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The glowing embers made the corner of the otherwise dark room glow with a dim, dark red light. He raised the goblet to his lips, drinking thirstily while keeping his stare fixed to the embers in the fireplace. An empty bottle of wine rested on its side on the floor right next to his armchair. He outstretched his feet towards the warmth of the fireplace.

What a woman. She was incredibly frustrating, stubborn and moody.. and yet so interesting and charming when she just wanted. The woman obviously had a devious streak. He chuckled quietly to himself, muttering “I’ve never met one quite like her before.. curious thing..” A woman who willingly rather spent time with flies and mosquitoes at the moist swamps than lived in a town. He clicked his tongue and chuckled amusedly to himself “Well, considering what a dump Trollsbane was, it was hardly surprising..” Yet the way she resented his wealth and any sign of luxury was annoying.. and so fresh. A woman who couldn’t be delighted with simple gifts, as she obviously wanted something else. Something more.. and he didn’t really understand ‘what’ that exactly was.

His fingers twiddled the half-empty goblet with his fingers and let out a frustrated sigh. They had argued last time, and who knows, maybe they would never see each other again. “Damn you, woman.. Half of me wants nothing to do with you, while the other half..” He nibbled on his lower lip, before slowly draining the goblet empty, saying to himself with an amused, yet unsure voice “Maybe it’s time for another visit to the swamps, to try my luck...”

Her light green eyes followed the dark figure who disappeared slowly behind the grey rocks of the mountain. His cloak played and blew with the wind - his movements appeared flowing, almost as if he would hover over the prairie.

She didn't knew why he prefer to hide his body behind his wide cloak but she knew that the midnightblack color reflected his thoughts and his soul. Twisted, devious and cruel, yet he could appear so tempting and arousing.

She had to chuckle, her usual quiet chuckle filled the surrounding area and the fiery-red hair sway from side to side when shaking the head. Her skinny body slowly turned around to approach the street nearby.

She knew that a lot more of hidden personality traits were still undiscovered, but those few he had shown the last days caused a frightened feeling. Why? That question made her unsure since from most of their traits they were as alike as chalk and cheese. But for some reason she tried to behave and controll since she'd arrived the isle.
The feeling of fear even followed her into her deepest dreams and brought her abnormal nightmares, so for now she was even glad that their ways seperated - for a while.
She was wondering though, if he could find something out about the Occulte Nocturnalis..

Her sneaking steps followed the road which lead her to the town Trolls Bane and the closer she came the more she felt uneasy. She hasn't seen him since some days and he didn't came to visit her, like he did before.
And as her will tried to protest, coming up with more and more pleas why she should just turn and leave this place..her feet already began to lead her into the town, soon guiding her down a ladder. Luckily the corridor was emtpy, extremely dimly lit but empty and so she had to be careful not knocking against something when walking closer to the right door. Her flat chest swell as she took a deep breath through her parted lips, trying to cool down.
She leaned forward to press the ear against the thick wooden door, eavesdropping - Silence.
Her unsure gaze was crossed by nervousness as she looked the door up and down, slowly raising one hand "What you're doing here, Shess?!" her head throbbed with pain when listening to the inner voice and she closed the eyes, firmly. She took some deep breaths and glanced about, before facing the door in front of her, thoughtfully. A frowning gaze crossed her dirty face and she lowered her head and hand with a faint smile. Right, it wouldn't be her when running after people, especially after such smugly people who obviously run around blind by their own riches.
"It's a trap, Shess. Wouldn't he do the same again, asking question over question and still understanding nothing. And you? You're not willing to answer, are you?" - "But he could give me safeness? Wouldn't he?"
Her inner fight was broken as suddenly a loud creak sound behind the door and her heart began to race out of fear to get spotted. She swiftly turned around, showing the door her back as she approached the ladder again.

"Where could she be.."
His journey back to the swamp had been a complete disappointment. The cave she had been living in was empty. The pelts were still in the same corner as he had left them. He had walked and searched through the swamp, but with no sign of her presence, he had left the damp and bug infested hell with a feeling of being disappointed and marched back to the town. Seemed like the she had kept her word and moved.. to some other place. He had been bored and frustrated for the last few days. He felt too proud and upset to go back on the swamp, especially as he feared it would be in vain.. again. Why should he willingly humiliate himself for the woman. "Maybe.. tomorrow" He sighed, before rolling his eyes to his own words in faint amusement. The fire had died out hours ago, yet he still sat there.. thinking in the dark. "I need a drink.." He took a deep breath before he slowly stood up from the armchair.. quietly walking to the door and turning the handle down. His eyes spread from surprise as he saw a familiar shape.. the scruffy hair and stained white clothes distancing from the door towards the ladder. He opened the door wide, taking a few steps out.

"Wha-... Shessidyr? No.. Wait, wait, wait.. do stay."

Her left hand was already grabbing for the handrail of the ladder as she heard the faint creak of the opening door.
His voice resound through the corridor and made her body freeze in shock. "Damnit!" she thought, hissing something inaudible in her disappointment that she had been spotted by him.
She placed her hand upon the handrail and wrapped the fingers around to squeeze the wood, firmly. She lowered her head with the strands of her fiery-red hair moving and suddely sliding from her skinny shoulders to cover her side-face. She took a breath and glanced quickly up the ladder to the entrance of the basement with the inner voice filling her ears again "It still would be easy to escape him, go...go" . But she shook her head in determination, took another deep breath to cool down and settle her thoughts - and feelings before she lifted her chin and began to turn with the fingers sliding from the wood as her skinny body turned more and more into his direction.
Her eyes began to look him up and down as she brought her arms behind her back. Her hip sway to the right side to lean against the end of the handrail and as she continued to avoid looking into his eyes, her face got crossed by a crooked smile.

"Hello there.." she muttered in a sigh.

His lips curved to a light smile, as he saw her stop and slowly turn to face him. He straightened his shirt, while keeping his gaze fixed on her. He took a sharp nasal breath, gathering his thoughts for a short moment before finally saying "Hello, Shessidyr.. I am quite.. delighted, and surprised to see you here.."

A brief grin appeared on his lips as he muttered "..surprises, indeed." before they again formed a thin, straight line. He hesitated for moment, before continuing:"..hopefully your new home is as good or better than the old one.. I couldn't find you there, so I guess you kept your word.." He let his voice fade into the air, holding his gaze on her as she began slowly to change her posture.

He glanced at her fingers as they eased the clench from the handrail, before she began leaning against it instead. He began slowly turning his body a little sideways as he gestured towards the open door. "Ah.. My apologies. Please, step into my quarters.. No need to stay here in the corridor.. come in and make yourself comfortable."

"...couldn't find you there.." she frowned at his words and arched a brow, for the first time now bringing the eyes to his, to look into them with a deep gaze as if searching for the lie in his words. A light nod followed from her side to answer his statement about her new home, letting the true answer unspoken since she had no new home.
She tilted the head as his body turned sideways, giving her the chance to peek into the room behind him but all she could see was darkness. But his offer finally made her feel more relaxed since it was that what she wanted.
She had to grin in an amused way, looking from the darkness back up into his gleaming green eyes as she pressed her hip from the handrail to make her way towards him with her gaze locked into his. Playful words came over her rosy lips as her skinny shape passed him to enter the dark room "You'll call your disobedient servant to bring some light in here..or?" . She threw a gaze at him, over the shoulder and smiled faintly whilst walking further with the vague memory of where the chairs were. When the tip of her boots suddenly knocked against one of the chair legs, she outstretched her hands to palpate the backrest of the chair and slowly walked around to sit down with a low, long sigh "Mhmmmm, wonderful" .

His eyes followed her as she walked past him, and he had to smile amusedly at her playful words. “My disobedient servant? Why, certainly..” He clicked his tongue and slowly turned around on his heels, to follow her into the dark room. The green eyes watched as she sat down, before his hand pulled the door shut and turned the key in the lock. He smirked at her, saying amusedly ”I could have not said it better myself, dear..” as he began walking towards and slowly sat on the chair next to her, leaning back to get in a more comfortable position. “..Wonderful indeed.” He smirked "..The company in particular."

When she heard the *click* of the key locking the door, she took a sharp breath through her nose and threw an unsure gaze over the shoulder, towards the door. Her gaze soon travelled up along his figure when he walked over to her to sit down in his chair and her tensed features slowly seemed to fade as she pressed her body deeper into the chair with the lips curled to a faint smile. She cleared her throat and glanced over his shoulder, letting her quiet and seductive voice sound then "The company, indeed. Thanks for letting me in. Actually, i didn't expected it but i.." she paused with a frowning gaze and inhaled deep before she added the next words which came even quieter over her lips as before "..i appreciate it" .
When having the gaze fixed upon his face again she vaguely motioned to the dark fireplace with her right hand, arching a brow in a questioning manner "Shall i start immediately or do you even like the atmosphere that way as much as i do?"

He shuffled further back on the chair, laying his hands on the armrests while keeping his gaze fixed on her. As a response to her words he merely nods and smirks briefly, before saying “I told you the door would be open for you, Shessidyr.. and I must say, that I am indeed pleased to see you here..” He nibbled on his lower lip while listening to her question, raising his hand as a gesture for her not to do anything. “I prefer it the way it is... for now. Besides, the arrival of my… servant has brought enough light here already” He smirks lightly, while staring at her through the darkness.

She headed back to her cave with a black coat stuck under one of her skinny arms and a bag dangling down from one of her shoulders, disappearing in the darkness.
Her body, dressed in her usual worn-out clothes which now were even soaked, was shivering and covered by goose bumps. Shivering noises and quiet curses escaped her lips as she flit further, finally slumping down on the pelt in one of the corners of the cave, sliding the bag from her shoulder to throw it away into the direction of the entrance. Trembling fingers were fumbling and unfolding the black coat to slip it on with the legs pressed against her chest and leaning the back then against the cold, rocky stone behind her.
Her puzzled gaze stared to the entrance of the cave, now becoming aware of the roaming beasts outside again but her bones felt too heavy and exhausted, almost freezed to get up again, looking for better shelter somewhere else. Feeling rather uneasy with the thought of the beasts out there she snuggled herself deeper into the warm cloth of the coat, breathing unsteadily under her shiver and slowly enjoying the soothing pain, crawling up her body.
The beating of her heart inside her chest became stronger, harder and louder when the coldness run through her veins, making her forget the soothing pain as she starts to enjoy the wild dance of her heart behind her ribcage. She loved the feeling of tension building up inside her with the heavy beats of her heart, generally, for whatever reasons - if out of fear, nervousness, excitement, shock or satisfaction - and now it finally made her sleepy, eyes slowly shut..

Her eyelids twitched and slowly open..hearing something in the darkness. Baring teeth and growling noises. Wolves, two, circling around her bag with baring teeth before they both start to tatter her bag, obviously smelling something delicious in there.
Appearing completely motionless and still covered in the shadow of the cave under the black coat, her eyes open wide and observe the scene with a shocked gaze. She swallowed hard, her cold breath became faster and her gaze soon switched over to the ladder. The only way to escape.
For a moment she closed her eyes firmly, collecting her racing thoughts, strengthen her next step. With an observing and still panic gaze she looked through the darkness at the wolves, waiting for the right moment before she swiftly raised to her feet, jumping over to the ladder to climb up, but her steps soon got stopped as some tugging teeth pulled at the edge of the coat, roughly. Growling noises filled the cave combined with scratching paws as they began to jump, grabbing with the teeth for the coat. Having troubles to keep the fingers clenched around the wooden rail she tried to slide out of the coat, gasping pacinally as she moved then quickly further...climbing up the ladder as the wolves battled for the coat.

Cold sweat adorned her forehead as her body slumped on the ground, safely. She kept laying on the ground for hours, biting her nails, not moving at all and ignoring the fresh air as her mind began to race..

As the sun slowly rised to begin the new day, she blinked several times as if she had slept with open eyes. They were cold and she could feel the flowing tears, which actually were no tears of any feelings inside her, run down her cheeks. She rised from the ground and crawled to the hole, looking down before she threw pebble after pebble down into the cave, listen to any other sounds down there - Silence.
Her feet guided her down the ladder, slow and cautious landing with a thud on the ground as she jumped from the last stairs. Her wary gazing eyes looked about, slowly shaking the fiery red head when facing the mess on the ground. Soon her eyes became glassy, fury and grief pulsed through her veins when staring down at the tattered bag and the small tattered bundle nearby. Blood drops were smeared on the ground and pieces of green-gleaming flesh was spreaded around. She was shattered...and had to threw up in the next corner when getting aware of the rotten smell.
Still coughing, shivering and appearing hysterical her fingers grabbed the coat and she ran out of the cave to the river, cleaning her mouth with the water and washing her face. She gazed at the coat, which was just tattered at the lower border and had to give a bitter laughter, muttering something to herself when pulling her dagger out of the bootleg. She unfolded the coat on the grass and bended over with a quiet chuckle, slitting some letters into the cloth which would cover the back of the person who would wear it. With a tiltened head she stared at her work of art, placed her dagger then back and picked the coat up, rising as well.
Just one hour later she was standing in front of his door, down there..in the basement of the tavern, placing the folded coat on the ground, letting it look quite neat so that the damage wouldn't be visible at the first sight, but when he would unfolding it he could read "Not my Day"
She left the tavern as quickly as she came in, letting a last chuckle sound..

The sunlight never disturbed him down in the room, but as he was getting dressed he knew that it was at least noon already. His whole demeanor implied amusement, and he couldn’t stop grinning. “It’s time to go and get what I… forgot” Did he have everything he was supposed to have? The sword was sheathed and hung from his belt; some coins were in his pocket… and his coat? He smirked to himself “Hopefully still on her…” The hinges of the door made a quiet creak as he opened the door. The light which shone from the fireplace immediately drove away the darkness of the hallway. His eyes immediately saw something dark on the stone floor, a seemingly familiar looking coat folded on the floor. He let out a frustrated sigh. “Mhh.. Shessidyr, did you just ruin my fun?… “ However, he felt as if awry with the placement of the cloth. It was even too neatly folded. He leaned down, picking up the cloat and unfolding it. He let out an annoyed sigh as his eyes wandered over the ruined, expensive cloth. Rosendil’s work had been completely spoiled, though he had paid the premium. “Damn, woman… that was impolite.”, He muttered… with his voice hinting both amusement and frustration.

He shook his head, observing the damage of the coat more closely. The expensive cloth was torn and covered with vicious bite marks. His eyes widened with surprise as he read the words she had cut on the cloth, before he let out a quiet chuckle. “Mhh.. apparently that wasn't intentional. Well, it seems that at least the coat saved you, dear. No blood..” He smirked lightly, folding the coat over his arm as he walked to the fireplace. He touched up the logs with a thin metal rod, making the hungry flames lick a little higher.. before he tossed the remains of the coat into the hungry fire. He shook his head and chuckled quietly as the scent of the burning cloth reached his nostrils, slowly turning around on his heels as he headed to the door. His lips were curved to a light grin “Two persons I must visit.. a tailor, and..”

The door slammed shut behind him, and his quick footsteps echoed from the stone walls of the hallway.

The night was dark and warm, a fresh breeze blew gently from the ocean as Shessidyr was sitting at the harbor, leaned back against the wall of the house behind her with the eyes staring up into the night sky. She was in thoughts, definitely and quite understandable.
Hearing the truth out of his mouth just showed her that she was right from the beginning. The last glimpse of hope faded within seconds and he? "What about him, darlin'? He'll be happy to finally got rid off you..." that sweet voice, filled with hate hammered through her head and she had to agree with a light nod and let her lips escape an embittered chuckle "Makes him not that unique like we always thought, such a loser."
She took a deep breath, trying to distract her mind thinking about the snob as she turned her head, looking to the side to stare at the sleeping, black figure beside her. Soon she had to grimace and clicked her tongue with the thoughts already by him and she muttered somewhat annoyed "Not a delightful prospect." before she looked over the shimmering water surface. The man beside her was going to accompany her, they would be together for a while and it somehow was a displeasing thought for her.
Shessidyr rised abruptly from the wooden ground, frowning at the sleeping man before guiding the quiet footsteps away to disappear in the next forest "Maybe it's time to plan.."