honor's eyes. Tedious and boring, she thought, yawning as she tossed the book back on the nightstand. For a moment, she had almost believed that Vahn's presence would elimate her unending tedium.  

"Mistress?" Cordelia asked gently interrupting her mistress's reverie.

 "Yes, Cordelia."

"Dinner is ready."

"Have Martha bring in appropriate clothing to the brat."

The confidante raised a eyebrow, "Is he out of your good graces so soon, milady?"

"For the moment."

Honor stood up and walked into the bathroom as Cordelia followed, fussing over her hair and dress. Waving her servant away, she strided over to the side of the pool, knelt down, grabbing Vahn by his head  and pushed him under the water, holding him down.  Punishing him for his insolence, she laughed because she knew he could not drown, but holding him under the water made her feel better.

[Vahn Demise]

Vahn's momentary ideas of what he had to do and should do was interrupted by drowning. At first he became shocked, then he remembered he could not really die from such a method. Turning beneath the water to wrench himself free of the hand which held him under. Ahhh the reaction Vahn had wanted was a bit more then he had expected. Slinging his wet hair back he laughed and looked to Honor. " I'm sorry my beloved sister I simply had to see if you still had it in you. After all I heard so much about what you did to our other brother. I guess toying with you is over now, but I admit it was fun while it lasted. Now sister what are you plans for this masqurade you had planned? I am so eager to start slowly becoming known again, though I'm not sure if I should change my name and take on an alias or if I should just go by my middle name which only you know."

Vahn slowly stepped out of the pool standing there naked as he talked. " You know if I didn't hide my true feelings and thoughts they could be used against me. They have in the past, the past always has a funny way of repeating itself which I've come to know. And if I wasn't around to annoy you from time to time then how boring your life would be. After all do I not make your life interesting? For you never know what I'm prone to do, though I would never do anything to sully your good name or our family's name. Though our parents and siblings have done more in that aspect." Vahn walked over to the window looking out to the gloomy grey light of the outside world. " I wonder what the future holds for us dear sister? What will become of us, shall we fail and fall like our parents or will we completely cut ourselves out of their destiny and mold our own?"

Vahn always found what if's to be interesting for it gave himself to think over. They had been reunited and already Honor had drowned him once, he wondered if she could do that to others. For there would be those that tried to stand in their way, those that wanted to see them fail. He needed her to be willing to kill anyone that tried such. He considered Honor his only family, and the estate was as always perfect in it's feel. Looking about at the lavish decor which would make some of the places Vahn had been look like pig sties. " You've done well with the estate Honor..hmm" it was almost too hard for Vahn not to add something to draw up more annoyance and anger from his sister. He'd have to try and remember not to do such, though it would be hard.