When next I awoke I judged I'd been asleep for about 3 hours, and still felt like shit. Mandor was still out, sleeping the sleep of the exhausted. How I'd managed to keep going as long a I had I still couldn't fathom, but I was paying for it now.
Not only was I exceedingly sore but I was covered in cuts, scratches, and bruises. I considered returning to sleep, but a voice said if I did that I'd never get out of here. Cautiously I slid off the bed. My boots, skirt, jacket, and the rest of my clothes were on a trunk at the bottom of the bed. I stuffed my feet into my boots, pulled on my jacket, picked up the skirt and t-shirt and snuck out into the corridor. The fact that I was now mobile was more important than what I was wearing. I moved down the corridor until I reached a staircase. I really need to know where I was going. I concentrated for a moment focussing on my sword. It was down and back the way I'd come. I pulled my skirt on and made my way down 4 flights of stairs before emerging onto the ground floor. I turned left and moved along the corridor. How had Palrity known which statue was the one she wanted. I concentrated on the sword again, moving slowly along the corridor, until I reached a point where the sensation was mostly down. Palrity had opened the entrance with some sort of command word, but I didn't have her abilities. I reached out to feel around the statue to see if there was a release mechanism. As my right hand touched the stone, I felt a brief surge of power and the statue started to move. I jumped back, then slipped past the statue, and descended the stairs as soon as there was enough room.
The room was pretty much unchanged from the first time I'd entered it, except that the braziers around the pentagrams weren't lit and the low level of illumination was provided by 4 oil lamps.
Heather, Faith, Palrity, and Sulin were all lying, naked, in the pentagrams where I'd last seen them, although Heather and Faith were now in human form. As I crossed the floor towards the alcove where Mandor's trunk resided Sulin stirred and tried to sit up but was still too groggy to do so. Her efforts roused Paltiry who sat up. I moved across to check on Sulin and helped her to sit. Her eyes were unfocussed and she was struggling to work out where she was, what had, and what was happening. Palrity staggered across to join us, "What's happening I feel like I've just woken from some dream."
"No time to explain. Get Sulin on her feet then get ready to move. You'll need to stay close to me, Mandor's not going to be happy with what I'm about to do. Sulin you need to get up. Stay with Palrity."
She swayed as I let go and I moved into the alcove. It opened out into a corridor that lead into another area, which appeared to be a holding area of some sort. Hope was restrained within a cell. There were no obvious keys, so I asumed that Mandor manipulated them by magic as he did everything else.
I moved back to the main room. Sulin was now upright, although Palrity appeared to be doing most of the work. "Go down there", I pointed behind me, "and wait by the cell which holds Hope. I will join you very shortly"
As I moved across to the trunk they started to move slowly in the direction I'd indicated. As I neared the trunk, I could feel the presence of power, the same sort of power that I'd fought earlier. In response the ring on my hand began to pulse gently. Nervously I touched the lid. There was a surge from the ring and the lid slowly opened. The inside appeared to be a mass of writhing purple tentacles. Slowly three objects rose to the surface, my sword, my trump deck, and a trump that appeared to be of my condo. Cautiously I picked them up, tying my sword into it's customary position, placing the trump deck into the inside pocket of my jacket, and the condo trump into my left hand. I drew my sword with my right, and prepared myself to blink across the room, as I made my way to where Heather was lying.
Even now, as I write this I can feel the repulsion I felt then over striking with the intent to kill a defenceless and unconscious opponent. I stood for several seconds not wanting to proceed, then something snapped and I struck down with all my strength. The sword bit deep, but didn't cleave the head from the neck. Ichor sprayed into the air and I blinked to avoid being showered by it. As I appeared next to Faith she screamed, a scream that was echoed from within the alcove. I struck again, the sword biting deep into Faith's shoulder as she moved to avoid the blow. She tried to claw me with her other arm, but she wasn't in a good position and I chopped down severing her arm mid-way between the elbow and hand. As she realed from the blow I struck again striking clean into the top of her head. I didn't wait to determine if the blow had been a killing one but ran for the alcove.
I must have looked a terifying sight as I charged into the alcove, covered in ichor spray with ichor dripping off the sword blade. Palrity looked stunned, unable to mouth the "What have you done?" that was etched so plainly on her face. Even Sulin, who still didn't appear to comprehend the majority of what was happening looked at me with a mixture of revulsion, awe, and incredulity. Hope on the other hand, was screaming and shrieking, her eyes blazing with fury, and ichor beginning to flow from self inflicted wounds as she attempted to break free of the restraints which held her.
I thrust the condo trump at Palrity. "Take this - if anything happens just concentrate on the card and it'll transport you to my home."
She didn't move. I moved to slap her but another hand grabbed my own, "Why?"
"I don't know; no choice; your live's or their's."
She gripped harder as I tried to pull away; "Not good enough, tell me why!"
"No time. Mandor's coming"
"Right now I don't care. They've done nothing to you. So you explain or we all die."
"I can't. All I know is that Mandor is coming and when he gets here you'll die, and we can't leave until those 3 are dead."
"You don't know that!"
I looked her square in the eyes. "I do. Don't ask how I know but I do. Now let me go. Mandor is almost at the bottom of the stairs."
Suddenly my hand was free. I dropped the trump, spun, and brushed the ring against the door, which sprung open in response. Somewhere behind us there was a roar and somebody very angry bellowed my name. Somehow that bellow conveyed the full menace of being ripped limb from limb as slowly as possible whilst being kept alive as long as possible so I could experience every excruciating moment.
Suddenly Hope was free and I was rolling to dodge a maniacle flailing demon hell bent on my demise. I was only partially successful and my side exploded as her claws bit home. I thrust with the sword catching her in the leg. This force her to back off a little. As she circled I heard a voice say something and my right hand side went completely numb. Seizing her chance she slashed again, raking me down my right arm, as I fell to the floor on my left side. As I fell I caught a glimpse of a demonic figure in the corridor. My brain told me this must be Mandor..
Hope lept on me pinning me to the floor.With great glee she started poking her forefinger through my body. I needed to break the paralysis. Somewhere a voice reminiscent of Fiona, said "and the pattern has other uses such as defending against magic, or breaking spells or wards, although it does depend upon the relative power of the caster and the pattern". I started mentally walking the pattern forming it into the tool I needed and pushing it down through my body. As I did so the pain from each of the wounds Hope had been inflicting lanced through my concentration.
Mandor must have realised what I'd been doing, as Hope suddenly lept aside. I rolled grabbed the sword from where it had fallen and slashed, catching her clean across what in the human body would be the achilles tendon. Her leg buckled and she stumbled forward, her torso exploding as she shield me from the lightening surge unleashed by Mandor.
I needed to get out of the cell, but didn't have time to rebuild it into a physical defense, anyway he'd have just hit me with another paralysis spell if I did so. Suddenly there was a roaring sound and green gas began to billow from a rent in the ait above me. One small whiff told me it was chlorine.
I'm not sure how what happened next occurred but I suddenly found my self in the corridor. As I recovered I could make out Palrity and Sulin. Both appeared to be held by thick purple tentacles. I didn't hesitate, but lept, intent on landing atop them both. I can vaguely remember a blue flash and searing pain as my brain exploded.
When I came to it was morning,. I was naked, in bed in a room that resembled my own in my condo, and Sulin was lying next to me. I felt like I'd be mown down by an 80 ton truck traveling at twice the speed limit. I was covered in yellow and purple bruises, circular red pok marks, and a number of deep red parallel gashes. My original journal entry speculates that I must have been in one hell of a fight The problem is that it also speculates at length for the reason why I couldn't remember why Most of the speculation revolves around something having happened either during or after the ceremony Mandor had been conducting to give Sulin back control. Given I now know what happened I've removed that speculation, however I've left most of what follows as is, even though some of it no longer makes sense.
I gently shook Sulin causing her to stir. "Sulin?"
"ergh? Go back to sleep. It's to early to get up."
"I looked at the clock. "It's not early, it's nearly 11 o'clock. But that's not the point, how did we get here, assuming I'm where we think I am. God my head hurts."
"How did we get where? We've not been anywhere."
"So you don't remember going to the Courts, or Mandor, or anything else?"
"I've never been to the Courts. Remember you ...." She'd rolled over and opened her eyes, taking in both my nakedness and the rest of her surroundings. "Um, where exactly are we? This isn't your room in the Rest."
"What's the last thing you can remember?"
""Well... I had this client, and I was giving him a good time, then well I think I remember feeling you were in grave danger. I think I knocked him out, found somewhere quiet to leave my body then gated myself to where you were. I think there was another of my kind on the point of going rogue involved."
"You don't remember anything after that, fighting and defeating her, the sex games, you nearly turning rogue yourself, the trip to the Courts, the ceremony with Mandor."
"What? I? How? How did you stop... how come I?"
"I don't know. I can't remember anything after entering the pentagram. I think I need to find the answeres to a few questions.""
I struggled to get out of bed. Every muscle, joint, and bone ached and screamed in protest at every movement. I nearly collapsed twice but managed to struggle on. Sulin realizing exactly how much I was struggling rolled over and placed her arms about my waist. I didn't notice at the time where she'd place the fingers of her left hand. Several seconds went by then she let go, tears starting to roll down her face. "I'm sorry, I can't help, I've nothing left."
I struggled to move my protesting hand to wipe the tears from her face."Sorry I don't understand, what were you trying to do?"
"Trying to heal some of your injuries, but I can't I've nothing left. It's as if I've used all my reserves up already. I even tried stimulating you but couldn't even manage to do that."
"Oh.." At that point I heard footsteps on the stairs and a voice I recognized as Palrity's "Stay where you are I'm coming" There was an unmistakable timber to her voice that said she was either crying or trying very hard not to do so. She ran into the room, nearly knocking me backwards and hugged me. She lept backwards and let go as I stiffled a scream, uttering a stream of "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" as she did so.
"It's alright, it's just that I'm very fragile at the moment. Can you give me a hand up, I need to get to the bathroom before I piss all over the bed, and then you can tell me what happened."
"I don't know I found Sulin and you, lying on the floor. She didn't have any clothes on and your's were pretty shredded. You were bleeding heavily. You had that sword of yours in your right hand and a card, a trump, in your left. When I touched it, we appeared back here, well downstairs at least. Marcie and I carried you up here, then I sort of fell asleep on the sofa."
There were more sounds on the stairs, slightly more pronounced this time, as if somebody were moving slower because they were carrying something. "I've got orange juice, coffee, and those French pastry things you like"
I tried to get out of bed again, failed, and collapsed in a heap on the floor jaring my wrist as I landed. The shockwave of pain had an unwelcome side effect and I momentarily let go of my bladder. As I struggled back onto my knees I heard Sulin say "Don't just stand there girl, go get her a towel or something, and you stay put until she gets back."
All I can remember thinking is I so desperately needed to pee. As she re-appeared towel in hand I felt the tingling sensation that indicated an incoming trump call. Where were my trumps? "Where are my trumps?"
"Downstairs, I'll get them"
"Don't bother." I answered the call. It was Random. "Good you're awake. Now before you go off on one. A short time ago I had a visit from the Ambassador from the Courts. He came with tales of what they called a rogue Amberite, causing mayhem in the Courts using Pattern willy nilly. More to the point he specifically mentioned the Swaywill Ways. Unfortunately my first reaction was to think of you my dear, now does the name Prince Mandor mean anything to you?"
I burst out laughing, which had a somewhat undesirable side effect and my laughter slowly turned to tears.
"Cordelia, what in the name of the Unicorn is going on, you're broadcasting all over the place. Oh shit. Cordelia open the connection I'm coming through."
I managed to comply, causing Palrity to jump back in surprise from where she was valiantly trying to mop up the pool of expanding urine as Random stepped into the room. "Bye the Unicorn Cordelia what the hell have you been doing? How did you get in that state? No don't answer that. You're going in the shower, then I'm going to call Fiona. You what's your name?"
"Palrity... Palrity Delaman"
"Delaman... Delaman.. that's a Chaosite family name is it not?"
"Yes"
"Well Miss Delaman, Why don't you and Marcie, and who ever you are all go down stairs. I'll be down shortly and I want some answers."
He knelt down and picked me up. "Are you lot still here. Now git before I change my mind and get pissed.".
He carried me into the bathroom and put me down in the shower. "Just stay down there" He turned the shower on , but it was far too hot and I screamed. He lent in getting soaked in the process, adjusted the head and turned the temperature right down. "better?" I nodded. " I'll be right back I'm just going to find something less wet."
I didn't actually care at that point. The water was warm and relaxing. He returned a few minutes later in one of my spare robes carrying the tray Marcie had left. He looked rather fetching. "No laughing, it's all I could find. Now drink this." He handed me one of the glasses of orange juice. He poured himself a coffee then pulled his trump deck from the pocket of the robe. He noted I was glaring at him.
"Glare all you like but you're in no position to argue. I'm calling her or would you rather I called Benedict?"
I stuck my tounge out.. He shuffled through the deck and pulled out Fiona's card. I watched as his eyes became slightly glazed, then as the arch formed, and as Fiona stepped though. She looked rather pissed off, until she saw me when a feint ripple of amusement crossed her face. "You can go. It'll take me half an hour or so to put the spell together."
"Alright, but you're only to heal her. No interrogation, no intimidation, and none of your tricks, understand me"
They glared at each other for several seconds, before he turned and left. "No fucking tricks you hear."
Fiona turned back to me, "So which Logrus Master did you piss off then?"
I looked at her. "You don't fool me Cordelia. Those wounds albeit partially healed were done by a shape shifter. You also reek of Logrus residue. Putting that together with your recent behaviour, the fact that there is a Chasoite downstairs,along with 2 Illiarri, and yes I know about them, and of course the fact that young Random had an interesting visit from the Court's Ambassador this morning, means that you were in the Courts, and that you had a run in with a Logrus Master. None of that matters however, what I would like to know however is how you survived, and who altered your aura, and I'm not talking about the Tyr N'Gth pattern imprint you've acquired."
"I haven't a clue what you're on about. Yes I went to the Courts. Palrity took me to see Mandor. After that I don't remember anything, and right now I don't give a stuff."
She looked down at me, and I looked right back, daring her to do what I knew she wanted to do. "You're so like your father, but I'm not going to bite. You can have this round, now I need to concentrate. We'll continue this little conversation at a later date."
I was about to retort when the image of Benedict appeared rolling up his sleeves, my bare arse hanging out in the breeze. I thought better of it. Whether it was the water or the orange juice but after several minutes I started to feel better, and crawled across to where Random had left the tray. I poured myself a coffee, took a large mouthful of croisant, then returned to my former position turning the water temperature up as I did so. Minutes ticked by. As each came and went I began to slowly feel better, I even managed to pull myself into a kneeling position, although I did resist the temptation to try and stand again.
Left with only the sound of running water to contemplate I now noticed three things, firstly that the ring that had been on my right hand was gone, second a thin trickle of power, and lastly a feint pulsing sensation within my vagina. Ignoring the latter I concentrated on the power trickle and was surprised to feel Sulin. She was on her back on the kitchen table, Random embedded deep within her. She smiled.
"I'd prefer it if you didn't watch"
"Sorry I ddin't mean to. Is this always going to happen?"
"I don't know. We appear to be connected somehow."
"Oh. Right but do me a favour, let him come, I think he's had enough of you."
I forced my attention back to the shower, and Fiona's spell preporations. She appeared not to have noticed my few seconds of distraction. She also didn't notice when I came a couple of minutes later.
By the time she'd finished her spell preparations I was just about able to stand, although only by hanging onto the hand rails for support. "This would probably go better if you were lying down." She looked about as I turned the water off. "My robe's in my bedroom. Random carried me in here naked, which is why he's in a robe. He got rather wet sorting the shower out."
She looked at me. "Give me your arm before you fall down and break something, otherwise this is going to take all day, and I've got better things to be doing than nurse maiding you."
It took several minutes for me to walk the few feet back to my bed, each step being an exercise in will power and pain control. When I reached the bed I took the easy option and collapsed onto it. I don't actually remember her triggering the spell.
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| Supporting Cast - Cordelia | The Keep of the Thirteenth Hour |