A Voice Anew

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene stood in an observation room in the forward section of the ship she now called home. Her eyes darted around the blackness of space, going from constellation to constellation as if she were searching for one in particular. It was difficult to find anything in the darkness of course, but she seemed to be searching nonetheless, orange eyes darting around until finally she heard a door open behind her. Eyes froze in one spot directly ahead of her, lips thinning.

The rattling of a chain could be heard behind her, two sets of feet ringing out against the bare metal of the observation deck.

“I have a treat for you today. Evie will have a nice day today.” Nemene said the words without ever turning around, she didn't need to. Even if the viewport did not in part reflect what was behind her, she would still know who it was that had come. She could sense Evie in the bond they shared, and the others footsteps were so familiar to her now that it was impossible not to know who they came from.

She smiled slightly, a cold detached smile.

With a single step she turned herself about, facing the two women that had come to see her, one dressed in the red and black livery, the other only barely covered by what rags had been thrown her way before being dragged out of bed.

Yes, today would be nice.

 

[Louise]

As she was lead through the ship the creature stared at the floor. With a chain around her neck she was less of a person, more of an animal. So often had she once pondered her fate. Power? Redemption? Would she ascend to her own personal pantheon and become a god amongst beasts? Never did she think she would become one of the beasts.

With her thoughts bordering upon the slightly more complex it was a sign that Nemene's complete domination of her being was fading slightly. Her limbs still disobeyed her, emotions could still be fabricated at a whim but it was the mind, the mind of Evelynn that was trying to break through again, but all it would take was those three little words and it would be back to square one.

No, not I love you.

Be good, Evie.

Lead into the observation room her head remained tilted downwards, staring at the floor that grated so cold and harsh against her bare feet. Treats. Evie. Certain words gave her involuntary reactions, shivers down the spine a tingling in her head that coaxed to to just relax, give in, this is your life now. No, no, she would not be mindless, Evelynn would play the role that Nemene had set for her, but she would not be a mindless pet.

Y-y-yes, Goddess?

Say the lines. Play the role. Stay sharp. Stay human.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene watched her pet for a time, eyes glimmering slightly as she observed the nuances of Evie's movements. It was interesting watching how she reacted now. It was so different from before, so changed and altered that she was nearly unrecognizable...though of course she was still the same woman, unfortunately.

“I am going to return something to you.” Her words sounded almost sinister, though there was a hint of legitimate joy in her words. Despite what most would think, Nemene quite enjoyed healing people. Of course it was mostly due to the untold pain that she caused, but it was also because fixing something that was broken gave her a feeling of...accomplishment. Granted she got a greater sense of accomplishment when she broke that very same thing again, but that hardly mattered.

Evie was already broken enough.

“Evie has been very good with her studies.” Nemene walked up to the little Sorceress and patted her on her head. “So her goddess will grant her a gift that will make things...easier.”

She let the words hang in the air, a smile creeping upon her face. She wanted Evie to be excited before she revealed the plan, wanted her to ponder what she could possibly be receiving.

 

[Louise]

Return?

Return what?

That statement caused Evelynn to look up, icy blue eyes trying to find some hint of a motive because a kindness from Nemene Talith was simply a cruelty in disguise. Return something. What needed to be returned? A great many things. Her beasts, her dignity, her free-will, her pain. So many things had been taken, due to be returned but it wasn't looking likely.

The pat on the head, those key words triggered reactions that she didn't want. Evie. Good. Goddess. Gift. Evelynn found her mouth salivating, a satisfied smile creeping upon her face, if the woman had a tail it would have likely been wagging on its own accord. Don't resist. Just play her game. Keep your mind.

The mute dropped down onto her knees, a touch of submission, yes Nemene would like that. Looking up at her sister her eyes were wide and full of wonder.

What is it, G-goddess?

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene stared down at her pet, something was different. Something was off. She frowned slightly, and then shook her head. No, she was being silly. Evie was as she always was, obedient and servile, as she should be. Her smile widened slightly, and Nemene let her fingers trail down the side of Evelynns face. Fingernails trailed down her cheek down her jaw and onto her neck.

Her fingernail stopped, stabbing into Evelynns throat.

“Your voice.” Nemene dug her nail into Evelynns throat, pulling her nail upward and slicing into her skin ever so slightly. Blood fell in soft droplets down the front of Evelynns rags, staining already dirty clothes. She let the blood pool on the underside of her nail, and then lifted her finger away from Evelynn's neck.

Then, as if it was almost a silly game she poked Evelynn's forehead, her smile constant on her face.

 

[Louise]

Another involuntary reaction as Evelynn pushed her head ever-so-slightly into her sister's hand like a cat eager for its owner's attention. She couldn't help it, she couldn't deny this craving that her body held for Nemene's approval, for her love, it was an unfortunate side effect of the control.

Her fingers wandered down, piercing the flesh but sadly poor Evelynn did not feel the bite. That was some wicked teasing right there.

The woman's eyes widened the moment the word voice was brought into play. It had been so long since the mute had been, well, not. From a time even before Nemene. She had forgotten that her voice had even been lost, given that she had become so accustomed to communicating by telepathy that she didn't even spare it thought.

The prodding finger pushed Evelynn's head back, confusion laced her fingers. She didn't know how to feel, how to react. It was likely that she was supposed to be grateful and grovelling, but she wasn't.

How?

Nemene was an impressive healer but could she regrow that which had been cut out?

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene's lips thinned instantly.

Evie had made a mistake. She had asked a question, but where was the title? Nemene knew, she had noticed its absence. The lack of the title, the lack of worship. It felt like a prickle on her skin, like a slap to the face. Where was the subservience! Where was the worship! This was unacceptable.

In an instant deep purple lines etched throughout Nemene's skin, covering the whole of her body. She scowled, her finger suddenly pressing into Evelynns forehead and pushing the girl back. The slave released the chain holding her, and Nemene pushed the woman onto the floor. Stepping onto her throat where the blood now fell from. Her eyes glowed with a dark purple light, and her voice resounded as the bond strengthened once again.

“By my will as your goddess!” The voice broke the very air, seemingly shaking it.

Nemene was angry, angry that she had lost even an inch of control, angry that Evie had dared not worship her for even a second. Angry that she was questioned.

 

[Louise]

As soon as Nemene's face shifted Evelynn realised that she had just made a grand mistake. So taken by surprise was she by the supposed returning of her voice she had forgotten to use that bloody title. Immediately the woman's head began to shake, no, no, not this.

The only defence mechanism she had left was to shut her eyes, keep them as tight as possible, don't look into that dreaded purple. Keep your mind. Try. Like a child she was pushed backwards, a cruel foot pressing down upon her throat. She didn't struggle, remaining completely prone as Talith boiled over with rage.

Eyes still clamped shut Nemene's boomed all around her, causing her to flinch and for those walls to crumble ever so slightly. There was an urge to look, to look into the eyes of her Goddess.

But then she would be truly lost.

No, no! NO! I hate it, Nemene! I CAN'T THINK, AND I HATE IT! Please, I don't want to be mindless!

 

[Lira Dajenn]

She pressed her heel into Evelynns throat, it would have cut off Evelynn's protest were she speaking with a real voice. A smirk came across Nemene's face, she would enjoy being able to do that. For now however, she would simply exert control in another way.

Power radiated from the Raven Haired Queen. Righteous fury that seemed to give off a purple biting glow.

Her toes curled and moved forward, pushing Evelynns chin upwards and more in the direction of Nemene's face. She knew how to regain control, how to take back what belonged to her. There was no mistake, Evelynn was no longer a Sister, no longer an equal. She was property. She belonged to Nemene, and the faster Evelynn figured that out, the faster her life would drastically improve.

“Open.” The command came, and was followed almost instantly, she still had that much control left.

The Queen stared into her sisters eyes. Bright glowing purple reflecting off of cool ice blue.

“Tell me.” She purred the words, though rage was thinly veiled behind them. “Who is your goddess?”

 

[Louise]

The heel pressed down, making it rather difficult to bring fresh air into those haggard lungs.

It almost seemed inevitable, any second now she'd tell her to open her eyes and she would and then there would be nothing. She would be buried beneath that stupid vacant creature that went by the name of Evie. Living for treats like some kind of circus animal. No, no, she could resist, she had to resist or everything was lost.

Open.

She did, and found herself lost in a sea of purple, illuminated, so alluring, so entrancing.

Just relax. Let go. It'll be easier this way. You could be happy, all you have to do is be good. Learn your sorcery, it's not so hard. You can learn to love it. You can be be a good girl, a good pet. You could be content. Treated well. You've just got to be good. Good little Evie.

Who is your goddess?

N-No...

Don't....t-take...

N-not...my mind...not my mind....

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene dug her heel deeper into Evelynns throat, a smile growing on her face.

“You don't have a mind.” The words were cruel, harsh, and dominating as could be. “It already belongs to me.”

Her words dug into the very core of Evelynn, or were intended to. She was master here, she was in control and nobody else. Evelynns mind was hers, her body was hers. Everything that Evelynn had, belonged to Nemene. There was nothing sacred, nothing hidden. Nemene Athaem Talith had claimed it all long ago, and now she was coming for what was hers.

The purple lines dug deeper into her skin, and the power of the force radiated from her. Not inherent strength, but dread and anger like never before. She moved her arm, and for the first time Nemene lashed out with the force. She pulled at Evelynn's skin, splitting it and healing it in an instant. Carving something into her flesh with scars, the only ones that would grace Evie's body. “Who Is your Goddess?”

She enunciated the first word, prodding Evelynn to speak truth, to speak what they both knew. She would take Evelynns mind, and twist it to make it her own, warp it and ensure that it brought to her everything she needed.

And she needed a pet sorceress.

 

[Louise]

Oxygen was becoming near impossible to draw in, strangled gargles began to come sputtering from her throat. She didn't bother to grab her sister's foot to try and budge it, Evelynn had been here before and there was no chance that she had the strength to pull that off, if her limbs would have cooperated in the first place.

No...I...have...

Caught in the gaze of Nemene the woman's jaw went slack, eyes beginning to glaze over. She was trapped. There was no escape, no freedom, no thoughts. Just Evie the good pet.

What was she doing? Without the sensation of pain to guide her Evelynn was clueless as to what her sister was doing to her flesh. It felt her skin was tearing, no hurt but still unpleasant, uncomfortable yet the woman couldn't rip her eyes away from that purple haze.

Who is your Goddess?

Ne...

N-no...

Neme...

With her last remnants of will Evelynn oh-so-suddenly bit down upon her own tongue. Ridiculous given that she didn't speak using her mouth, but perhaps it was more about symbolism than preventing verbal submission. Or maybe insanity was setting in.

N-NNO!

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene tore apart Evelynns flesh. Using the force to intricately scar her skin in a a manner that not even a lightsaber could accomplish. She cut into her pets flesh, not a symbol, not a brand, but words. She sliced words into Evelynns shoulder, words written in basic so that anyone who bothered to look could read.

'I am Evie, Sorceress and Slave to the Mother of Lies.'

It was simple, sweet, and to the point. Something that would always remain with Evelynn, and something that was absolutely true. She forced Evie to look her in the eyes. She didn't care about the damage she did to her tongue, she didn't care about anything Evie did to herself, it would all be healed, all be fixed. Her Sorceress would be flawless, would be absolutely perfect.

There would be no more Evelynn, only Evie.

“I. Am your Goddess.” The words flowed from Nemene with such strength, such power, that the slave behind her fell to her knee's.

This was true strength, true power.

 

[Louise]

Blood began to flood the woman's mouth. She had bitten down with such intensity that she had completely severed the tip of her tongue. Not that Nemene cared, not that Evelynn noticed. Pain would no longer guide her, keep her in heck about her own limits of the body. The blood began to trickle down the back of her throat and into her lungs as she stared into those eyes.

Her sister of course was content to leave her to that while she finished her work, whatever that work was. Probably not a back massage or a spot of acupuncture, however that was the furthest thing from Evelynn's mind as she desperately tried to clutch to the notion of control.

N-no...no...NO....

I AM EVELYNN!

The mute's face had long since turned a blinding shade of red, brain beginning to become starved of oxygen. It was a losing fight.

I-I am...Evelynn.

However the alternative was so much worse. Reduced to nothing more than a simpering little pet. Getting treats in exchange for tricks.

I am...I am...Eve.....

But treats are good. Don't you like treats?

...am...Evie...

Yes, you like treats.

There was a whimper, blood bubbled forth from the girl's lips as any resistance the woman had once held vanished into nothing, body relaxed, bright blue eyes completely glazing over now. Once again any semblance of Evelynn melted away, leaving behind the pitiful creature known as Evie.

F-f-f-f-forgive m-m-muh-me, G-g-g-goddess...

It was a whisper, meek and afraid.

I l-l-lu-love you....

 

[Lira Dajenn]

“And because of this love, and by the grace of your Goddess, You will be given a Voice Anew.” It was a simple statement, though as with most things with the force it was easier said than done.

In theory what Nemene was about to do was rather simple. She would use the force, and her expertise in the field of anatomy to stimulate the regrowth of Evelynns vocal cords. This was rather simply, as of course there were remnants of the cords, it was physically impossible to entirely remove them. So all she had to do was coax those remnants into regrowing.

The difficulty in that however was born of what one needed to actually regrow a piece of tissue in such a manner. It took a tremendous amount of energy, skill, and control in directing that energy. She frowned slightly, and then lifted her heel from Evelynns throat.

With a single curling motion she bade her charge to stand and come closer.

For a moment the Raven Haired Queen stared at the creature before her, observing her bleeding throat for a moment before placing her silky soft hands over the wound. This would not hurt like Nemene's other healings, it would not harm Evelynn or bring her into that dimension of pain.

No, this was something entirely different.

The purple lines across Nemene's skin flared, their glow intensifying and spreading across her entire body. They consumed her, and then crept onto Evelynns skin. The force began its work, stimulating and forcing Evelynns vocal cords to grow. The girl would feel an itch inside of her own throat, the feeling of a thousand ants crawling beneath her skin as muscle and flesh regenerated and stretched itself. Nemene's breath caught, the glow in her eyes pulsing slightly as she deftly controlled the flows of the force.

Then suddenly, Nemene snapped her hand back as if bitten. She revealed Evelynns neck, scar gone and flesh as flawless as Nemenes.

The Raven Haired Queen smiled, though strangely her skin did not return to normal. The purple lines remained bisecting and crisscrossing her body, pulsing and giving off a soft yet pleasant glow. Nemene did not seem to notice, too satisfied with what she had done. "Speak."

She coaxed her pet.

 

[Louise]

Evie could have been told anything, that she was going to be given a kick in the face, a brand new speeder, a flesh eating virus or a voice anew and she would have reacted in the same manner. With wonder, and with gratitude oh-so-carefully laced with fear.

It didn't matter what she felt though, she was just a creature, an animal. If Goddess felt it fit to keep her heel pinned upon her throat then there was no questioning.

Fortunately she did not, and Evie was allowed to drink in thick satisfying gulps of oxygen before being gestured to stand, which of course she did. Because Evie is a good girl, didn't you know? So she stood, the least opposing figure in the galaxy, those rags hanging off her body, stained with blood amongst other things. Bowed. Bent. Broken.

The touch of her Goddess came with power, and those healing hands got to work.

It was a peculiar sensation, uncomfortable but thankfully not the agony she had gotten to know in previous healing. Feeling tissue actively regrow inside of yourself is something almost indescribable, it was like having swallowed something that disagreed with being eaten and feeling it try and crawl back up your throat.

The entire time Evie gazed into the eyes of her Goddess, trapped in a world of awe.

Speak.

Could she? It had been over a decade, she had been nothing more than a teenage girl when her voice was taken and now, now it had been given back. Could she remember how? Of course.

Evie opened her mouth, some red spilling out from the unfortunate incident with the bitten tongue. The tension, the hype, it was real.

“Goddessss...”

Well, hey, that's a different tune. The true voice of Evelynn had been a mousy affair, squeaky, timid and about as threatening a gizka on rollerblades. This was not that voice. This was the voice of Evie, soft-spoken, a touch sultry and with an accent so exotic it could have only been found upon a Twi'lek in a crime lord's den.

Tears came welling as blood kept spilling.

“Th-thank you, Goddess!”

 

[Lira Dajenn]

A look of disgust crossed Nemene's face slightly as Evie dribbled blood all over her feet. It seemed the girl in her sheer ecstasy at being healed had bitten into her own tongue, what a strange little act of love. The thought that it had been done in defiance never occurred to Nemene. She frowned for a moment, and then looked down at her feet. Letting out a sigh she reached up and touched the Sorceress chin with the tip of her index finger.

The purple lines spider webbed out across Evelynns face for a second, a spark of blue flicking over the girls tongue.

Again the healing would not hurt. That was a conscious decision on Nemenes part. She chose for Evie to feel no pain. It would not due for her pet to be hurting right now, after all she had a task to complete now that she could speak, now that she could scream. Quickly a smile found its way back to Nemene's face, though she did not allow Evelynn to see its glory.

“Take her back to the school. I want to see what she can do with her new voice.” Nemene smiled as the Slave picked up the chain from the floor again, collaring the sorceress once again and wearing a mischievous smile on her face as she dragged Evie away, jerking on the chain. Then as she turned about Nemene spoke again, as if almost forgetting her own words. “Be good, Evie.”

She would not lose control again.

 

[Louise]

Oh, how kind and benevolent her Goddess was!

After all it was Evie's own stupid fault that she had bitten through her tongue, her Mistress had no obligation to heal that wound, but she did. So caring, so kind. What did silly little Evie ever do without her Goddess? Her eyes still tearful with gratitude and devotion as the tingling upon her tongue signified the healing wonders of Nemene Talith.

“Th-thank you, G-goddess,” she said, as if it was the only thing she knew how to say.

The creature was taken away, dragged along by her chain with a rather rough hand. Not that she minded. No, no Evie was good. Evie didn't cause problems. Evie would learn. Learn for Goddess. Learn for treats. Treats for tricks.

Once she was back in her school and chained to her pedestal the worthless creature began to flick through the pages of the ancient tome. She was looking for something, a spell in peculiar. She wanted something that could help her Goddess, I mean, of course everything she learned was for her raven-headed Deity but this was to be something special, not only that but it was a spell with an incantation, to put that brand new gift to use.

So began the twelve hour learning phase. Page turning after page turning. Sitting, focusing. Hands of power, weaving and waving. Her learning spent was more about focus and control rather than the particular spell. The spell itself would be relatively simple, it required commitment and devotion. No issues there, not for good little Evie.

The prospect of pleasing her Goddess drove her onward, to improve and temper her fledgling skills as a sorceress. Build stamina, strength, focus.

Evie was good. Evie would learn.

 

[Lira Dajenn]

Nemene jaunted down to the school at the center of the ship exactly twelve hours after Evie's learning had begun.

Her skin had not returned to its former Olive shade, and had instead remained stricken with perfectly symmetrical purple lines that seemed to glow and pulse at all times. At first she had been abashed, appalled by the diseased looking flesh that now covered her, but then she had inspected herself. She had traced line after line with her nail touched her own flesh, and felt oddly...satisfied with her appearance. The purple lines gave her an odd sense of pleasure about herself, they were...entrancing.

Now she walked down the halls with confidence bearing all around her. Most of her skin was exposed, purple lines showing all over her flesh. Her dress, could almost be called skimpy. It was revealing, almost sheer in fact.

With a grin, she stepped into the school.

“Evie.” She called out to her pet as the blast doors began to pull themselves apart. Her smile only widened as she walked inside and saw her pet hard at work. She walked up to the creature, and patted her on the head, interrupting any learning that might have been taking place at that point in time. “What have you learned today?”

She practically purred the words.

 

[Louise]

The very moment her name was called the creature turned to look towards her approaching Goddess. That vacant smile, those glazed over eyes, her features were painted with adoration and all thoughts turned to pleasing her Mistress. This very state of being would have disgusted Evelynn had she not been completely sedated by the sheer power of Nemene.

There was only Evie, and Evie was happy to see Goddess to show her what she had learned.

Once again the pet dropped to her knees before her Mistress knowing that she was not worthy enough to simply stand before her. No, no, she was a lower being, her place was below her Goddess. Always. Forever.

Without further prompt the lowly creature began to recite words only recently learned. Of course her tongue spoke in the language of ancient Sith, which had the power to be ominous even out of the mouth of lowly pets. Her hands pushed outwards towards her Goddess, palms flat and facing the woman but not touching her, not even daring to touch her.

There was a flow of power, invisible to the eye as Evie directly funnelled her considerable strength in the Force to her Mistress, who admittedly wasn't the strongest user of the Force. Unparalleled healer, brilliant blademaster but in wielding unfathomable cosmic power? Not so much. If Nemene did hold those talents would Evie even still be before us? Not likely.

The boost in power was of course temporary but it would grant her Goddess heightened senses, greater stamina and a much clearer connection. It would likely be an extremely valuable skill in the face of combat.

Evie looked up at her Goddess, searching for approval.