Olpanu would find herself at the falls, staring at her own reflection at the edge of the pool as water gently lapped at her front legs. Her yellow eyes reflected sadness and regret. The call of a raven would rouse her attention, and she beckoned the corvid closer with her "howl". It was as if she was speaking to the raven, asking it many questions about the falls, where it nested, its offspring that sometimes visit, and other questions that distracted Olpanu from her task. It was only the dark shadow that casted from behind her and loomed over her that made her stop and turn around shakily. She tucked the poor raven in her chest cavity, hiding the corvid from Him.
"I thought I told you to do your job."
The figure was no longer a shadow, and had appeared to Olpanu in a physical form. He had a regal wolf-like appearance, except having small ram-like horns atop His head and a flaming tail that seemed to represent a dark red and black galaxy. He took a predatory step towards Olpanu, His lip curled in a disgusted expression.
"Must I do everything myself?" He asked her, a sharp tone in His voice as He made His way to Olpanu until He was directly in front of her.
Olpanu dipped her head apologetically, refusing to meet His blazing eyes.
"Forgive me... my Lord. I was just thinking and wondering how I could sabotage these fools. That's all."
She hoped He hadn't noticed her talking to a raven or had been listening to her thoughts.
Sarth would stare down at Olpanu, His bright white eyes unimpressed. Clearly she was lying to Him and He knew fully that she was regretting joining Him.
"Listen, Olpanu. You may not know it yet, but you made the right choice. You did right to leave your pathetic cult of cervakurins behind. Now you are free to do as you please. Nothing is out of your grasp."
He circled around Olpanu, staring her down as He spoke. As He strode in front of her, Sarth would take notice of her opened chest cavity and spotted the unmistakable black feathers.
"Ah... you made a friend I see." Sarth would reach inside and practically snatch the raven out from her ribs, the terrified corvid cawing and desperately flapping its wings as it tried to freee itself from His claws.
Olpanu looked at the raven, hoping Sarth would let it free as it was just a bird.
"Y-yes... that was my distraction... Master..."
Sarth would gaze at the raven in His claws.
"It is nice to have friends isn't it? They're always by your side... they're there to help you in times of need."
His gaze would suddenly harden as His eyes turned back to Olpanu.
"But friends... they hold you back in certain ways of their own."
He would release His grip on the raven, and it immediately began flying towards the trees.
"In this world... it's kill or be killed. Conquer or be conquered. There is no room..." He turned His eyes back to the raven, and raised one long claw in its direction, beginning to manipulate it's blood. The bird dropped from the air immediately as its blood began to solidify, and Sarth made sure Olpanu could see the terror in its beady black eyes as it realized what was happening.
"... for weakness."
As He finished His dark speech, He would suddenly expand the raven's blood, making the poor bird puff up until it burst in a gruesome puddle of dark red blood, flesh, bone, and feathers.
Olpanu would watch in absolute horror, unable to tear herself from the sight as she felt frozen to the ground.
"I... I und-understand..."
Sarth would give Olpanu a cruel smirk as He knew He shook her up back into His control.
"Good. Let this be the fate of all who stand before me. Now, you do your task as we discussed. No more distractions. Now if you will excuse me, I shall now begin my work."
Sarth would begin to fade, turning back into a shadowy mass before abandoning Olpanu at the falls for awhile.
not letting my after her master's leave, Olpanu would glance up at Sarth as He returned, seemingly pleased with Himself.
"Well... uh... did everything go well, my Lord?"
"Too well my dear. Only too well."
Sarth would reveal the crystal to her with a sly smirk.
"For some reason, people seem to be guarding this crystal with their lives and willing to do horrible things for it like I have. It has value here. I intend to have my share of fun with this."
He retracted the gem away and chuckled.
"I sense... a soul... is it in that crystal??"
Olpanu's eyes widened in horror, wondering if her master had trapped someone inside.
"Yes. The soul of an unborn child belonging to that vampire. Now quiet. We have company." Darth growled towards Oplanu.
After getting news from her crow..Atsila made it to the falls...she tracked the Darkness the crow described.
His voice turned to an alluring purr as His gaze shifted to the direction He sensed someone approaching. This was probably someone seeking the crystal for their own gain and would smile.
Olapnu would too follow where her Lord was looking, nervous and anxious.
"What if that's the mother..."
"I said quiet."
Sarth would flash an annoyed glare at Olpanu as He spoke before His expression changed back to a pleased one, looking back where He sensed someone.
the witch stood near the falls..her hood hide her pale face...she heard the voice and spoke
".. you have something I need..."
"As I suspected. I expected the vampire to come tailing after me. The real question is, why should I give this to you?"
Sarth would smirk at the witch, suspicion lacing His venomous tone.
Olpanu would raise her eyes to the witch. This was a dark presence she felt from the cloaked figure, and tensed up a bit.
"I don't trust her. What does she want with a baby's soul?"
"Who cares? It's only a crystal with a soul inside it. It's no use to either of us in the long run. I'd be willing to part with it for a price."
Sarth's gaze rested on the witch, a gleam in His white eyes.
* the witch got closer to them..her hood still over her head.*
".....so, you're the clever shadow that swiped my crystal...aren't you a clever thing..."
"Indeed I am. All that was needed was getting the bitch all riled up and now the other two are killing each other."
He gave her a forked grin as He beckoned her forth.
"I don't ask for much and I am a reasonable man. All I want is your soul to be my eyes and ears in return for this one in the crystal."
Olpanu gave the witch a warning look, trying to signal to her that this was a very bad deal and didn't want her to be in the same position she was currently in.
"..a soul..huh.. For a soul..one requires a heart...what makes you think I have one..?.."
The witch spoke in a eerily calm and sweet voice but her face remained emotionless. She now only revealed her mouth..her eyes still covered.
Her crow Pox soon joined her and landed on her shoulder. He flutters his ebony black wings and caws lightly.
Sarth's own pale and emotionless eyes bore into hers.
"Well, what else is pumping blood into your veins? Unless you are undead... but that may also require one to have a soul does it not?"
His gaze flickered to her crow and He let out a low chuckle.
"Your companion may have one though."
".. my familar you mean..yes..he does..but it's tethered to me. Just as your creature over there is bound to you..Pox is bound to me.... Perhaps..I can get you the soul you desire..."
The witch makes her counter offer to Earth..she dared to venture close but still kept her distance.
Sarth would tap a clawed finger against His chin thoughtfully.
"Tethered to you in what regard? If his soul is mine what effects does it have on yours?"
He would be reading every facial muscle and her thoughts, knowing fully that she would have some alterier motive. Even if the crystal was no use to Him, Sarth did want to take every opportunity He could to manipulate and control every situation to His advantage.
the witch pets her crow the looks at Sarth
".. wouldn't his darkness like to know..."
she kept her face stone still...her black lips straight and calm.
"...I'll tell you one thing..we share the same sight...I see what he sees as he sees what I see..."
Interest sparked the corrupted being's pale white eyes.
"Is that so? So... if I had the poor corvid's soul... your vision well becomes my own. Am I correct in that analysis?"
the witch nods
" As yours become mine...is that something you want to risk..? Someone seeing your deeds and hearing your thoughts..? Trust me.. manipulative actions can go both ways dear Sarth.."
Sarth would laugh with a smirk, knowing His ability to warp reality could mess with her if this tether was forged.
"I could care less for my deeds and thoughts and who knows of them. And who may be aware of my next course of action. Sounds like a very, very interesting game."
He raised His hand to reveal the gem, quirking a brow.
"I take it that we have a deal?"
the witch saw the gem.. but before she took it..she offers a exception
".. yes..only if..that creature could be of use to me as well...and...you of course..come when I summon. As my pox does.."
He flashed a glance to Olpanu, who looked absolutely anxious.
"If I have nothing for my dear Olpanu to do, she may be of use to you. As for myself, I may come or I may not. It all depends on what's in it for me."
He smirked a bit, turning His gaze back to the witch.
"Olpanu's first duty is to me, as Pox is to you."
the witch nods and brings out a bottle. A deep wine like purple with pearls that have been soaking in it for centuries..three total. She hands this vial to sarth
".. eat and drink this..and you will have a bound to me and pox... And I get that crystal...deal..? "
One eye twitched and His expression faded into a neutral one, as if He was questioning the bottle and how easy it was for her to make such a deal.
"And what exactly is this potion made of?"
the witch tilts her head vial still in her outstretched hand. She spoke in a strangely calm and cool voice
".. nothing harmful..some innocent berries...pearls from a ancient clam... special water of a forgotten spring...among a few other things...don't tell me a Lord of darkness is scared of what he thinks is a small witch n her pet bird now is he..? To be run off by a little vial.."
He chuckled a little bit.
"I know you are just as manipulative and fiendish as I am. I know those are not just mere berries and harmless ingredients."
she shook her head and looks at him
".. til you reveal why u want me and pox so badly..my intentions shall stay secreted away as yours are sweet Sarth. So..final say ...Deal..or No Deal..? "
The witch spoke for her final time still holding out the vial.
"I just need more agents to deal with those buffoons."
Sarth would make a gesture in the direction of the kingdom.
"I need souls to power my army for my revenge."
"Also, may I ask why you want this crystal so badly?"
".. let's say..I have some.. unfinished business to attend to and that crystal is my key.." The witch replied back to the dark being.
"And? You gonna enlighten me about this 'unfinished business' and how this crystal is the key to all that?"
Sarth tilted His head curiously as He stared at her.
"Or what you want to do with me?"
Olpanu would receive a harsh glare from her Lord, and her ears would droop slightly as she looked down, as if to say sorry for speaking without permission.
the witch looks at oplanu then at sarth.
" Now where's the fun in revealing the party Sarth..? Even you know not to break that rule..."
"Fair... how about I cut you a little slack? Would delivering me fresh sacrifices suffice for this little crystal here?"
the witch contemplated the idea..but still offers the potion.
".. ok..but take this as a gift.."
Sarth would snort but tuck it away anyway, knowing full well He wasn't gonna drink it but it could prove useful in some other way.
"I will just in case."
He smirked as He tossed the crystal to her.
"I wish you luck. The parents will be seeking this crystal out."
the witch catches it and throws him a new vial.
".. your first payment...hope it's to your tastes.."
The bottle contained a angry looking water nymph creature imprisoned in the bottle.
Sarth's eyes widened in surprise, not really expecting much in return for His good deed but slipped the vial away with a chuckle.
"Well isn't that sweet of you? You must be really pleased to have that crystal back, hm?"
".. you just gave me the key I long needed...it also..put u in a good spot with me..as for sweet..I'm as sweet at a sour Quince apple..." Atsila says in a eerily sweet voice.
"Usually I'm not so generous myself but I am a businessman after all. And here... business is good."
He flashed her a smirk before nudging Olpanu, motioning her to follow Him..
Atsila then takes her leave to retrieve her next item...Ludracil's blood.