Konrad Vrdoljiak

Nadja

Fri 03:15AM EST
Fury. Thats been the best one word description for her. From the moment she woke up in that car till the present. Bujoed by gaje. . could she live down that shame? Stalwartly refusing to cooperate whatsoever. If she could not escape and salvage her romani honor, or kill him, she could at least make sure it was not an easy captive to keep. And do not doubt she would try to kill him at fist chance now. . . use her? Not something she would deal with lightly. Wondering if her kumpaniya had abandoned her as wholly mahrime. That last sight of her could not have been taken well. . .


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 03:21AM EST
Oh yes, their last sight of Nadja the temptress. Nadja the forbidden fruit. Nadja, the ripe flower in the desert east of eden.

Draped. All. Over. A. Gaje.

The indignation.
The shame.

It can't possibly help that her first clear sight of anything for days and days - how many? it could have been weeks...months - is the blurring, slowly focusing image of the hulking Ahroun in full Crinos. It's the eyes that come into focus first: blazing yellow, like twin suns in the jet face. Distance is the next detail to come to her. He's crouched on one knee, quiescent, one handpaw relaxed against the ground, the other draped across thickly furred, updrawn knee. He can't be more than a few inches from her, maybe a foot. If she tries to lunge, though, she'll find herself securely bound to a chair.

She's sitting on a chair. He's crouched on the floor.

They're eye to eye.

Seeing her regain consciousness, the edges of his mouth curve slowly up. Words rumble out, barely intelligible. "Good morning. Nadja. Sleep well?"


Nadja

Fri 03:29AM EST
He speaks, and she shakes the blurriness from her vision once more. Finding and meeting his burning eyes, with green flecked brown that are furious. Then a sniff and she turns her head, refusing to answer. One could imagine life in her kumpaniya would be hell when she was irtae. . . intead looking elsewhere then him, absently testing the bonds holding her to the chair. . would kill him. . she would.


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 03:36AM EST
More details now, seeping into her consciousness, bleeding in around the edges of his gleaming yellow eyes. They're in a room. Small. 8'x10' maybe. Pristine white. Very clean. No windows. No furnishings, except for the chair she's bound to. Not uncomfortably, mind you - her bindings are secure, unshakable, but the materials are soft enough as far as ropes go, and do not dig into her flesh.

She's too pretty for that.

Where is she, then? Underground? Or just deep inside a complex somewhere? Hard to tell. He is wealthy. His family is old and powerful. He has his means and his methods, and he has his cruelties.

She glares at him. He drinks it in, pupils of bottomless black dilating in the midst of brilliant eyes. She looks away and she hears him laughing. His weight shifts; for a moment he is closer, and she might expect to be touched, ravished, hurt,

but no. He is only getting to his feet. The ceiling in the room is high, but he still has to stoop slightly to avoid bumping his head. The door is directly behind him, which she can see now around the furred outlines of his body.

"You should not be so angry." It is hard to speak more than a few words at once, but listening to him, you would not think so. He covers it easily; in the pauses he takes, he moves around her, claws ticking on the floor, tail sweeping tile. "Do you really think. Your sister and brother. Will come for you?"

He curves a huge handpaw into the back of her chair. The motion is delicate, but his strength is apparent; he moves a finger and the entire chair shifts. Soundlessly, the Ahroun crouches, behind her now, speaking into her ear, his breath hot and moist. "We could be together. For a very long time. You, me. And Simon, Nadja."


Nadja

Fri 03:43AM EST
Daenna , where was she? Eyes widen a bit as she looks around. Walls, perfect, white. . .close. They say to cage a gypsy is to kill them. . . looking at her you may just think truth to that rumor. Unconsciousness saved her that fear, but waking into a small enclosed space so blank? Terifying. . . struggling for some anger to meet his words, and just falls silent. They would. Rom never let an insult go unanswered. If not for her, then for Harlequin. But how long has it been> She doesn't even know.

He whispers, and she shivers. . . they would keep her alive, like toture. . she knew it. . did not doubt it. . .


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 03:50AM EST
Nothing. Silence.

A moment passes, and then the Crinos sighs (whuffs). Out of the right of her field of vision she sees his arm extending - as long as a human leg, longer. Four feet. Five. The proportions of the Crinos body is not the same as those of a human. When he reaches out like that, his claws graze the wall across from her.

"Look at that." Scriiiitch. White paint flakes away; beneath, more white. Flawless. "So blank. Nothingness. Nothing but white. I would go. Mad, Nadja. If you caged me in this. Place."

He's warmer than she is, warmer than any human. This close, waves of heat rise from the black beast. Bete noire. His hand falls from the wall to rest on the shining white floor.

"But if you do not speak. I might think. You like this place."

A beat passes.

"I might think. You would be happier. If I left you here. Undrugged." Left handpaw then: one claw piercing the veil of her hair, tracing gently the line of her neck, the line of her cervical spine. "Awake to enjoy. Yes?"


Nadja

Fri 03:56AM EST
He is warm, but she shivers still. Could he do it? Leave her here? Spanish rose left to wilt in this empty place. No sunlight, no fresh air. . . hell. He touches her and she flinches. He demands words. . . and she can find some anger in her, there is backbone there. . just fear too, too much phobia for this place.

"You know very well I do not like this place. You are not stupid Konrad, much as I might wish you were."

Cool. To accompany her shivers. Cold anger tinged in anxiety (would.he?) and leveled in that accented english.


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 04:01AM EST
Laughter: soft.

"I am not stupid," he agrees. "And now I see. Neither are you."

The handpaw on the back of her neck opens. He could grasp her neck in one hand the way a man might grasp a swan's, but the taloned fingers do not close. Instead his palm rests on her upper back, the clawed thumb stroking the curve of shoulder.

"Lovely Nadja. And so hateful." He shifts again behind her, finding a more comfortable position, kneeling so his wolven maw was level to her ear. Flat tongue and sharp teeth strain to push out human words, "If your sister and brother came. What would you want them to do? How would you want them to." Insidious, "Kill me, Nadja?"


Simon Kovach

Fri 04:05AM EST
The door behind hopens on well oiled henges. This room wasn't the one with the scary creeeeeky hinges. That's down the hall to the left. He slips in. Behind them though there isn't much room with Konrad being all dramatic. He closes the door and stands with his back to it.


Nadja

Fri 04:09AM EST
Many things she is, stupid not one of them. Problem is stubborn comes on that list too. Stubborn and willful. . prideful. . . it makes her bold. It gives her courgae. . makes her vengeful. Some sound but for all she knew it could be Konrad. More of his torment. She almost preferred being drugged. Suppressing the urge to squirm away from that claw on her shoulder. . .

"As painfully as possibly, and slow. . . "


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 04:10AM EST
A single word, rumbled low, "...and?"


Simon Kovach

Fri 04:11AM EST
He smiles a bit and hishand comes forward. Just the mearest of touches on the tips of conrads fur. Then pulling away. When he turns Simon holds up two fingers. Then makes a motion like a gun. Then draws a finger across his throat.


Nadja

Fri 04:12AM EST
"Use your imagination, Konrad. Its obvious you have one."

To dream up this, Sick twsited imagination. . . closing her eyes to the white room. At least there she couldn't see walls. . only feel them


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 04:17AM EST
Another chuckle. He swings his head about to watch Simon. The only acknowledgment is a flick of a blackfurred ear. Then, in the same low, dulcet (rasping. growling.) tone, he continues, "So stubborn. Very well. Let me be. Frank, Nadja."

There's a pause, as though he had sensed she had closed her eyes.

"Open your eyes, Nadja," oh so softly. "Look upon your. Lovely. White. Room. Tell me of your sister. And your brother. Their abilities. What they might do. How they might strike. Surely you know."


Nadja

Fri 04:20AM EST
A shiver whe he talks about the room, mentions it but she refuses to open her eyes She couldn't wouldn't tell. . which meant he would liekly leave her here. Preferred defiance to other things. . . because her family would kill her if she spoke. She'd broken the Romania law once, unerringly. . .to do it knowingly? They did not care if it was under torment. . . that made you weak. Weak rom were culled. . .

"Why are you doing this?"


Simon Kovach

Fri 04:21AM EST
A soft breathy chuckel imminates from behind her.


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 04:24AM EST
There's a longer pause. In the small white room, white walls white floor white fluorescent light, there is only the sound of breathing.

There might even be a note of regret there. "Survival, Nadja. We do what we must to survive. You should learn. Do the same.

"Tell us, Nadja. And you will go home. And no one will ever know. Or if you cannot recall..." the heavy handpaw on her back taps fingertips against her skin, as though in thought, "...then perhaps some time spent alone. Will help you remember."


Nadja

Fri 04:29AM EST
Why only Gemile and Ra'gon? Did thye not know about the Del? His addition to the pack had been fairly recent before all this started. And certainly others. . . Harlequin had not been without his allies. The rom as a whole should be outraged. Looking at the all concealing darkness behind her eyelids rather then that room. . . because she was afraid she was going to see much more of it soon.

"I can't, dear god, but I can't. . ."


Simon Kovach

Fri 04:30AM EST
Softly in a voice just above a whisper "We could clue her eyes open...."


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 04:35AM EST
The silences from the Ahroun grow ever longer. The Ragabash speaks to fill those gaps, but his voice, in this situation, is not something anyone would wish to hear.

Two words, thoughtful. "We could."

"But I would rather not. Yet." Addressing Nadja, then, "Of course you can. A few words and you will sleep. You will sleep and when you wake. You will be home." Whispered, "Free.

"Or you could stay here. Eyes open or shut, still here. You are not stupid enough. To believe that the room disappears. When you close your eyes. And I believe, Nadja. That you are not so different from me. You will go mad if I left you here. A day. A week. A month? Maybe longer. You will go mad. You will die.

"Survival, Nadja. That's all it is."


Nadja

Fri 04:40AM EST
They told stories of Rom who had been locked away. They told them like warnings or dirges. . because they eventually were released but something had died inside them away form the earth of Daenna. . . she was going to die. He was right. She would go mad. . because she could not tell. Better here and still have her pride, her Blood. They would not declare her spirit mahrime too if she did not tell. . .

"You're wrong. I can't survive this. . . home or here."


Simon Kovach

Fri 04:43AM EST
"Oh you could. They love you so much. Why. The first wave they sent to secure your freedom broke upon our blades like water. No doupt the heavy hitters will come next. Then we'll add to the 3 skulls aready outside.
Answer his questions and let us.... let you... go."


Nadja

Fri 04:50AM EST
"No."

Simple. She'd already said this. . but apparently this would linger on, be more painful. God, why her? She should have just accepted the offer from Draba Tulo now. . would be safely in another kumpanyia, rather then in this tiny, white room with them. . . and now no Rom would have her. Mahrime. . but if she lived, it would end eventually. . if she talked and lived, it would never die. Her soul would be cursed to the afterlife.


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 04:51AM EST
A shift in his positioning: unspoken message to Simon. Keep your peace, now.

Silence. Endless. Complete. White.
"No?"

It's his other handpaw that taps now, claws tick-tick-ticking against the floor. Then all at once he moves, the talons on her back sliding down to pick and tear at a few strategic knots. Suddenly ropes fall from her in loops and whorls; though her hands remain bound, she is free to stand. She is free to turn to face him as he too rises to his digitigrade stance, ears brushing the ceiling.

"Then. Why not die now? Honorably." Yellow eyes flicker to the Ragabash. "Simon. Show Nadja to the well."


Simon Kovach

Fri 04:52AM EST
He moves fluidly twords her. He's dressed in his black uniform and never before now had it looked more sinister.


Nadja

Fri 04:56AM EST
Releasd from the chair, she did stand, to face him, legs stiff, sore, arms moreso and still bound. Movement better then sitting though, until he speaks. . . paling, but silent. Would Prala's spirits be able t tell him she had not broken with the people in the end, faced with this? And Simon. . . she had liked him somewhat, even if he had only been another bujo given her by Gemile. Not cringing though, just pale, and wide eyed. . .


Simon Kovach

Fri 04:59AM EST
He smiles and gently takes her by she shoulders from behind. Walking her softly though the door and down the hall. His look almost apoljetic. A resigned duty perhaps. He leads her into a room. Seemingly carved from the very rock of the earth. In the middle set apart by a simple one step lip there was a hole 8 feet across. WIth a winch rigging above it. He takes the clasp and off comes the bucket. It's afixed to her wrists as they are bound together. He looks down the hole and then to her.


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 05:02AM EST
As the lithe Shadow Lord moves toward her, the hulking one takes a backseat to the action. He trails the pair from several paces behind, out the door, down the hall, following.

"Poor brave Nadja," murmured as he stops a good fifteen, twenty feet away, powerful arms crossing over ridged chest. "You will come back to haunt me, won't you?"

Unflinching yellow eyes. Gentle, merciless curve of mouth, visible even in this form, and never before so far from a human smile as this.


Nadja

Fri 05:09AM EST
"One can hope."

Resigned. It was them of her people, and this way she did not betray her people. They should have learned with Harlequin. . would have another lesson with her. Rom were not cowards. They became effective artyrs instead. She would die. Anger would burn hotter, and more would come after these two. At least she protected Ra'gona dn Gemile. Staring Konrad down. What did she have to lose?

"I curse you Konrad of Thunder's Children, to the last of your line. You will never know peace from my vengeance."

What was it they said about Rom? Their curses were true things and lived on for eons. . .


Simon Kovach

Fri 05:10AM EST
He gently walks her to the lip and tightens the whench till she's teetering on the edge. His eyes look to hers and seem to beg her. His whisper only for her ears "Please.. just tell him.. Don't do this."


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 05:12AM EST
There's nothing but darkness in the well - darkness, and the glimmer of water far, far below.

Beloved Nadja of the Water.
It would be a fitting final resting place.

"Lovely Nadja," and he faces her stare full-on, unflinchingly, and speaks the full, unerring, fearless, painful truth: "I am the last of my line.

"Now, jump."


Nadja
Fri 05:16AM EST
From water she was born and to water she will return. Ever fixed and ever fluid. Grace and trickery in one package. She was the epitome of her element, her blood purer then most, and she was to the end Roma. Simon's words? On deaf ears. She cannot.

"Would you, if you were me? Then you would be too weak."

And her bright hazel eyes on Konrad.

"Fine, Then you will know it. . ."

And she jumps. . .


Simon Kovach

Fri 05:18AM EST
He chuckels a bit as she jumps. The whench playing out as she plummets with a high pitched whine. He looks over to Konrad a moment and then back to the hole

"That was jus' mean...."

A bit of humor in his voice as she travels down down down. the darkness making the fall seem evem longer and she hits the water.


Konrad Vrdoljiak

Fri 05:31AM EST
And the darkness rushes up to swallow her.
And the water rushes up to take her home.
And--

the winch snaps to a standstill.

--fifteen feet covered in one liquid motion, faster than the human eye can see, nor the human mind comprehend. He plunges his arm after her. Pain explodes in her lower back: claws ripping into her flesh. Her downward motion has stopped. She dangles in midair, speared the end of the Ahroun's deadly claws, and his panting breath echoes down the wellshaft as her blood trickles out from the wound and splashes into water.

That was a test of her strength, replies the Ahroun in growls and snarls, before one (ripping) long steady pull of his arm hoists the girl out, lifts her to face him eye to eye by his claws dug into her back. Her blood drips to stain his black fur, to patter down at his feet.

"Well, Nadja," softly, with just a hint of a catch to his breath now, testament to the sudden motion, and perhaps even to his surprise, "you are stronger than I had thought. And I respect your courage more than you know. Under different circumstances. I could have admired you.

"But our cards are dealt. And we will break you."

At last the killing claws retract from her flesh. He lets her slip from his grasp, and nods to the Ragabash. Take her back to her room. No drugs. Leave her a while with food and water for four days. Nothing else. Perhaps that will loosen her tongue.


Simon Kovach

Fri 05:35AM EST
He nods. Gently kneeling beside her and looking into her eyes a moment. As if measuring her. Before gently lifting her into his arms.


Nadja

Fri 05:42AM EST
And the darknes rushes up to swallow her .
And the water rushes up to take her home.
And -- she screams as his claws rip into her, forward momentum stopped by them. More then just her back where he had grabbed her would hurt from that. Gravity exacts its due after all. Pulled up, she's biting her lips now to keep form making any more sounds. That first (sweet) would not sound again now that she wasn't surprised. She comes about to face him, dangling like a doll on his claws. The eyes? Still held that fire.

Cards are dealt. First hand goes to her. . .

"Did not expect a mere dancer to have spirit? I am more then you will ever know Konrad."

Hissed out between teeth clenched in pain. Yes, more levels to Nadja he had not seen, and what more could she hide? They thought they knew. . . but in her, she cannot hide in in her pain now, is a trickling thing, that with her fury licks along her skin, soothing to her, but other to him. . . something feral in her. . something animal. . . something wolf. Then it is gone when he drops her, contact broken, fury's circuit severed. Simon kneels and she says nothing to him, face fallen into a flat stony (yet.somehow.exotic.maybe.for.that.feral) stance. She doesn't fight him as he icks her up. She's resigned to her fate. . . but her secrets?

They are hers.