Death's Master (InvOnly) (M)

Tala pulled the long black robe closer to her body as she walked, wearing a elegant blood red dress beneath it she looked every bit the witch she was. Her wild curls hung down around her head, her purple blind eyes were protected behind blackened glasses. Her usual bag was across her pale body and her cane in hand, she walked through the cold stone halls of the abbey distant memories floating in her mind. "Tala?" she looked up as her name was called and smiled "Mother Emerald" she accepted the woman's hug and let her be escorted "When i heard you were coming to see the shadow vault i made sure i would be here to accept you."

"its been some time" the necromancer said her voice was cool like the wind outside the abbey walls. Her mind drifted as the nun spoke, only coming round as they approached the vault where the order of nuns kept hidden powerful artifacts of dark magic. "There is a dagger within the vault that once was said to bring the dead back to life for atleast twenty minutes. It was invented for interrogations" she explained "or to find killers. little known fact is it is also powerful when used by necromancers" the mother superior nodded understandingly "lady lestrange said you would be here to bring it back to hogwarts for safety i am glad she sent someone so capable"

Pricking her finger the woman opened the vault, no sooner had the door opened did the sensations of death slam into tala. The nun screamed and before her the scene was of a dead sister in the corner and a masked man in black stealing artifacts. "Run" tala ordered the woman. the nun obeyed and ran hiking up her skirts, the intruder seemed to crack his knuckles then with a expert throw he aimed a dagger at the nun that sunk into the back of her skull killing her.

Tala could feel there tortured souls around her, the intruder ran at her and moved to attack her but she was faster grabbing his arm they fell out of the vault. Amycus fell to the side rolling to his feet he pulled out a wakazashi blade and wordleslly moved to slit her throat, dodging the necromancer ripped her glasses from her eyes and the purple showed black bleeding into them.

Her power leaked from her in waves "they ddid not deserve to die" she whispered and before amycus could reply or even act she grabbed his soul, holding him in place. He felt cold tendrils wrap around his heart "you on the other hand.." he fought against her hold but she merely threw him into the ground breaking his arm and some ribs with the impact. Using a spell she cut him and twirled her finger and his blood flowed out of the cut following her finger's movements then wrapped around his throat like a collar and pulled tight.

Bringing him to his knees she gripped his soul once more and began to pull it from his body, he reached out to it in shock "this is your soul Amycus Carrow" she said reading his name on his mind "and when i am done with you, you will cease to exist." his sleeve rolled down and he looked at the clock on his wrist, his heart pounded hard as blood seeped from wounds all over his torso, he watched his soul twirling in front of him, mocking him as his time began to run out.

Resting peacefully on his throne, as soon as his eyes began to close Maddox felt a disturbance within the clocks forcing a growl to erupt from his throat as many soldiers came to see what was wrong with their master. With one snap of his fingers they were hurled away some injured others dead as he rose from his throne and with a gust of wind was gone.

Appearing behind Tala, Maddox snapped his fingers and the clocked stopped, and began once again climbing up, he years being returned to Amycus, and his wounds being healed, as Maddox moved Tala aside with one hand breaking her concentration and awarding Amycus his soul back. "Go," Maddox instructed his soldier as he turned around, casting shadows all around that sought the rest of the nuns throughout the abbey, they snapped their necks and forced them to eat their sister's hearts, "Tala you should know better than to meddle with my affairs," he sneered as he flicked his wrist, ending all life on the abbey leaving only he, Amycus and Tala alive.

Before he spoke her name she knew who he was his presence had filled her only a few weeks before. She felt the entire abby fill with souls, holding out both hands the souls flew to her surrounding them as they turned into dark shadows that even Maddox could see. "He came into this place he killed my friend. He deserved to be harmed" she said before banishing the souls to the afterlife they all dissapeared in a flash of blinding white light.

With one clean cut of the air the blood around the area began flying towards Maddox all joining beside him in a giant scarlet red orb. "He was following orders, you cannot blame the sheep for following the shepherd," he growled as he snapped his fingers forcing the blood to dissipate into thin air.

She stepped towards him her vision seeing the soul before her "I would ask what it is you seek from the shadow vault and why but i need no answer" she said stopping a few paces from him her lip curled "your soul betrays your intentions for the world." he was darkness and shadows and before a moment could pass she held out her hand and curled her finger towards her, out of thin air a rivulet of his soul came to her and swirled over her skin like a obedient snake curling between her pale fingers. She smiled at the dark lord, whilst many feared this man she did not, the worst thing he could do is kill her and those she loved but it mattered not to death itself.

"My intentions? I would think that by the name they awarded me, they would be quite obvious," Maddox mused as he began walking away, hands behind his back, "Walk with me," he said looking over his shoulder before continuing on.

Summoning her cane she fell in step beside the dark lord, "Terminus" she mused breaking there silence "you were given that name? by those you are master of? Curious most lords create there names themselves"

Walking slowly, he shook his head at her musing, "I was given that name by the one I called master," he corrected her.

The piece of his soul she had take slid from her hand and onto his body dissapearing the second it touched him. "Master" she echoed his words "but he is dead now, its written in your soul, the many lives you've taken his included." she did not question his actions merely read the man as she saw him.

"The job of the apprentice is to take over the master's duties when he is powerful enough. To become powerful enough, the apprentice must destroy his master," he responded with one of the guidelines of the Jen Tukstan. Eventually, Maddox expected Scarlet to try and gain her own spot as the leader of the Jen Tukstan. However, he knew that for now, she would fail.

She nodded in understanding "and yours is a goal to kill the world"

Shaking his index finger the dark lord said, "The world itself is perfect, those who live in it are not. Earth was god's last perfect creation," he explained.

Her dead eyes looked up at him "you are very wise my lord" she commented "and that is not sometthing i say to others easily." she found herself forgiving him for killing the nuns. they were of little consequence and she knew they would not approve of her work. The necromancer fell silent for a few moments as she walked she looked at his soul somthing that did not require her eyes to see, she learned so much by this simple task. "is there something you need of me my lord?" she asked

Smirking darkly he looked down at the girl, whipping his long hair away from his face, throwing it over his armor, "I like you," he stated simply his face however now emotionless, "And that is not something I say to others easily," he continued, "I would like for you to join me," he offered.

She looked up at him, her face matched his all accept for the raised eye brow. "you are not the first to approach me" she said and for a moment she could feel the curse mark burn on her spine. Her pale hands gripped the pommel of her cane, "and my dear lord terminus, why should i say yes to you, when to others i have said no?"

Chuckling lightly Maddox tilted his head to the side. "Because like you said, I am wise, I know what's best for you. And I have one of your sisters as well," a dark grin came across his face knowing Tala would wonder who, and if he was speaking about Laureth. The revelation of Hotaru would be too amusing to bare...

Her brow furrowed and she frowned "I know you do not have laureth.." she said "so that leaves only speech. a sister i've not yet seen in this life out side of my visions" he seemed amused but though the revelation was startling it did not tell her anything "still it does not tell me why i should give you my life."

Grinning maliciously he pursed his lips before answering, "Truth, speech belongs to me. Are you so sure Laureth is not with me, though?" he asked in a somewhat criptic manner to leave the girl wondering if her sisters were both under Maddox's orders, "Because you are death, and death is my advocate, death is what I will cause. Think about how many spirits you will obliterate. And who knows, maybe among them, is the one that took your precious Shay," he chuckled.

"You under estimate me dear Master" the girl said her voice like velvet "I know you've been watching me and i know you are aware of my disposition to attachments so let me begin by meeting your expectations by saying, you cannot tempt nor control or sway me with such offerings or ideals." She smirked lightly at there verbal duel she knew she choose this man over the travellers but still first impressions were everything.

"My sisters and I though we are not immortal and though i'd fight and die for them thousands of times like I have before we will always be reborn it is mandated through the balance in the world that there always be the sisters of solace. So if i were not to join you and meet my loves on the battle field or other such ways it would be of no consequence nor the first time and we would meet again in the next life. Though truthfully you could try to threaten or persuade me by harming them but then you have to deal with my temper and honestly the last thing you wish to haunt you is death itself. Laugh as you may." her laughing grin slid from her lips as she continued to speak "i seek no revenge for my Shay's demise. I know if i am meant to have it then destiny will give it to me."

She tilted her head back a bit to look up at him "No i would join you simply because we fit.Beings of power are meant to stand together and our goals are similar."

"I believe I am perhaps a bit more of an extremist than yourself," he pointed out as he stroked his long beard and after a few moments nodded slowly, "But alas you are correct, we are two of a kind and we belong together," he stated before dipping his hands into the pockets of his trousers beneath his armor, "Are you ready to stand beside me? And Eros? And your sisters?" the dark lord inquired the remaining sister of solace that was still not in his 'possession'.

For a moment the necromancer hesitated, did she truly wish to bind herself to a master? Did she wish to give someone her life? Two of a kind..yes. He was right about that and after hearing him speak of his mission she couldn't say she disagreed. Her grip on her cane had increased when she had not realized it but as she opened her mouth to speak she felt her body to relax, "Yes. It would be my honor to serve you Lord Terminus" she said her heart feeling lighter then ever. Holding her cane in one hand she dropped to one knee to show her respect and seriousness.

A grin of satisfaction took over Maddox's features, as he placed a hand over his new soldier's head, "I am glad, child," he nodded and with an explosion of smoke they were gone, appearing back at the citadel.

Tala stood startled only slightly at the sudden change of scenery, she felt disorientated from the sudden rush of souls, swallowing hard she struggled to control her powers as she could feel energy everywhere people, corpses, death, life it was all over. But most of all...power. She could feel power, it lived in this place and it sang to her soul. She touched the dark lord's arm to steady herself "My lord where are we?" she asked breathlessly.

Placing a protective arm over his protege Maddox walked slowly pulling her with him. Pushing the double doors that lead to the throne room open, Maddox's soldiers that were present all bowed, "Welcome to the Shadow Citadel," he welcomed her and so did all the soldiers as they raised their glasses of wine, not often were they allowed to drink in the throne room, but when Maddox was not around it was not looked down upon and the dark lord allowed it, as long as they cleaned any possible mess afterwards. It was his home after all...

She leaned into him gratefully letting him guide her she held her cane close to her without it on the floor. She could hear voices all around her and see souls of varying power and likenesses but the citadel itself felt like it welcomed her, she felt her lips curl and smiled. She looked up at him "thank you. thank you for inviting me to join you. my lord i know this is where i am meant to be."