RP:Lucidity of Kinship
Part of the Mearcstapa Arc
Summary: While Kanna explores the confines of Alithrya under Queen Reginae's terms of impisonment, she encounters the found family she previously believed only existed in her mind. Lhyrin arrives in the city of Nagas while tracking their next kill, only to realize that Vakmatharas has predestined their path so that they may meet the sister from their dreams.
Underground Beach
The polished stones that make up the ‘skies’ of Alithrya rise up until they disappear into a black abyss above. Though nagas themselves have no use for illumination in dark spaces, the recent opening of the city to the lesser races have necessitated lights along the beach so as to prevent tourists from falling into the underground seas. Obsidian ignimbrite has been welded into lattice-like cages from which to suspend lanterns from the roof of the tunnel. From the shoreline, this gives the skies the illusion of starlight that reflects upon the curiously charcoal-colored water to create a perfect mirror when undisturbed. Similar lanterns intersperse the beach of gold and white sand, which young naga can often be seen claiming as a source of warmth when finished with their swim.
It had taken a while to track down a certain black-feathered birdie to Alithrya, but eventually Lhyrin managed it. After having been seen in Cenril and eventually being noted as disappearing down into the depths--which was quite strange for an avian, of course--it didn’t take long for the forsaken elf to put two and two together. Were they still on the mainland and actually above the surface, they probably wouldn’t have bothered, but the elf got themself a room at the Inn of the Weary Traveler, using it as a sort of “safe” house, though considering the naga, it was likely far from that. Dressed in their usual black and green leathers, with the hood pulled up, Lhyrin made their way from the Inn to the main street that made its way through the middle of the lower section of the watery realm and stopped there, watching quietly as people passed by them. There was not a single black feather to be found here, as the bird was likely within the palace, traipsing about with a drow, unbeknownst to Lhyrin. With a dissatisfied sigh, they melded into the crowd and headed east, keeping an eye out here and there. Eventually, they happened upon the beach and just sort of stared at it with disdain--they weren’t really impressed with the underwater beach at all.
How many days had passed since Kanna had awoken in the confines of Alithrya? So much time had been spent in a frenzy, trying to escape only to be incapacitated again, until there was a dull sense of resignation. Kanna was trapped here at Reginae’s behest for the foreseeable future. By the grace of the gods, the mad queen had not touched the damaged instrument that had been strapped to her back during transport, and neither had the guards that have been attending to her. Should they have done so, they might have located the bag of holding whose straps had been tied around the strings to keep the dragon-zither from falling apart, and discovered the dangerous artefact she had obtained to use against Alithyk Caluss. No such discoveries were made, though, although she did find her inventory a few precious gifts lighter, and so Kanna was content to bide her time until she thought of a way to tell someone where she was or get their location out of Reginae. After two days of being locked in the palace without incident, Reginae had granted the human to visit the famed underground beach, so long as she kept close to her serpentine escorts. Now she stands, her bare feet in the sands of the beach miles below the sea. The polished stones that make up the ‘skies’ of Alithrya rise up until they disappear into a black abyss above. Though nagas themselves have no use for illumination in dark spaces, the recent opening of the city to the lesser races have necessitated lights along the beach so as to prevent tourists from falling into the underground seas. Obsidian ignimbrite has been welded into lattice-like cages from which to suspend lanterns from the roof of the tunnel. From the shoreline, this gives the skies the illusion of starlight that reflects upon the curiously charcoal-colored water to create a perfect mirror when undisturbed. Similar lanterns intersperse the beach of gold and white sand, which young naga can often be seen claiming as a source of warmth when finished with their swim.
On this day in particular, though, the beach is devoid of younglings. Kanna steps down to the waters, and watches as the black waters lap against her feet. She is dressed in shimmering gold and silver layers of thin silk mesh that create a train behind her as she walks. Her white hair, usually left loose, has been carefully pinned back in a romantic updo to accentuate the wing-like bow on the small of her back. In the city of serpents, she looks as though she could be the only fae that has ever walked its muddled streets. Kanna is human, though, and she feels powerless now as she looks out at the endless starry sea. “Do you not miss the sight of the moons down here?” Kanna asks one of the guards. The naga man gives her a quizzical look. “The moons are an obsession of your kind and the other lesser races. The light of Queen Reginae’s heart is the only illumination we need here.” He pauses and adds, “I do hope you are not thinking of drowning yourself.” Kanna sets her jaw and looks back out at the sea. “If I can never see the light of Valaane again, I might.”
Sand squished beneath booted feet as Lhyrin closed the gap between themself and the dark waters that ebbed and flowed before them. The beach was mostly empty--a pity really, as they had been rather curious about trying naga for the first time--and it furthered the elf’s disdain even more. Talk of the moon nearby gave the vampire pause, those long lithe ears of theirs listening in carefully to the conversation at hand. Stormy eyes shifted towards the two, first taking in the look of the guard, sizing them up, the elf wondering if it was true what they said about snake meat (that it tasted somewhat like chicken). But that thought process doesn’t last long as they caught sight of that silvery updo. A wave of familiarity washed over the elf, like the ocean in front of them, threatening to overtake them. A gasp passed through pallid, parted lips, the rush of suppressed emotions causing them to double over somewhat, a gloved hand holding their head, while the other held their chest. The psychological distress from these emotions were more than Lhyrin could bear and it took every fiber of the vampire’s being to not collapse on the spot.
They did their best to hide it all, however. Surely, anyone could have that hair color. They couldn’t even remember the moon goddess’ face and her voice had been naught but a song without words in their mind. Parts of their dreams came back in bits and pieces, entirely jumbled, leaving Lhyrin to draw in unnecessary breaths to calm their mind and body from the quaking that had overtaken them.
When Kanna makes her barely veiled threat, a debate erupts between the two naga guards in a language Kanna cannot understand. She gives a short, frustrated sigh, and takes a few steps down the shore to examine a curled shell that the black waters have threatened to take back into the sea. It appears to have been colored a beautiful golden shade at one point, but the constant lapping of the stained waves have given it an ombre effect to turn its tapered half the color of jet. Perhaps she and Reginae are similar in the fact that they like to collect beautiful things, for Kanna has pocketed the shell without giving it a second thought. Just then, she hears the gasps from just a short distance away.
Looking up, she sees a dim figure whose dark colored leathers nearly conceal them in the shadows where the lantern lights does not reach. Kanna does, however, see the long, tapered ears, and the sparkle of metals decorating them. Not a naga? For some reason, she is reminded of a blood-soaked person from another world, one that she wanted to cure the heartache of. The figure seems to double over, towards the waters that are dangerously deeper than they appear at first glance, and Kanna rushes to their side. “Oh, careful!” Kanna looks up at Lhyrin with a concerned expression, her hands hovering just above their arms as though to catch them should they fall. “Are you feeling alright?” When they lock eyes, a lump forms in her throat, as though seeing an old friend for the first time in a very long time. But she has not seen an elf with such a pallid complexion with a face decorated so uniquely in the Mortal Plane, that she can be sure of. Still, why did they seem familiar? “I-I’m sorry…” Kanna lowers her hands as a stray tear escapes her. “I thought you might be ill… Please excuse me…” Suddenly feeling very awkward, Kanna turns to regroup with the guards, who watch the pair warily.
Lhyrin just stared at Kanna as she tried to steady them without touching them. She was so kind… and yet, it pained them further. Their mouth opened as if to speak, and yet no words came out--they could barely think let alone try to form words to assure her that they were fine. And then she turned to leave and a desperation the likes of which Lhyrin had not known took them and they reached out to grab her hand. “Wait!” They looked past her and saw those stares from the guards, the elf’s hand pulling back just before they could actually take hold of her. “Who… -are- you?” They did their best to compose themselves, despite the distress their mind was still in, the elf standing to their full height and towering over the human. They weren't trying to be imposing and frightening for once, but it just sort of looked that way anyway.
Kanna halts as Lhyrin calls after her, and dabs the tear from her made-up cheek before turning to look at them again. When they straighten up, it gives them an air of authority that compels her to answer. The illusion of authority directly correlates with being imposing and frightening. “My name is Kanna… I’m just a guest of the Queen.” When her cornflowers eyes catch their stormy ones again, the visage of a bloodied figure reaching out to Kanna as she falls under a turbulent sea crosses her mind again. “Are you Vakmatharas…?” She whispers the question more to herself than to the elf as the naga guards approach to assess the situation. “Ma’am, Queen Reginae will be expecting you back soon.” One of the men advises, regarding both her and Lhyrin with a dismissive look of something below their rank. It is clear the guards are not very enthused to have an outsider as their charge for this outing, but Kanna either does not notice or pretends not to as she regards them with a saccharine smile that conveys an unspoken request. The other guard elbows the taller one and motions to the largest of the hanging lanterns that seems to serve as some sort of time-keeper. “Fine, but make it quick.” He says, the pair moving away from Kanna and Lhyrin and down the beach with elven cigarettes drawn.
For a moment, the underground, underwater cavern that made up Alithrya was gone. There were no guards. There was nothing but Lhyrin and Kanna, the two within a dense forest, the stars shining overhead. ‘Are you Vakmatharas?’ It was as if Lhyrin was reliving that first dream all over again, Kanna’s whispered words like an all too familiar melody. “Only if you are the moon goddess herself,” they said softly, somewhat dazed. They blinked and it was all gone, Alithrya returned, the guards going off for their smoke break, though Lhyrin’s eyesight was somewhat blurry. The emotional exhaustion was catching up with the Maharan fledgling quickly and the lack of knowledge of their current physical and mental situation only sent them into a panic. “You’re… real?” They felt strangely numb again, like a nerve that had been pinched, with waves of pain every once in a while to signify that not all was well. “How can you… be real?” Well, surely, if Brennia was real, then so too could Kanna. And yet, they were still doubtful.
When Lhyrin speaks of the moon goddess, Kanna’s body grows cold in a strange way. It is not unpleasant, rather, it is the cold of shock caused by the icy wings of frost butterflies fluttering against her insides as though they were trying to get to the lanterns around them. “You’re real…?” She echoes the shock of her dream sibling, tilting her head to one side. “I can’t… remember your name…” Kanna admits, her eyes averting to look out at the sea. This person was real and standing in front of her. They had comforted each other and drowned in the sea of their crimes, and Kanna could not remember Lhyrin’s name. She feels like a horrible friend. Then she feels horror. If those fragments were the dreams she could remember, what had she done in the fragments she couldn’t remember? What of the dreams she has had with other faces both familiar and unfamiliar? “We met in our dreams…” The reality of the situation was now dawning on her, and she grips at the delicate material of her dress to keep from falling into the deceptive waters. “Let ah… I think… we should get away from the waters before we fall in…” She offers something that has to do with nothing as a weak distraction, gently touching Lhyrin’s cold elbow to pull them further inland. “What else do you remember…?”
Lhyrin was reeling, doing their best not to vomit up all the blood and various people meats they had before they took the trip down into the depths to look for that avian. Bits and pieces of the dream flashed again, their much younger, smaller self trying to claw their way out of the closet that their father always shoved them into when they were “bad”. They had a name? They’d always struggled to remember their own name growing up, as their father was never one to use it, and forced everyone else to do the same, a technique to unpersonify the elf, to make sure they knew they were nothing. Their mother often defied their father however, when she would release Lhyrin from that closet or anywhere else their father sought to torture them and leave them. She never said it -to- Lhyrin, of course, but they would hear it whispered in the darkness as she opened the door. They struggled to remember now as the dreams and past memories returned to Lhyrin, bringing tears to their eyes. Kanna would draw them away from the waves that sought to swallow Lhyrin whole in their wretched state and they would fall to their knees to keep from falling over entirely. “Lhyrin,” they breathed at least. Remember? What else did they remember? Oh! They pulled the left sleeve of their tunic back, revealing the tattoo Leoxander had done not all that long ago, the silver-bellied snake from their first dream, dotted with stars here and there, its penetrating gaze a ruby red. Not all of it would show, as the snake had coiled up around their bicep and that part still lay beneath their clothing.
Kanna’s gaze goes from the golden sands, to the serpentine wound lanterns, to Lhyrin, to the black still waters, the guards, to Lhyrin again, then to her paling knuckles as they grip the skirt of her dress. “It’s okay…” She tries to reassure, though whether it was to Lhyrin or herself would remain unknown. A small cry of alarm escapes her as the elf falls to their knees, which Reginae’s guards pointedly ignore from their distance away. When the human opens her mouth to ask if they are alright, she hears the name again. “Lhyrin.” She echoes as they reveal the serpentine tattoo on their arm. She lowers herself to her secret sibling’s level and withdraws a small book, no larger than her hand. With shaking fingers, she opens the pages to a spead where she wrote down the snippets of her dream to be used as song lyrics in the future, complete with a drawing of a vaguely pointy-eared person with long black hair and an overly exaggerated arm with a snake coiled around it. Next to it is a short, curly-haired figure with what must be the starry moth over her head. For those who would not know better, it looks closer to an avant-garde rendition of the orcish alphabet all stacked on top of one another. For all her other talents, Kanna is a horrible artist. “I remember you.” Kanna tears up at seeing how overwhelmed Lhyrin is becoming. “Your tattoo is beautiful. Its much better than the one I made.” She gives a soft laugh that betrays how emotional she’s feeling. With a thick gulp that fails to stop the tears streaming down her cheeks, Kanna drops the booklet, reaches out and embraces the Avatar of Vakmatharas in the cold, undead flesh. “I remember you.” She says again, this time barely just above a whisper.
The vampire was barely keeping it together as they showed off that tattoo and the bard complimented it. Dark eyes took in her own drawing, a ‘pfft’ escaping them as they held back the tiny amount of laughter that threatened to overtake them for the moment. She was too cute and her bad drawing made her even more adorable, this new emotion, adoration, swirling now amongst the rest of them that threatened to pour over like a new waterfall. And then she hugged them and her whisper was heard, and the dam just broke, a century or more’s worth of emotion coming flooding through. They shook as they sobbed into her shoulder, their arms just left to hang for now as Kanna held Lhyrin. They could not form words. They could not tell her how they dreamt of her, even without her being a part of it. They could not thank her for remembering them where others did not. They couldn’t tell her of the utter turmoil they’d been going through, thinking about the fact that their moon goddess, their secret sibling was likely not even real, just a figment of their unfair imagination. Eventually, they did hug her back when they reminded themself that she was indeed real, those long gangly arms wrapping about her waist to keep her close. “How will you bear it?” Their words quaked as they passed those pale lips, their monotone voice still dripping with emotion, their Vhysinian lilt clinging on desperately. “How will you bear being with me when no one else can?”
Kanna cannot give any reassurances while Lhyrin sobs, nor any quiet pleas to stop crying, and is far from ever thinking that crying is ill-suited for their age, let alone saying so out loud. Tears fall freely as she wonders what heartache this person has had to bear to be so emotional with found kin. Kanna lets out an involuntary shuddering sob as she realizes this kind of close contact is something that her blood sister would have never allowed. It's in that moment that Kanna realizes how starved for touch and for a love that asks for no favors in return she is, a love like the one she wants to give to the stranger her dreams feel like they have always known, and she cries harder, burying her head in the leathers of Lhyrin's shoulder. When it passes and Lhyrin asks their question, Kanna pulls back, a dazed look on her face from having cried so hard. She has not cried like this since her precious koto was torn apart by her own hands. "I can bear it knowing that I'm not the only monster in this world." She gives a sad smile. "You enjoy what you do, and that's alright with me." With a sweetness that betrays the callousness of her next words, Kanna adds, "After all, some people were just born to be kill by Vakmatharas' children, and the longer they roam, the more people are hurt by it." Including myself, she thinks, but doesn't speak aloud. That was how little Kaaname thought of her, after all. "You're just doing His work."
The elf let out a long, shuddering sigh as they felt their emotions wane finally, a sleeve of their tunic used to wipe away the tears from their pale, gaunt face after they released her from their grasp. As the naga guards were still somewhat distracted, Lhyrin stole a glance at them, silently contemplating on whether or not they should eviscerate them and toss them into the sea for Selene--Lhyrin did not think them worthy enough for Vakmatharas at this point. “Moon goddesses don’t belong underground where they cannot see the very thing that gives them life… What are you doing down here?” They brought both cold hands up to Kanna’s face, wiping her own tears away now, as they awaited an answer. “And have you seen a creature with blackened wings and covered in swirled tattoos? She invaded my dreams and I think she is connected to Vakmatharas and I mean to end her.”
When Lhyrin wipes away their tears, Kanna moves to search the pockets of her dress for a handkerchief. When Lhyrin wipes away Kanna’s tears with their own fingers, however, any answer that she was about to give is cut off with an involuntary hum of confusion and contentment. Their fingers are pleasantly cold against her face flushed from crying, and she finds herself leaning into their hand for a moment. “The Queen believes me to be her possession. I don’t know what gave her that idea, but I can’t seem to convince her otherwise, or have her tell me where she has hidden something important to me.” Kanna straightens up and pulls away from Lhyrin’s hands, looking down at the sand with furrowed brows as she considers their other question. The description sounds familiar, like one of the women who attended the Bard’s Guild meetings and the Cenrili bazaar, but her name escaped Kanna now. Besides, she surely wouldn’t be here of all places. “The only prisoners besides myself that I have met are men, unfortunately, but I do know there are others that she has sent out on a mission. Do you think she’s in this city?” The ominous weight behind the end of their statement was not lost on her, and she adds, “Wouldn’t you want to meet someone else connected to Vakmatharas, though?”
“She… what?” Lhyrin’s emotions were gone, hidden from sight as they nearly always were, and yet, there was a hint or two of malice clinging to their words. A thousand ways to take down the entire region ran through the elf’s mind, yet they did nothing. “I will remain here then… until the time is upon us for me to take you away from here, Kanna.” The human pulled away from them and they took the moment to stand back to their full, imposing height. “I do think so, yes. And… her connection to Vakmatharas is not a good one. There’s something… off about her. Just like you and I, I too had dreams with her. Of the little I can remember, she called herself Vakmatharas’ wife, that treacherous beast. And she had something of his… a jar of some sort. An artefact. She broke it. And she kept begging me for death. Were she truly His wife, she would not need to beg for it. She would take it for herself.” Lhyrin’s disgust towards the woman was obvious. “She is not one of his chosen, and if the dream alludes to things in the waking realm, then she is a blasphemer and a vandal and Vakmatharas must have his justice.”
Kanna’s expression scrunches in confusion. Vakmatharas having a wife? “Doesn’t the Pantheon folklore say Vakmatharas never wanted companionship… No, I-I suppose that doesn’t matter.” When the bard turns her head to look back at the guards, Lhyrin mentions the jar. Something clicks. A golden city at sunset. A concerto to draw in a malevolent spirit, a concert hall was swarmed with avians with ill intent, and Kanna’s head cracking into a marble pillar. She absently feels the top of her head, and sure enough, beneath her hair, is a raised scar no bigger than the length of her smallest finger, complete with small divots where stitches used to be held. How she took her things and fled Schezerade afterwards because she could not remember how she had gotten there. Brennia. She had looked her in the eyes so many times since then and had not recognized the woman who gave her shelter for nearly an entire year. The bard looks back at Lhyrin with alarm visible in her expression. “Lhyrin? I think I do know who you speak of.” She hesitates. Brennia had not done her any wrong, though, not that she could remember, at least. One of the two guards extinguishes his cigar, putting it back into a small metal case instead of throwing it into the sand or the sea. Even these brutes had at least one redeeming quality, for which Kanna is silently thankful for. “Though… I do not know if she is here in the city. If I find out otherwise, how can I tell you? Our dreams shouldn’t be relied upon for communication.”
“Vakmatharas and Delisha created the Blood Moon, little goddess, so he had to have some sort of companionship. Just as Selene and Zaytor made the verdant one. But it is still a fact regardless that this creature is a liar and blasphemer. We would know of the Death God’s wife, if he had one. She would be revered and her dark heart would beckon to millions, just as his does.” The forsaken elf’s attention shifted towards the guards as they heard the metal case shut and the cigar smoke died away. “Our time is running out for now, little one. If she is here, keep it to yourself until you see me again. I have had hunts take far longer than this one. I will linger here for several more days to keep an eye on you, and then I must return to the surface. I won’t be gone long, but I must check in with things at my vampire house and in Vhys from time to time, to keep from being suspicious. It is how I’ve done things for so long.” They placed a long, gaunt hand on top of her head, giving their newfound sibling a bit of a headpat. “Do not do anything untoward to bring attention to yourself. Vakmatharas will keep you in his grasp for me; I have prayed and sacrificed to him for it.”
A sad smile crosses the human woman’s face as Lhyrin’s cold hand soothes her head, which has started to hurt since she began crying earlier. A second metal casing snaps shut some distance away behind her, and Kanna knows without looking that their time is up. “Then… I will pray that those that I have sent Him in the past will be accepted to protect you as well.” Kanna turns her head back when the slithering of the guards grows close. “Miss Human. Queen Reginae will be sending others soon if you do not return now.” Looking at Lhyrin again, the mask of the actress has replaced her features. “Then, I do hope that I can see the twin moons with you soon. Once you have completed your greatest hunt yet.” The bardess stands and brushes the sands from her golden dress, then extends a hand to Lhryin to help them to their feet. A cold hand grasps her shoulder to lead her away and back towards the walkways that lead back to the castle, though, and as Kanna is separated from her newfound kin, she can’t help but think that the cold touch of a naga hand is not comforting in the slightest.