Post by Tobias Lysand on Feb 2, 2011 21:58:30 GMT -5
Title: Dark Flower
Rating: PG-13 for violence.
Word Count: 2541
Author's note: You all need to know that the character Tobias Lysand in this story is different than Lysand on the forum. Back in the day I would reuse the same name for different characters. So... Yeah. Enjoy~
---
It was raining.
A breath was taken, then released, gray eyes staring up at the raindrops as they descended from their heavenly heights above.
They were making a mistake.
His head shook slowly as the drops ran down his face. They shouldn't have left their heavenly perch. Why would they do such a foolish, foolish thing? Didn't they know?
The world was rotten.
His eyes turned from the gray skies above, trailing to the side of the path he was traveling on. He watched the flowers swaying as they were pelted with rain drops. It was like they were dancing. His lips parted in a smile as he crouched before them, watching them bob up and down with the drops. Their white and crimson petals swayed, swirled, and dipped with the steady rhythm of the rain. Hearing a sound, he tipped his head to the side, taking notice of someone up ahead, staring at his very same flowers. His lips stayed parted in the same childish smile, until he watched her movements further. The woman reached down, taking a stem in her fingers before plucking it from the ground.
She killed it.
His footsteps were silent as he approached. He spoke in a tone that was so very distant, his gaze staring over her head. “You killed it.” She turned slowly, blinking her wide blue eyes. Her skin was pale, as white as the flower that was in her hands.
“You killed it!” He repeated again, this time voice more shrill. “Murderer!” He let The Power rip out of him with a shrill cry. “Murderer!”
The flowers danced as drops of crimson fell.
The Power receded, and he was left alone. The world was silent, save for the rhythmic pounding of the rain. Reaching down, he picked up the flower from the dead hand before striding away, staring at the plant for a few moments.
Hand closing around the stem, he wept.
--
Another pair of gray eyes stared up at the falling rain that day, their gaze detached and distant. A shaky breath was taken before it was released in a rush. A shiver ran up his spine before he turned to the older man beside him, his tone as distant as his gaze. “We are not alone in this forest.”
“I know, Tobias. I know.” Brown eyes stared out from beneath the white hood he had raised to cover his long silver hair. Rain drops stuck to his beard, and were beginning to soak through his white and gold robes. He took hold of the young man's shoulder, pulling him close. “Stay by me. It is a great darkness.”
“Do you fear it, Endrathil?” Tobias tilted his head up to meet his master's gaze. His face was pale from the chill of the rain hitting it, making his freckles all the more prominent. The rain had matted the man's brown hair to his head- despite his master's wishes, he had not covered it.
Aradath closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Yes,” he admitted. “It is a darkness I have never felt before... Its strength may eclipse even the strength of your aura. We should avoid it and report it to the rest of our order.”
“It senses me.” The younger mage turned his head away, watching the rain pour. “It's drawn to me.” His voice grew even more distant. “We cannot escape.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know. It feels as if it's already crushing me.”
“Stay close. I'll keep you safe.”
“But can you even keep yourself safe?”
Aradath was quiet for a long moment before he finally replied. “I'd keep you safe long before myself.”
Tobias shivered. “I wish you wouldn't say such things, Endrathil.” He took a step forward before pausing. “... It closes in.”
The elder mage took hold of his arm, extending his senses to try to pinpoint it. “We need to move. There's still a chance we can out maneuver it.” He pulled the young man alongside him before the other mage began to move on his own.
“That chance... Is very small.”
“But it's still one we need to take.”
“It scares me when you talk like that.”
“It scares me when I need to.”
---
Points of light... So maddening in the distance... Darkness closes it.
He glided through the darkness, each step taking him closer to the points of light. So bright... Why were they so bright? Didn't they know?
It was annoying.
His hand tightened around the flower stem and his eyes dropped to the petals. They still danced with the rain, but it was a sad dance now- half-hearted in its dipping and swaying. He stared out at the sheets of rain again at a sudden movement; the points of light were moving. It didn't matter though.
He was moving faster.
It didn't take long for him to find them. He stepped in front of them, causing the old one to skid to a halt, pulling the younger behind him. Old One was frozen, breathing heavily as he stared right at him. “You don't have to do this. The light will forgive.”
He stared at Old One before extending his hand forward, showing him the flower.
Old One stared at it, not understanding. “What is your name?”
He stared at the old mage, hand closing around the flower again. “... Darius.”
Old One took a step forward. “Darius... My apprentice and I mean you no harm. Will you let us pass?”
Darius stared at him, tilting his head to the side. He fixed Old One with a distant stare. “Mean me no harm...” He took a step back. “But it hurts! Your existence, it hurts me!”
“Then let us leave. Then we will cause you no more harm. Please... Let us pass.”
Darius stared at him, the his attention turned to Young One, who was shivering. His skin was pale; as pale as the murderer's. He took a step to the side, watching the relief flood Old One's face, but then he spoke, cold voice wiping that relief away. “No.” He closed his eyes, letting The Power rush out of him again.
It was stopped.
Darius opened his eyes, confused. He stared at the darkness tendrils that had extended from him and were stopped by a golden shield of some kind. No one had ever stopped The Power before.
Old One was glowing, his hands raised. It hurt! The light! The bright! Darius closed his eyes against it. “Stop!” he shrieked. “It hurts! It hurts!” He felt the brightness flying towards him, and he drew a breath, turning his back to it. His power shifted, tendrils of darkness cutting through the light beam with ease. “You're going to hurt it!”
“What are we going to hurt?” Young One's voice was soft, and it made Darius turn around again. He extended his hand, showing them the flower again.
Old One extended his own hand, a blade of light shooting forth toward him. His eyes widened and the tendrils reacted, smacking the light blade away. “Murderer!” The tendrils shot forward, shattering the light barrier. They took hold of Old One, wrapping around his neck and tightening. He began to gasp and squirm as he struggled to draw breath.
“No!” Young One clung to the elder mage as he was lifted by the tendrils, his hands glowing as he grasped the tendril around Old One's neck giving it a mighty pull.
It burned! It burned! Darius drew his power back as the light burned him, causing tears to spring to his eyes.
Young One held Old One in his arms, head pressed to his chest as he listened for a heart beat. He must have heard one, for he let out a sigh of relief.
Darius tipped his head, staring at him as he felt a wave through the currents of magic. His breath caught his his throat as a feeling of warmness came over him. What was this strange feeling? Why was it coming from the young one?
“Why?” He tipped his head to the side, watching the young one tend to the elder. “Why does this feeling come off of you?” Dark tendrils swirled before they shot towards the light mage. “Stop it!”
The power was stopped again, a bright white light deflecting it. Slowly, Young One stood and turned toward him. “I will not allow you to hurt my master.”
There was a silence filled only by the sheets of rain. At length, Darius asked, “Who are you?”
“Tobias Lysand. Mage of light.”
“Tobias Lysand. I am... pleased to meet you.” Darius grinned, lips parting in their childish joy. “I am... going to kill you.”
“I know.” Tobias closed his eyes as a white-gold aura surrounded him. “But I'm not going to let you do it without a fight.”
“Then let's play! I haven't had someone to play with in so long...” A dark tendril, as sharp as a blade, threw itself at the light mage who moved to jump out of the way. There was the sound of ripping cloth as his right sleeve was torn free.
“This is no game!” Tobias straightened, beginning to shape his magic. When another darkness tendril exploded toward him, he created one of light. The two hit, beginning to wrestle against each other for dominance.
Frowning, Darius sent another tentacle at the light mage, only to have the same result. “Stop it! That's not fair!” He sent another and another, the dark slamming against the light. They swirled together, ancient enemies entwined in the age old battle. The powers both repelled and attracted each other, they pushed and pulled, pulsated with the ancient feud of the gods powering them. The black and white twisted together; two separate entities somehow becoming one. The two casters were pulled toward each other, having lost control of their feuding magic.
Suddenly, everything stopped.
The raindrops hung in the air, frozen as the dark and light magic pulsated. Time itself seemed to have stopped as the world fell silent.
Darius stared at the opposing mage- whose eyes were shut tightly in concentration- breath coming heavily, the sound irreverent to the silence surrounding them. His lips parted in their grin again. “I'm stronger than you.”
Grey eyes opened- so much like his own- startling the dark mage, the words making his grin disappear. “You don't know true strength.”
“I know! I know!” Darius' voice was shrill with laughter. “I'm stronger than people. That's why I can kill them! Watch! I'll kill you right now!” Suddenly, the raindrops that were hanging in the air fell to the ground, the rain continuing as another darkness tendril shot out, aiming to pierce Tobias' heart. A searing white flashed, and the tendril glanced off, grazing the other's arm instead.
“No.” The light mage stared at him coldly. “True strength doesn't come from power. It comes from love. Defeating you means keeping my master safe. Knowing that will give me the strength I need to overcome you!”
Darius' breath caught in his throat again. There was that warm feeling... This... love... His tendrils loosened, allowing the other to slip free. “Love?” He stared at the other man, head tilting to the side. “Love?” He stared at him before his eyes dropped to the unconscious mage on the ground. Love for Old One? He took a step back. “I... I don't feel like playing any more.” Tobias' face filled with relief and he turned to Old One, kneeling by him. The dark mage stared at them for a moment before his eyes fell onto his arm. There, crimson began to stain ivory, a line of it dripping down his arm.
It was beautiful. Just like the drops of crimson falling upon the flowers. Beautiful... He took a step towards the light mage, eyes wide with wonderment. Beautiful... Lips parted, the grin coming to his face as he glided forward. The Power exploded from him again, straight toward Tobias.
The mage rolled out of the way of the sudden magical assault, but was unprepared as a physical assault soon followed, Darius leaping at him to pin him to the ground. Fingers interlaced as they pushed against each other.
Darius forced his way closer, bringing his lips to the other's ear. “Bleed... I want you to bleed for me.” Teeth were bared, biting into the vulnerable bottom lip and causing the beautiful crimson bubble forth. However, before he could admire it, the searing white returned, and he was thrown back.
“No, no! I want to see it! Let me see!” The darkness tendrils flew forward with renewed fury, too fast for Tobias to stop them all. A scream of pain cut through the air, making Darius shriek with laughter. “I told you! I told you I'm stronger!” There was no response from the other as he was lifted by the wrists, hung in the air. The dark mage stared at the blood dribbling down his face, eyes moving to the blood soaking through his robes from the cuts on his chest.
Darius stared at it, grinning. Silence fell, save for the sound of pounding rain. His eyes rose to Tobias' face again, head tilting to the side. Rain was coming from his eyes... Just like the rain that came from his own eyes when the flower was murdered.
A choked sob escaped Tobias, muscles trembling as he hung his head. “Endrathil... Endrathil I'm sorry! I couldn't protect you... I-I... I wasn't strong enough! Please forgive me!”
Darius stared at him, the warm feeling coming from the other again. His brows furrowed. “Why?” He shrieked. “Why, why, why?” He slammed him back into a tree again and again before allowing him to drop next to his master, hands balling into fists. “Why does this feeling come off you? Stop it! Stop!” The rain was falling from his eyes now as he stalked forward. “I'll make you stop! I'll make you stop everything!”
Tobias looked up as he came to a stop in front of him. “Earlier, you called my master a murderer... But who is the true murderer here?” He raised a hand, pointing at his clenched fist.
Darius' eyes fell to his fist, widening as he realized that he had crushed the flower within it. A single petal broke off and fell toward the ground, causing him to scream. “I am... a murderer. Murderer! I am a murderer!” He let out another shriek as he sank to his knees, allowing the flower to slip out of his hands. It landed in the pool of muddy water, which was beginning to swirl with crimson. Suddenly, the color red wasn't so beautiful anymore. Breaths coming through sobs, he looked up to see Tobias clinging to Old One, the maddening feeling coming off of him again. “Stop! I just want everything to stop!” He got to his feet before he turned and fled, leaving the flower to drown in the puddle.
He ran and ran before he crashed to the ground, hands digging into the mud beneath him. He tilted his head up to stare at the drops falling from heaven as he let out a cry, wishing that the rain would wash his pain away.
Rating: PG-13 for violence.
Word Count: 2541
Author's note: You all need to know that the character Tobias Lysand in this story is different than Lysand on the forum. Back in the day I would reuse the same name for different characters. So... Yeah. Enjoy~
---
It was raining.
A breath was taken, then released, gray eyes staring up at the raindrops as they descended from their heavenly heights above.
They were making a mistake.
His head shook slowly as the drops ran down his face. They shouldn't have left their heavenly perch. Why would they do such a foolish, foolish thing? Didn't they know?
The world was rotten.
His eyes turned from the gray skies above, trailing to the side of the path he was traveling on. He watched the flowers swaying as they were pelted with rain drops. It was like they were dancing. His lips parted in a smile as he crouched before them, watching them bob up and down with the drops. Their white and crimson petals swayed, swirled, and dipped with the steady rhythm of the rain. Hearing a sound, he tipped his head to the side, taking notice of someone up ahead, staring at his very same flowers. His lips stayed parted in the same childish smile, until he watched her movements further. The woman reached down, taking a stem in her fingers before plucking it from the ground.
She killed it.
His footsteps were silent as he approached. He spoke in a tone that was so very distant, his gaze staring over her head. “You killed it.” She turned slowly, blinking her wide blue eyes. Her skin was pale, as white as the flower that was in her hands.
“You killed it!” He repeated again, this time voice more shrill. “Murderer!” He let The Power rip out of him with a shrill cry. “Murderer!”
The flowers danced as drops of crimson fell.
The Power receded, and he was left alone. The world was silent, save for the rhythmic pounding of the rain. Reaching down, he picked up the flower from the dead hand before striding away, staring at the plant for a few moments.
Hand closing around the stem, he wept.
--
Another pair of gray eyes stared up at the falling rain that day, their gaze detached and distant. A shaky breath was taken before it was released in a rush. A shiver ran up his spine before he turned to the older man beside him, his tone as distant as his gaze. “We are not alone in this forest.”
“I know, Tobias. I know.” Brown eyes stared out from beneath the white hood he had raised to cover his long silver hair. Rain drops stuck to his beard, and were beginning to soak through his white and gold robes. He took hold of the young man's shoulder, pulling him close. “Stay by me. It is a great darkness.”
“Do you fear it, Endrathil?” Tobias tilted his head up to meet his master's gaze. His face was pale from the chill of the rain hitting it, making his freckles all the more prominent. The rain had matted the man's brown hair to his head- despite his master's wishes, he had not covered it.
Aradath closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Yes,” he admitted. “It is a darkness I have never felt before... Its strength may eclipse even the strength of your aura. We should avoid it and report it to the rest of our order.”
“It senses me.” The younger mage turned his head away, watching the rain pour. “It's drawn to me.” His voice grew even more distant. “We cannot escape.”
“Where is it?”
“I don't know. It feels as if it's already crushing me.”
“Stay close. I'll keep you safe.”
“But can you even keep yourself safe?”
Aradath was quiet for a long moment before he finally replied. “I'd keep you safe long before myself.”
Tobias shivered. “I wish you wouldn't say such things, Endrathil.” He took a step forward before pausing. “... It closes in.”
The elder mage took hold of his arm, extending his senses to try to pinpoint it. “We need to move. There's still a chance we can out maneuver it.” He pulled the young man alongside him before the other mage began to move on his own.
“That chance... Is very small.”
“But it's still one we need to take.”
“It scares me when you talk like that.”
“It scares me when I need to.”
---
Points of light... So maddening in the distance... Darkness closes it.
He glided through the darkness, each step taking him closer to the points of light. So bright... Why were they so bright? Didn't they know?
It was annoying.
His hand tightened around the flower stem and his eyes dropped to the petals. They still danced with the rain, but it was a sad dance now- half-hearted in its dipping and swaying. He stared out at the sheets of rain again at a sudden movement; the points of light were moving. It didn't matter though.
He was moving faster.
It didn't take long for him to find them. He stepped in front of them, causing the old one to skid to a halt, pulling the younger behind him. Old One was frozen, breathing heavily as he stared right at him. “You don't have to do this. The light will forgive.”
He stared at Old One before extending his hand forward, showing him the flower.
Old One stared at it, not understanding. “What is your name?”
He stared at the old mage, hand closing around the flower again. “... Darius.”
Old One took a step forward. “Darius... My apprentice and I mean you no harm. Will you let us pass?”
Darius stared at him, tilting his head to the side. He fixed Old One with a distant stare. “Mean me no harm...” He took a step back. “But it hurts! Your existence, it hurts me!”
“Then let us leave. Then we will cause you no more harm. Please... Let us pass.”
Darius stared at him, the his attention turned to Young One, who was shivering. His skin was pale; as pale as the murderer's. He took a step to the side, watching the relief flood Old One's face, but then he spoke, cold voice wiping that relief away. “No.” He closed his eyes, letting The Power rush out of him again.
It was stopped.
Darius opened his eyes, confused. He stared at the darkness tendrils that had extended from him and were stopped by a golden shield of some kind. No one had ever stopped The Power before.
Old One was glowing, his hands raised. It hurt! The light! The bright! Darius closed his eyes against it. “Stop!” he shrieked. “It hurts! It hurts!” He felt the brightness flying towards him, and he drew a breath, turning his back to it. His power shifted, tendrils of darkness cutting through the light beam with ease. “You're going to hurt it!”
“What are we going to hurt?” Young One's voice was soft, and it made Darius turn around again. He extended his hand, showing them the flower again.
Old One extended his own hand, a blade of light shooting forth toward him. His eyes widened and the tendrils reacted, smacking the light blade away. “Murderer!” The tendrils shot forward, shattering the light barrier. They took hold of Old One, wrapping around his neck and tightening. He began to gasp and squirm as he struggled to draw breath.
“No!” Young One clung to the elder mage as he was lifted by the tendrils, his hands glowing as he grasped the tendril around Old One's neck giving it a mighty pull.
It burned! It burned! Darius drew his power back as the light burned him, causing tears to spring to his eyes.
Young One held Old One in his arms, head pressed to his chest as he listened for a heart beat. He must have heard one, for he let out a sigh of relief.
Darius tipped his head, staring at him as he felt a wave through the currents of magic. His breath caught his his throat as a feeling of warmness came over him. What was this strange feeling? Why was it coming from the young one?
“Why?” He tipped his head to the side, watching the young one tend to the elder. “Why does this feeling come off of you?” Dark tendrils swirled before they shot towards the light mage. “Stop it!”
The power was stopped again, a bright white light deflecting it. Slowly, Young One stood and turned toward him. “I will not allow you to hurt my master.”
There was a silence filled only by the sheets of rain. At length, Darius asked, “Who are you?”
“Tobias Lysand. Mage of light.”
“Tobias Lysand. I am... pleased to meet you.” Darius grinned, lips parting in their childish joy. “I am... going to kill you.”
“I know.” Tobias closed his eyes as a white-gold aura surrounded him. “But I'm not going to let you do it without a fight.”
“Then let's play! I haven't had someone to play with in so long...” A dark tendril, as sharp as a blade, threw itself at the light mage who moved to jump out of the way. There was the sound of ripping cloth as his right sleeve was torn free.
“This is no game!” Tobias straightened, beginning to shape his magic. When another darkness tendril exploded toward him, he created one of light. The two hit, beginning to wrestle against each other for dominance.
Frowning, Darius sent another tentacle at the light mage, only to have the same result. “Stop it! That's not fair!” He sent another and another, the dark slamming against the light. They swirled together, ancient enemies entwined in the age old battle. The powers both repelled and attracted each other, they pushed and pulled, pulsated with the ancient feud of the gods powering them. The black and white twisted together; two separate entities somehow becoming one. The two casters were pulled toward each other, having lost control of their feuding magic.
Suddenly, everything stopped.
The raindrops hung in the air, frozen as the dark and light magic pulsated. Time itself seemed to have stopped as the world fell silent.
Darius stared at the opposing mage- whose eyes were shut tightly in concentration- breath coming heavily, the sound irreverent to the silence surrounding them. His lips parted in their grin again. “I'm stronger than you.”
Grey eyes opened- so much like his own- startling the dark mage, the words making his grin disappear. “You don't know true strength.”
“I know! I know!” Darius' voice was shrill with laughter. “I'm stronger than people. That's why I can kill them! Watch! I'll kill you right now!” Suddenly, the raindrops that were hanging in the air fell to the ground, the rain continuing as another darkness tendril shot out, aiming to pierce Tobias' heart. A searing white flashed, and the tendril glanced off, grazing the other's arm instead.
“No.” The light mage stared at him coldly. “True strength doesn't come from power. It comes from love. Defeating you means keeping my master safe. Knowing that will give me the strength I need to overcome you!”
Darius' breath caught in his throat again. There was that warm feeling... This... love... His tendrils loosened, allowing the other to slip free. “Love?” He stared at the other man, head tilting to the side. “Love?” He stared at him before his eyes dropped to the unconscious mage on the ground. Love for Old One? He took a step back. “I... I don't feel like playing any more.” Tobias' face filled with relief and he turned to Old One, kneeling by him. The dark mage stared at them for a moment before his eyes fell onto his arm. There, crimson began to stain ivory, a line of it dripping down his arm.
It was beautiful. Just like the drops of crimson falling upon the flowers. Beautiful... He took a step towards the light mage, eyes wide with wonderment. Beautiful... Lips parted, the grin coming to his face as he glided forward. The Power exploded from him again, straight toward Tobias.
The mage rolled out of the way of the sudden magical assault, but was unprepared as a physical assault soon followed, Darius leaping at him to pin him to the ground. Fingers interlaced as they pushed against each other.
Darius forced his way closer, bringing his lips to the other's ear. “Bleed... I want you to bleed for me.” Teeth were bared, biting into the vulnerable bottom lip and causing the beautiful crimson bubble forth. However, before he could admire it, the searing white returned, and he was thrown back.
“No, no! I want to see it! Let me see!” The darkness tendrils flew forward with renewed fury, too fast for Tobias to stop them all. A scream of pain cut through the air, making Darius shriek with laughter. “I told you! I told you I'm stronger!” There was no response from the other as he was lifted by the wrists, hung in the air. The dark mage stared at the blood dribbling down his face, eyes moving to the blood soaking through his robes from the cuts on his chest.
Darius stared at it, grinning. Silence fell, save for the sound of pounding rain. His eyes rose to Tobias' face again, head tilting to the side. Rain was coming from his eyes... Just like the rain that came from his own eyes when the flower was murdered.
A choked sob escaped Tobias, muscles trembling as he hung his head. “Endrathil... Endrathil I'm sorry! I couldn't protect you... I-I... I wasn't strong enough! Please forgive me!”
Darius stared at him, the warm feeling coming from the other again. His brows furrowed. “Why?” He shrieked. “Why, why, why?” He slammed him back into a tree again and again before allowing him to drop next to his master, hands balling into fists. “Why does this feeling come off you? Stop it! Stop!” The rain was falling from his eyes now as he stalked forward. “I'll make you stop! I'll make you stop everything!”
Tobias looked up as he came to a stop in front of him. “Earlier, you called my master a murderer... But who is the true murderer here?” He raised a hand, pointing at his clenched fist.
Darius' eyes fell to his fist, widening as he realized that he had crushed the flower within it. A single petal broke off and fell toward the ground, causing him to scream. “I am... a murderer. Murderer! I am a murderer!” He let out another shriek as he sank to his knees, allowing the flower to slip out of his hands. It landed in the pool of muddy water, which was beginning to swirl with crimson. Suddenly, the color red wasn't so beautiful anymore. Breaths coming through sobs, he looked up to see Tobias clinging to Old One, the maddening feeling coming off of him again. “Stop! I just want everything to stop!” He got to his feet before he turned and fled, leaving the flower to drown in the puddle.
He ran and ran before he crashed to the ground, hands digging into the mud beneath him. He tilted his head up to stare at the drops falling from heaven as he let out a cry, wishing that the rain would wash his pain away.